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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gerard Esqueda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donny Donowitz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Esqueda comes to the cage accompanied by Cant del Barça. Donowitz has chosen Mama Said Knock You Out as his entrance music. Gerard Esqueda has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?
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| 179 cm
29
169 lbs
22 - 9 - 2 |
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181 cm
33
160 lbs
33 - 6 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
22 - 9 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Gerard Esqueda!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
33 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Donny Donowitz!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, James Ackerman and Colin Fotheringham.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A leg kick checked by Esqueda.
Donowitz throws a nice outside leg kick.
Donny Donowitz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Donowitz misses with a kick to the body.
Esqueda fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Donowitz manages to avoid it.
Esqueda throws a low kick but Donowitz avoids it.
Esqueda takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Esqueda takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Donowitz buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Donowitz moves away from the strike by Esqueda.
Donowitz takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Esqueda uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Donowitz.
Donowitz throws a leg kick that misses.
Esqueda just misses with a punch to the body.
Donowitz looks to score with a jab to the body but Esqueda is just out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Esqueda. Donowitz does a little dance to reset his feet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Donowitz tries to score with a low kick but Esqueda moves his leg out of the way.
A jab from Donowitz misses.
Donowitz throws an off balance right hand
and Esqueda counters with a takedown into side control.
The ground and pound from Esqueda seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Donowitz parries the strikes from Esqueda easily there. Esqueda is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Donowitz to escape.
Donowitz avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Esqueda.
Esqueda working the strikes but Donowitz uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Esqueda looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Donowitz with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Esqueda trying to control from half guard but Donowitz is working away.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Esqueda throwing shots but Donowitz is blocking nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Esqueda thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Donowitz's head.
Esqueda 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.
Donowitz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Esqueda.
Esqueda wants to free his trapped foot but Donowitz is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Esqueda trying to advance position but Donowitz counters by regaining guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Esqueda throws a big elbow that misses.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda advances to half guard.
Donowitz regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Esqueda.
Esqueda wants to pass the guard but Donowitz is keeping the position.
Esqueda wants to control from the top but Donowitz keeps moving.
Esqueda won't allow Donowitz to sweep him here.
Esqueda slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda wants to control from the top but Donowitz keeps moving.
Donowitz wriggles free and stands up.
Esqueda misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Donowitz.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Esqueda throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Donowitz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Esqueda manages to avoid it.
Donowitz gets a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Gerard Esqueda dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Donowitz walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Donowitz takes one to the chin there.
Esqueda throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Donowitz darts in trying to clinch
and Esqueda counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Esqueda thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Donowitz's head.
Esqueda tries to pass to full mount but Donowitz defends it.
Donowitz keeping hold of Esqueda's head, controlling as best he can.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Esqueda trying to control from Donowitz's half guard. Donowitz has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Esqueda tries to free his leg and advance position but Donowitz is retaining full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Esqueda's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Donowitz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Esqueda is one step ahead there.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donowitz is still trying to improve position.
Gerard Esqueda overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Esqueda stays in close to Donowitz's body and controls the position.
Donowitz keeping moving, preventing Esqueda from controlling successfully.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda prevents Donowitz from getting back to his feet.
The ref stands the fighters back up. Gerard Esqueda wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Donowitz lands a head kick. Esqueda smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Donowitz lands a high kick!
Esqueda checks a leg kick.
Donowitz throws a body kick that misses.
A bone on bone clash there as Donowitz blocks the leg kick.
Donowitz lands a jab to the head.
Esqueda throws a leg kick but Donowitz sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Donny Donowitz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Esqueda checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Esqueda lands with a hook. Donowitz tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donowitz swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Donowitz has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Esqueda finds it's way round the side to connect with Donowitz's head.
Donowitz misses the shot to the body.
Esqueda wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Donowitz scores with a jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Esqueda throws a leg kick
and Donowitz counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Esqueda thinking.
Esqueda tries for a takedown but Donowitz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Esqueda tries to land a front kick but Donowitz steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Donowitz lands a nice leg kick that just misses Esqueda's sensitive parts.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A chopping leg kick lands by Donowitz.
Esqueda throws a front kick that sends Donowitz stumbling back into the cage.
Donowitz throws a low kick but Esqueda avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Gerard Esqueda dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.
Donowitz is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Esqueda.
Donowitz connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Esqueda momentarily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Esqueda. Donowitz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Esqueda slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Donowitz walks into a jab.
Donowitz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Esqueda.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Esqueda.
Esqueda takes a jab right on the kisser.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Donowitz. Esqueda shrugs it off though.
Esqueda is looking to wear down Donowitz with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Donowitz lands with a straight right. Esqueda didn't see that one coming.
Esqueda takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Esqueda moves out of range of the leg kick from Donowitz.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Donowitz misses with an uppercut.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Donowitz takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Esqueda is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Donowitz takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Esqueda has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Donowitz.
Donowitz slips a straight right by Esqueda.
The fight stays on the outside here - Donowitz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Esqueda throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Donowitz's waist but Donowitz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Esqueda off to one side.
