PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hutch Gibson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Esposito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Gibson
vs
Esposito

185 cm
28
175 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

178 cm
25
182 lbs
15 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hutch Gibson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Frank Esposito!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Steve Smith and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Esposito drops his hands momentarily and Gibson takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Esposito throws a leg kick but Gibson checks it.
Gibson takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Gibson misses with a shot to the body

and Esposito counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Esposito as Gibson tries to tie him up.
Esposito is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Esposito's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Gibson misses with a knee strike.
Esposito is looking to control Gibson's arms but Gibson gets an underhook and turns him. Now Esposito has his back to the cage.

Gibson gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Gibson thows a huge punch but Esposito dodges it nicely.
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!
Gibson is trying to control the action in half guard but Esposito is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Esposito manages to get to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esposito keeping full guard, as Gibson tries to pass.
Gibson throwing strikes from guard but Esposito blocks nicely.
Gibson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Gibson thows a big elbow that misses.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Esposito is on top in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Esposito has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gibson is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esposito wants to control from the top but Gibson keeps moving.
Gibson being controlled here, momentarily.
Esposito trying to control the position from guard on top but Gibson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Frank Esposito has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Esposito tries to keep at a distance but Gibson has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito scores with a shoulder strike.
Gibson managing to block the knees to the body from Esposito.
Esposito digs a right hand underneath Gibson's ribcage. Gibson let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Esposito wants to stall.
Esposito avoiding damage as Gibson throws knees to the body.
Gibson is trying to drag Esposito to the mat but Esposito just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Esposito misses with a hook to the ribs.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Gibson as Esposito tries to tie him up.
Nice body punch from Esposito.
Esposito lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Esposito lands a body shot in the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Esposito looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esposito misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Esposito tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short right from Esposito.
Gibson is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Esposito throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gibsons head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Esposito lands an elbow that stopped Gibson in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Hutch Gibson has been cut.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Esposito gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gibson.
Gibson stalling the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Esposito lands with a right to the head.
Esposito leaning against his opponent.
Esposito misses with a punch to the body.
A bit of stalling here from Gibson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Esposito dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hutch Gibson's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
A nice leg kick lands there from Gibson.
Esposito throws a looping overhand right but Gibson ducks down to avoid it.
Gibson does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Good leg kick by Esposito there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Esposito throws a series of punches but Gibson avoids them all with ease.
Esposito throws the kick towards the body but Gibson avoids it.
Gibson misses with a wild body shot.
Esposito does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Gibson checks the leg kick nicely there.
Gibson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Esposito.
A jab from Gibson misses.

Gibson gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gibson taking a breather.
Esposito prevents a takedown attempt there.
Esposito will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Gibson up against the cage.
Esposito lands a shot to the body.
Gibson is trying to maintain a safe position but Esposito gets an underhook and turns Gibson into the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Esposito obliges.
A short right from Esposito on the inside.
Esposito misses with a punch to the body.
Esposito works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A short uppercut from Esposito.
Esposito landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
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!
Esposito works on Gibson's body with a couple of short punches.
Esposito lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Gibson or not.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Esposito.
Esposito scores with a shot to the side of Gibson's head.
Esposito tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gibson's elbow.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Gibson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Esposito is defending well for now.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Esposito.
Gibson lands a good knee to the midsection. Esposito won't want to take too many of those.
Esposito looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Esposito is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Gibson blocks a body shot from Esposito.
Esposito lands with a light punch inside.
Esposito struggles to land a body shot inside as Gibson controls his hands.
Esposito creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Gibson's defenses.
Esposito on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gibson looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito lands a shot to the body.
Esposito lands an elbow inside that Gibson shrugs off.
Gibson tries for a takedown. No joy.
Esposito tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gibson's elbow.
Esposito is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A right handed body shot lands from Esposito.
Gibson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Esposito stalling.
Esposito tries a body shot but Gibson blocks it.
Esposito cracks Gibson with a nice body shot.
Gibson stalling in the clinch but Esposito improves position.
Esposito makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Esposito lands a nice uppercut.
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!
Esposito softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esposito is working Gibson over against the cage.
Nice body punch from Esposito.
Esposito lands a right hand.
A short right from Esposito.
Esposito scores with a nice hook to the head.
Esposito works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Esposito controlling the action here for a moment.
Nice body punch from Esposito - that landed with a thud.
Esposito lands a nice shot to the body.
The referee calls for Esposito to work.
Esposito tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gibson takes a knee to the side of the body.
Esposito lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Esposito can't find room to land a body shot as Gibson controls the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Esposito showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Hutch Gibson's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Esposito dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Gibson. That did some damage!
Gibson with a jab.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Esposito stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Esposito works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Gibson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Esposito lands a hook to the side of the head.
Esposito misses with a body punch.
Gibson stalling in the clinch but Esposito improves position.
A right handed body shot lands from Esposito.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Esposito tries a body shot but Gibson blocks it.
Esposito taking a breather.
Gibson tries to stall but Esposito uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Esposito has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gibson blocks a body shot from Esposito.
Gibson is trying to maintain a safe position but Esposito gets an underhook and turns Gibson into the cage.
Esposito lands a hook that snaps the head of Gibson backwards.
Esposito tries to work over Gibson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gibson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Esposito is defending well for now.
Gibson dodges an elbow strike from Esposito.
Esposito digs a right hand into Gibson's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Gibson's gas tank.
Esposito lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gibson backwards.
Esposito lands an uppercut.
Esposito leaning his opponent against the cage.
Gibson avoiding damage as Esposito throws knees to the body.
A shot in the inside from Esposito.
Gibson wants to stall.
Gibson missing with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esposito lands an elbow inside.
Esposito lands with a right to the head.
Esposito lands a nice shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Esposito with a knee to the head.
Gibson is working for takedown but Esposito is calmly controlling the position for now.
Esposito unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Esposito lands a hook to the side of the head.
Frank Esposito seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Esposito struggles to land a body shot inside as Gibson controls his hands.
Esposito avoiding damage.
Esposito is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Esposito.
Esposito content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Esposito lands a nice uppercut.
A short right from Esposito.
Esposito misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Esposito tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gibson avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Esposito is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Gibson stalling in the clinch but Esposito improves position.
Esposito is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gibson is defending well for now.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Esposito just misses with a elbow thrown towards Gibson's brow.
Esposito trying to land knees to the body.
Esposito misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Gibson can't get the takedown.
Esposito tries to throw a body punch but Gibson avoids it by throwing Esposito back against the cage.
Esposito trying to land knees to the body.
Esposito prevents a takedown attempt there.
Frank Esposito is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hutch Gibson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gibson misses with an elbow strike.
Esposito blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gibson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Esposito fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Gibson has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Esposito.

Gibson gets tackled into the cage by Esposito. Esposito maintains the clinch.
Esposito lands a nice knee to the body.
Gibson looking to slow down the pace here.
Gibson content to slow the pace in the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Esposito avoids a wild elbow strike from Gibson.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Esposito comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Esposito 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank Esposito!