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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Leonel Esperanza (ranked 3437 p4p, 2593 weight class) and Zaid Griffith (ranked 284 p4p, 228 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.
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| 185 cm
25
155
2 - 1 - 0 |
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181 cm
26
153
2 - 1 - 0 |
BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin |
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Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leonel Esperanza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zaid Griffith!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Albert Achterberg and Saam Ante.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Griffith throws the left hand but Esperanza avoids the punch easily.
Esperanza keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Griffith.
Esperanza tries to close the distance and clinch up but Griffith swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Esperanza throws a hook but Griffith avoids it easily.
Griffith lands a leg kick that knocks Esperanza off balance momentarily.
Esperanza throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Griffith attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
As Griffith backs away, Esperanza returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Esperanza throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Esperanza misses with a wild body shot.
Griffith scores with a one two! Esperanza had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Griffith moves into range and connects with a jab.
Esperanza misses with an uppercut.
Griffith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Esperanza throws a low kick, looking for Griffith's leg but Griffith calmly moves out of range.
Griffith stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A telegraphed right hand from Esperanza misses the target.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Griffith misses with a looping left.
Esperanza swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Esperanza is looking to clinch but Griffith is avoiding it.
Griffith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Esperanza moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
It looks like Zaid Griffith has been cut.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Esperanza.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Esperanza drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Griffith moves out of range as Esperanza strikes.
Griffith clobbers Esperanza with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Griffith slips under a jab.
Griffith swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Esperanza scores with a jab.
Esperanza loads up on a big right hand but Griffith slips the punch.
Esperanza throws a right and a left that both miss.
Esperanza fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Griffith clinches.
Griffith has Esperanza pressed against the cage, preventing Esperanza from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Esperanza has a couple of punches blocked by Griffith.
Griffith comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Griffith gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
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!
Esperanza is looking to break free of the clinch but Griffith has double underhooks.
Esperanza working hard to break the clinch.
Griffith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Griffith with a hook.
Griffith slips a straight right by Esperanza.
Esperanza throws a shot to the body.
Griffith tries to clinch up but Esperanza circles away and keeps his distance.
Griffith lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Esperanza at a distance.
Donk. Griffith catches Esperanza right on the button with a cross.
Esperanza lands a nice shot that snaps Griffith's head back.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esperanza moves away from the strike by Griffith.
Esperanza throws a chopping leg kick but Griffith manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Griffith connects with the punch.
Esperanza misses with a body shot.
Griffith fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Esperanza looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Esperanza gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Griffith.
Esperanza bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Griffith steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Esperanza.
Griffith uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Griffith checks a leg kick.
The fighters circling - Griffith throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Griffith fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Griffith takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Esperanza tries to clinch up but Griffith circles away and keeps his distance.
Griffith looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Esperanza fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Griffith gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Esperanza.
Esperanza gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Esperanza rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Griffith moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Esperanza throws a leg kick but Griffith moved away.
Griffith misses with a looping right.
Esperanza throws a hook but Griffith avoids it easily.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esperanza stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Esperanza displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Griffith throws out the jab.
Esperanza appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Griffith gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Esperanza.
Griffith is rocked!
Esperanza Throws a clean left jab. Esperanza Twirls his body and connects with a Spinning Back Fist that connects flush with Griffith's chin! Griffith crumbles to the ground and Esperanza follows up with some unanswered strikes. It's all over!! Nice standup skills displayed by Esperanza!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:15 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Leonel Esperanza!
An out of breath Leonel Esperanza thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
79% |
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