Donowitz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Donowitz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Esqueda manages to avoid it.
Donowitz throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Esqueda sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Donowitz moves out of range of the body kick.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donowitz uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Esqueda has time to react.
Donowitz throws a front kick that sends Esqueda stumbling back into the cage.
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!
An inside leg kick lands from Esqueda.
A nice leg kick lands there from Donowitz.
Donowitz looks to land a body kick but Esqueda moved away.
Esqueda is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Donowitz.
A nice inside leg kick there by Esqueda. That's going to slow Donowitz down.
Donowitz throws a nice head kick!
Donowitz gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Donowitz tries to work over Esqueda's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Esqueda breaks the clinch.
A lazy body kick from Donowitz
and Esqueda counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Donowitz's guard now.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda trying to control the position from guard on top but Donowitz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Esqueda with a flurry of punches that miss.
Esqueda is fighting to break Donowitz's control of his arms but Donowitz is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The ref stands the fighters back up because Gerard Esqueda just wasn't active enough.
Donowitz tries a low kick but Esqueda avoids it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Donowitz misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Donowitz struggles to land a body shot inside as Esqueda controls his hands.
Donowitz lands a body shot in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Esqueda.
Donowitz blocking some punches.
Donowitz manages to break the clinch.
Donowitz scores with a decent looking hook.
A slapping body kick lands there for Donowitz.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A punch combination from Donowitz misses.
Esqueda throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Donowitz misses the shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Donny Donowitz really dominated that 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.
Esqueda misses the jab.
Donowitz misses the shot to the body.
Esqueda looks to score with a jab to the body but Donowitz is just out of range.
Donowitz lands with a nice body punch.
Esqueda swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Esqueda connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Donowitz's hands.
Donowitz throws a solid leg kick but Esqueda takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Donowitz.
Esqueda lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Donowitz tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Esqueda is able to avoid easily.
Donowitz throws a solid leg kick but Esqueda takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Donowitz.
Donowitz thows a leg kick but Esqueda checks it
and Esqueda counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Donowitz!
Esqueda misses with the ground and pound.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Esqueda in side control, just content to control the action for now.
We've been hearing that Esqueda has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Esqueda throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Donowitz works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Esqueda throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda trying to control from half guard but Donowitz is working away.
Esqueda not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Esqueda works his foot free and advances to mount.
Esqueda throws some wild stikes that Donowitz manages to avoid easily.
Donowitz slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Esqueda throwing shots but Donowitz is blocking nicely.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donowitz preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Esqueda looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Donowitz with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Esqueda tries to pass the half guard into mount. Donowitz knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Donowitz is looking for a sweep. Esqueda is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Donowitz is looking to control Esqueda's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Donowitz avoid being mounted?
That's four minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Donowitz tries to roll over but Esqueda keeps him under control.
Esqueda working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Donowitz's thigh. Donowitz counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Esqueda postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Donowitz keeping moving, preventing Esqueda from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Gerard Esqueda had his way with Donny Donowitz in that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!
Donowitz looks to land a right hand but Esqueda moved out of range.
Donowitz lands a nice hook to Esqueda's body. Esqueda takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Donowitz finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Esqueda fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Donowitz scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Esqueda doesn't seem bothered though.
Donowitz lands with a right hand.
Donowitz throws out a leg kick but Esqueda moves out of range and Donowitz only half commits.
A clash of legs there as Esqueda blocks the low kick.
Donowitz chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Donowitz blocks a low kick nicely.
Donny Donowitz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Esqueda moves out of range as Donowitz throws a body kick.
Donowitz looks to throw a body kick
and Esqueda counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Esqueda.
Esqueda throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Donowitz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Donowitz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Esqueda.
Donowitz bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Esqueda's guard.
Esqueda wants to sweep but no luck.
Esqueda looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Donowitz showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Donny Donowitz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda looking for a sweep. Not yet Esqueda, not yet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Donowitz wants to control from the top but Esqueda keeps moving.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Donowitz stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Donowitz takes a swing at Esqueda's ribcage but misses.
Esqueda checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donowitz works Esqueda's body with a nice hook.
Nice uppercut there from Esqueda.
Gerard Esqueda is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Donowitz moves into range and connects with a jab.
It looks like Gerard Esqueda has been cut.
Esqueda swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Esqueda misses with an uppercut
and Donowitz counters with a big head kick but Esqueda shrugs it off.
Donowitz tries to land a leg kick but Esqueda saw it coming and moves away.
Donowitz connects with a looping right hand.
Donowitz misses with an uppercut
and Esqueda counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Donowitz!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Donowitz gets back to half guard.
Esqueda wants to pass the guard but Donowitz is defending well.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Donowitz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Esqueda seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Esqueda has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Donny Donowitz.
I think Esqueda has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 48:47
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 48:47
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 48:47
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gerard Esqueda!
Gerard Esqueda retains his lightweight title!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Gerard Esqueda made sure he mentioned $300, along with how happy he was to win his fight.
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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
91% |
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