PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Trang Troc (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gerard Esqueda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Troc's entrance music is Dr. Octagon - Real Raw. A fine choice. Esqueda has chosen Cant del Barça as his entrance music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Troc
vs
Esqueda

175 cm
33
168 lbs
17 - 6 - 0

179 cm
25
169 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

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 17 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Trang Troc!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gerard Esqueda!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Ian Loll and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Troc finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Troc gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Troc prevents a body shot from Esqueda.
Esqueda tries a body shot but Troc blocks it.
Troc blocking some punches.
Esqueda looking to stall.
Troc is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Esqueda is defending well for now.
Troc misses with some punches.
Esqueda struggles to land a body shot inside as Troc controls his hands.
A short body shot lands from Esqueda as the two fighters clinch.

Troc breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Troc avoids a kick to the body.
Esqueda lands a jab.
Troc misses with a body shot.
Esqueda finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Esqueda throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Trang Troc is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esqueda misses with the body kick
and Troc counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Troc closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Troc crunches a lovely knee into Esqueda's ribcage.
Troc landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Troc is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Esqueda is defending well for now.
Troc misses with a punch on the inside.
Troc throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Troc putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Esqueda in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Esqueda.
Esqueda tries to work over Troc's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Troc digs a right hand into Esqueda's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Esqueda's gas tank.
Esqueda fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Troc tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Esqueda avoids it.
Esqueda is trying to pull guard but Troc turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Esqueda dodges an elbow strike from Troc.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Troc lands a nice knee to the body.
Esqueda struggles to land a body shot inside as Troc controls his hands.
Troc missing with knees to the body.
Troc misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Esqueda avoiding damage as Troc throws knees to the body.
Troc crunches a lovely knee into Esqueda's ribcage.
Esqueda looks winded!
Esqueda working aggressively here.
Troc blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Esqueda dodges an elbow strike from Troc.
Troc trying to land knees to the body.
Troc looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Esqueda on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Esqueda managing to block the knees to the body from Troc.
Troc misses with a punch to the body.
Troc tries to throw a body punch but Esqueda avoids it by throwing Troc back against the cage.
Esqueda working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Troc smiles and moves away.
Troc takes a kick to the side of the head.
A swing and a miss from Troc.
Troc just misses with a punch to the body.
Troc throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Esqueda.
Troc tests Esqueda's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Esqueda fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Troc has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Troc lands a really nice looking cross but Esqueda seems unphased.
Esqueda tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Troc tries to bum rush Esqueda with a series of wild strikes but Esqueda uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Troc staying out of range there.
Troc scores with a jab to the body.
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!
Troc lands a body shot.
Esqueda cracks a nice hook into Troc's ribs.
Esqueda takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Esqueda finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Troc uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Esqueda.
Troc throws a leg kick but Esqueda checks it.
Esqueda takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Troc.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Esqueda's corner calls for a 1-2. Esqueda obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Troc scores with a shot to the body.
Esqueda thows a left - swing and a miss!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Trang Troc dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Some bone on bone action there as Troc checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Trang Troc seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A combination from Troc does no damage.
Troc throws a quick inside leg kick.
Troc tries to clinch up.
Troc turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Troc swings for the body but Esqueda moves out of range.
Troc stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Esqueda.
A nice inside leg kick there by Troc. That's going to slow Esqueda down.
Nice body kick from Esqueda.
Esqueda throws a leg kick but Troc moved away.
Troc throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Troc is looking to wear down Esqueda with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Esqueda misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Troc is looking to clinch but Esqueda is avoiding it.
Troc connects with a leg kick. Esqueda looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Troc misses with a low kick.
Esqueda misses with an attempted mid kick.
Esqueda pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A thudding body kick lands there by Esqueda!
Troc on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Esqueda uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Troc fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Esqueda checks it well.
Trang Troc is winning the standup battle so far.
Troc lands a nice shot to the body.
Esqueda pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A low kick from Troc misses
and Esqueda counters with a slapping leg kick.
Troc swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Troc, as that shot connected.
Troc moves out of range as Esqueda throws a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Troc connects with a body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Troc lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Troc displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Esqueda throws out the jab.
Troc misses with a wild body shot.
A jab from Troc finds it's way through Esqueda's defenses.
Esqueda checks a leg kick nicely.
A solid leg kick lands there for Esqueda.
Troc thows a body shot but no joy.
A nice combination there by Troc.
A thudding body kick lands there by Esqueda!
Troc pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Esqueda back to the cage. Troc follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Esqueda misses with a hook
and Troc counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Donk. Troc catches Esqueda right on the button with a cross.
Esqueda closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Troc takes a swing at Esqueda's ribcage but misses.
Troc with a nice cross.
Esqueda throws a right and a left that Troc avoids nicely.
Esqueda takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Troc throws a shot to the body.
Esqueda walks into a stiff left hand from Troc.
Esqueda tried to score with a low kick but Troc checks it.
Esqueda keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Esqueda chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Troc can pounce on him.
Esqueda misses with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Troc works the jab nicely.
Esqueda throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Troc stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Troc lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Troc keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Esqueda.
Esqueda walks into a stiff left hand from Troc.
Esqueda changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Troc tries to avoid it but Esqueda manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Troc to the ground. Troc escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Esqueda throws a leg kick which misses Troc's front leg but catches the back leg as Troc tries to avoid it.
Troc scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Esqueda bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A head kick from Troc lands but Esqueda takes it in his stride.
An inside leg kick lands from Troc.
Troc swings for the body but Esqueda moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Trang Troc dominated that second round.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Esqueda throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Troc tries a head kick but it misses.
Troc misses the shot to the body.
Esqueda looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Esqueda scoring well with a low kick there.
Troc is looking to slow Esqueda down with leg kicks.
Esqueda throws a head kick but Troc moves out of range.
Esqueda throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Esqueda takes a jab right on the kisser.
Esqueda throws a big shot that misses.
Troc takes a swing at Esqueda's ribcage but misses.
Troc scores with a hook to the body. Esqueda takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Troc connects with a body shot that sends Esqueda's belly button to the back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Troc scores with a leg kick.
Troc scores with a shot to the body.
A head kick misses from Esqueda.
Esqueda takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Esqueda tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Esqueda showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Troc.
Esqueda throws a shot from downtown. Troc moves away and avoids it.
Troc misses with a wild combination.
Troc throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A nice leg kick lands there from Esqueda.
Troc lands the left hand.
Troc lands with a kick to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Troc looks to land a left hand but Esqueda moved out of range nicely.

