PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ben Backman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy Esperanza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Backman
vs
Esperanza

184 cm
23
220 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

187 cm
27
213 lbs
18 - 16 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Ben Backman!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 16 - 0, fighting out of London, Jimmy Esperanza!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Ackerman and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Backman lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Backman throws a right hand that Esperanza ducks under and follows up with a left that Esperanza also avoids with ease.
Ben Backman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Backman misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Backman tries a head kick but it misses.
Esperanza fails to land the takedown.

Esperanza shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Esperanza showed some decent athleticism there.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Backman tries to get to full guard but Esperanza has control of the leg.

Esperanza looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Esperanza not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Esperanza is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Backman is just riding it out for now. Esperanza eventually gives up the hold.
Esperanza slows the pace down in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Esperanza sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Backman defending well though.
Backman is trying to stand back up but Esperanza is controlling him
Esperanza wants to control but Backman is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Esperanza is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Backman sees it coming and defends easily.

Esperanza is working for a submission of some sort.
Esperanza throws a strike but Backman avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Backman preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Esperanza trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Backman avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Backman is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Esperanza is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Esperanza trying to control the position from guard on top but Backman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esperanza loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Backman keeping moving, preventing Esperanza from controlling successfully.
Backman wants to stand and escape but Esperanza is having none of it.
Esperanza wants to pass the guard but Backman is keeping the position.
Esperanza throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Backman works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Backman keeping moving, preventing Esperanza from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jimmy Esperanza.
Backman tries to bum rush Esperanza with a series of wild strikes but Esperanza uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esperanza throws a head kick that misses.
Esperanza checks the leg kick.
Jab from Backman.
Backman misses with a kick to the body.
Backman connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Esperanza misses with a head kick.
Backman scores with a shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Backman jabbing away but nothing is landing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Backman scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Backman misses with the combination.
Backman throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ben Backman will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Esperanza shoots in but Backman avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Backman looks to land a left hand but Esperanza moved out of range nicely.
Backman throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Esperanza counters with a head kick that drops Backman!
Esperanza wants to control from the top but Backman keeps moving.
Esperanza sitting in guard here, content to control.
Backman tries to land a sweep but no joy.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Esperanza lands a couple of digs.
Backman wants to stand up but Esperanza is controlling him.
Backman preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esperanza with a flurry of punches that miss.
Backman manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Esperanza manages to get himself to full guard.
Esperanza tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Esperanza manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Backman manages to get himself to full guard.
Esperanza is stalling in the full guard.
Esperanza looking to pass the guard.

Esperanza is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Backman looking for a sweep. Not yet Backman, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esperanza is looking to work some ground and pound but Backman has wrist control.
Backman is trying to control the position but Esperanza postures up.

Backman is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Esperanza tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Backman smiles and moves away.

Esperanza decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
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 working for a kimura but Backman is defending it quite comfortably.
Backman moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Backman keeping full guard, as Esperanza tries to pass.
Esperanza sitting in guard here, content to control.

Backman scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Some wild striking there from Backman.
Backman throws a jab when Esperanza was well out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Backman missing with a left hand there. Esperanza was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Esperanza shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Backman but Backman pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ben Backman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimmy Esperanza.
Backman listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Esperanza wants to clinch.
Esperanza tries for a takedown but Backman sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Esperanza bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Backman's head backwards.

It looks like Ben Backman has been cut.
Esperanza showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Backman.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Esperanza showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ben Backman's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Esperanza walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Backman checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Backman throws a big shot that misses.
Backman pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Esperanza back to the cage. Backman follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Backman throws a right hand that Esperanza ducks under and follows up with a left that Esperanza also avoids with ease.
Backman avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
A nice combination there by Backman.
Backman is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Backman swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Backman connects with a crisp jab.
Esperanza shoots in but Backman avoids the takedown attempt easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Backman throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Backman swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Esperanza counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Backman is rocked!
Esperanza feints with a left and delivers a massive head kick! Backman collapses like a ragdoll! Game over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Jimmy Esperanza!
Jimmy Esperanza is the new light heavyweight champion!