PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Gavin (ranked 2589 p4p, 2534 weight class) and Ricardo Esponosa (ranked 242 p4p, 234 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gavin
vs
Esponosa

180 cm
29
158
4 - 4 - 0

181 cm
28
163
9 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

PWNAGEâ„¢

Seventh Circle Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tommy Gavin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ricardo Esponosa!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Trevor Gratis and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good leg kick by Gavin.
The fighters circle momentarily. Gavin darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Gavin throws a low kick but Esponosa avoids it.
Gavin throws out a powerful jab.
Gavin lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Gavin throws a leg kick but Esponosa sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Nice straight punches there by Gavin. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Gavin.
Gavin defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Esponosa.
A low kick lands for Gavin.
Gavin fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Esponosa has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Esponosa fails with the takedown.
Esponosa moves to clinch but Gavin breaks away
and Gavin counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Esponosa closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gavin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Esponosa trying to control the action but Gavin is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gavin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Esponosa wants to control but Gavin is keeping him busy.
Esponosa is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Esponosa moves into full mount!
Gavin tries to lock up and control but Esponosa gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Esponosa prevents Gavin from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gavin wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Gavin is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Gavin prevents Esponosa from getting a body triangle.
Gavin rolls, trying to escape but Esponosa keeps control of the position.

Gavin is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Esponosa gets his way!
Gavin is trying to break free.
Esponosa trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Gavin doesn't escape.
Gavin tries to roll but Esponosa sticks to his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Esponosa has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Esponosa controlling well, preventing Gavin from escaping the position.

Gavin defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Esponosa's arms.
Gavin wants to escape the position.

Gavin is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Esponosa gets his way!

Esponosa is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Gavin is defending well though. Esponosa let's go of the attempt for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esponosa trying to control.

Esponosa is looking for the choke from the back position but Gavin is controlling his hands well.
Gavin is in bad spot here.
Gavin trying to control the position but Esponosa manages to sink in the hooks.

Esponosa is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Gavin knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Gavin for a finish.
Gavin looking very determined here, making life difficult for Esponosa.
Esponosa has the hooks in. Gavin is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Gavin is working hard here to advance position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ricardo Esponosa will probably get the nod.
That's time! Gavin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A jab from Gavin finds it's way through Esponosa's defenses.
Tommy Gavin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gavin connects with a single shot there.
Esponosa takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
A thudding body kick lands there by Gavin!
Esponosa tries for a takedown but Gavin sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Esponosa feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Gavin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Gavin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gavin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Esponosa is one step ahead there.
Gavin working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gavin is really struggling to control Esponosa but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Gavin working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Esponosa has passed into half guard!
Gavin tries to roll over but Esponosa keeps him under control.
Esponosa trying to control from half guard but Gavin is working away.

Esponosa is working for a submission of some sort.
Gavin wants to control the action here but instead Esponosa manages to pass to full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esponosa takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Gavin tries to hold on but Esponosa pushes him away.
Gavin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gavin tries to lock up and control but Esponosa gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Esponosa looking to secure an arm triangle but Gavin defends it well.
Gavin is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gavin is looking to get to half guard.

Esponosa looking for a guillotine from mount but Gavin is having none of it.
Esponosa tries to control but Gavin wriggling away.

Esponosa has hold of Gavin's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Gavin manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Gavin is desperately trying to improve his position but Esponosa has a good base and remains in mount.
Gavin is trying to reverse the position but instead Esponosa has taken his back - oops!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gavin tries to escape the position.

Esponosa is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Gavin is defending well though. Esponosa let's go of the attempt for now.
Esponosa scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Gavin is looking for a way out.
Gavin tries to escape the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gavin prevents Esponosa from getting a body triangle.
Gavin tries to break free.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Esponosa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Gavin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Gavin throws a shot to the body.
Gavin throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Gavin thuds a left hand into Esponosa's body.
A big left from Gavin misses.
Esponosa feints the counter takedown.
Gavin smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Esponosa wants to clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gavin. Esponosa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Esponosa drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Gavin defends it well.
Gavin scores with a decent looking hook.
It looks like Gavin has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Gavin with a nice calf kick.
A left lands for Gavin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esponosa shoots in looking for a takedown. Gavin tries to sprawl out of it but Esponosa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gavin manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gavin throws an off balance right hand

so Esponosa counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Esponosa stopping the sweep attempt from Gavin.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gavin has his foot on Esponosa's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Esponosa works his way back into a safe position though.
Esponosa forces his way into half guard.
Gavin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Esponosa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gavin keeps working.
Gavin is looking to improve his position.
Esponosa trying to control from half guard but Gavin is working away.
Gavin wants to control but Esponosa is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Gavin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Esponosa tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gavin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Gavin is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Gavin tries to roll over but Esponosa keeps him under control.

Esponosa is looking for a kimura but Gavin is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Esponosa to get the leverage.
Well, if Esponosa is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Esponosa wants to take a breather but Gavin is having none of it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gavin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tommy Gavin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gavin stalks Esponosa and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Esponosa's face. Esponosa staggers backwards, shaken.
Esponosa throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Gavin tries to sprawl but Esponosa drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Esponosa trying to pass the guard but Gavin defending well.
Gavin is looking to get back to full guard here but Esponosa has managed to pass to side control instead.
Esponosa slows the pace down.
Gavin can't do much from the bottom here.
Gavin looking for a sweep but Esponosa has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Esponosa has hold of Gavin's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Gavin manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Gavin is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gavin is trying to reverse the position but instead Esponosa has taken his back - oops!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gavin can't escape the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Esponosa has good solid back control here.

Esponosa is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Gavin is defending well though. Esponosa let's go of the attempt for now.
Ricardo Esponosa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Gavin is trying to break free.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ricardo Esponosa.
I've got Esponosa winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricardo Esponosa!
Ricardo Esponosa decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.