Troc gets a clinch.
Troc wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Esqueda tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Troc just stands there and leans against the cage.
Esqueda scores with a shot to the side of Troc's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Troc blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Esqueda takes an elbow to the temple.
Gerard Esqueda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Troc misses with an elbow over the top.
Esqueda fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Esqueda avoids the elbow strike from Troc, against the cage.
Esqueda's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Esqueda lands a hook to the side of the head.
Troc is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Esqueda is defending well for now.
Troc tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Esqueda avoids it.
Troc looking to throw knees to the head but Esqueda is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda misses with a hook from the clinch.
Trang Troc has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Esqueda blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Esqueda blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Troc tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Troc landing knees to the body.
Esqueda misses with a body punch.
Esqueda is trying to pull guard but Troc turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Troc misses with a punch to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A short left from Esqueda.
Troc misses with a hook to the ribs.
Troc creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Troc trying to land knees to the body.
Troc is trying to break the clinch but Esqueda has him pressed against the cage.
Troc throws an elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda misses with some punches.
Esqueda blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Trang Troc is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Esqueda manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Troc has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Troc wants to stand but Esqueda has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Esqueda tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Troc wants to control from the top but Esqueda keeps moving.
Troc knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Esqueda on the ground.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Esqueda is on top in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Trang Troc showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Troc, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Trang Troc!
In his post fight interview, Trang Troc started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.