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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yury Vesnev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gerard Esqueda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Esqueda has chosen Cant del Barça as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 170 cm
32
159 lbs
23 - 9 - 0 |
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179 cm
32
169 lbs
28 - 13 - 2 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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BJJ Red Belt
World class MT
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
23 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Yury Vesnev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
28 - 13 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Gerard Esqueda!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vesnev misses with a low kick.
Vesnev lands with an overhand left.
Vesnev ducks under a wild hook from Esqueda.
Esqueda scores with a jab. Vesnev acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Esqueda pivots, looking for a leg kick but Vesnev is out of range and Esqueda settles back down.
Esqueda keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Vesnev takes one to the side of the head.
Vesnev throws a leg kick
and Esqueda counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Esqueda.
Vesnev working for a triangle but Esqueda defends it easily.
We've been hearing good reports from Vesnev's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Esqueda working some strikes from top position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Esqueda accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Vesnev looking for a sweep. Not yet Vesnev, not yet.
Esqueda being controlled here momentarily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Vesnev wants to sweep here but Esqueda controlling him for the moment.
Vesnev seems keen to control Esqueda's posture.
Esqueda trying to control the position from guard on top but Vesnev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Esqueda throws a big elbow that misses.
Vesnev can't keep his opponent in guard - Esqueda advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Esqueda prevents Vesnev from improving his position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Esqueda working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Esqueda has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Vesnev manages to get to full guard.
Esqueda wants to control from the top but Vesnev keeps moving.
Vesnev is trying to control the position but Esqueda postures up.
Esqueda throws a strike but Vesnev rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Esqueda not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vesnev postures up and lands a big shot to Esqueda's brow.
Vesnev passes into half guard.
Vesnev prevents Esqueda from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vesnev works his way into side control.
Esqueda tries to bench press Vesnev off him but Vesnev keeps the position.
Vesnev throws a strike aimed at the side of Esqueda's head but Esqueda avoids it well.
Vesnev controls the position.
Sloppy strikes there by Vesnev.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda gets back to half guard.
Esqueda is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Vesnev jumps into side control!
Vesnev advances nicely into full mount.
Vesnev moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Esqueda has worked his arm free - good work by Esqueda!
Vesnev is looking to take a break and control but Esqueda is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vesnev is trying to get an arm triangle but Esqueda is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Gerard Esqueda will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!
Esqueda moves out of range of the leg kick from Vesnev.
Esqueda feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Vesnevs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Vesnev throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Esqueda was covering up waiting for the punch and Vesnev finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Esqueda is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Vesnev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vesnev landing some decent shots from guard.
Esqueda preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Esqueda being controlled here, momentarily.
Esqueda keeping moving, preventing Vesnev from controlling successfully.
Vesnev is looking to work some ground and pound but Esqueda has wrist control.
Vesnev sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Esqueda's guard.
Vesnev takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Vesnev trying to control from half guard but Esqueda is working away.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Vesnev is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Esqueda!
Vesnev looking to control but Esqueda is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Esqueda keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Vesnev controlling from mount.
Vesnev can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Esqueda is looking to escape.
Esqueda taking shots to the head.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Esqueda that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Esqueda regains half guard.
Esqueda is refusing to be controlled, as Vesnev sits in half guard.
Vesnev is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Esqueda is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Esqueda slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Esqueda keeping moving, preventing Vesnev from controlling successfully.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vesnev stands and throws Esqueda's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Vesnev trying to control the position but Esqueda is working away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vesnev in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Yury Vesnev dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!
Esqueda scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Esqueda throws the left hand but Vesnev avoids the punch easily.
Vesnev misses with a body punch
and Esqueda counters with a single leg into guard. Vesnev didn't expect that.
Vesnev looking to hit a scissor sweep but Esqueda is one step ahead there.
Vesnev working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Esqueda throwing strikes but missing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vesnev managing to control the position.
Esqueda working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Vesnev's head.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Vesnev has Esqueda pulled in close to control his posture.
Vesnev wants to sweep here but Esqueda controlling him for the moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Vesnev is on top in guard.
Vesnev looking to pass the guard.
Vesnev forces his way into half guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Vesnev is keen to just control but Esqueda is a slippery customer.
Esqueda has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Vesnev is working away from the top position though.
Esqueda works his way to full guard. Good work.
Esqueda has momentary wrist control but Vesnev slips an elbow through the middle.
Vesnev slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Vesnev lands a few punches from side control.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vesnev working the head and body with strikes.
Esqueda tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Vesnev is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Esqueda has escaped the position, nice work there.
Esqueda can't do much from the bottom here.
Vesnev lands an elbow.
Vesnev misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Esqueda is not content to let Vesnev control the position.
Vesnev working the body and head with strikes.
Esqueda is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Esqueda is not content to let Vesnev control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but Yury Vesnev did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Esqueda throws a leg kick that misses.
Esqueda takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Vesnev shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Vesnev seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Esqueda does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Yury Vesnev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vesnev is just content to waste time from the top position. Esqueda takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vesnev slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Esqueda tries to buck Vesnev off but Vesnev is having none of it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Esqueda's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Esqueda takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Vesnev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Esqueda can do to turn this around?
Esqueda tries to improve position but can't.
Vesnev trying to control the position but Esqueda is working away.
Vesnev taking a break here but Esqueda is having none of it and regains half guard.
Esqueda makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Esqueda.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Vesnev with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Vesnev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Esqueda is keeping the position for now.
Vesnev trying to control the position from guard on top but Esqueda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vesnev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Vesnev is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Esqueda keeping moving, preventing Vesnev from controlling successfully.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vesnev manages to avoid it.
Vesnev wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Esqueda cracks a nice hook into Vesnev's ribs.
Esqueda has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Some bone on bone action there as Esqueda checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Nice uppercut there from Esqueda.
Esqueda tests Vesnev's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Esqueda tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vesnev was well out of range. Poor timing from Esqueda.
Esqueda throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Vesnev tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Esqueda was well out of range. Poor timing from Vesnev.
Esqueda lands with an uppercut that bounces Vesnev off the cage and back into range.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vesnev connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Yury Vesnev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Esqueda throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Vesnev sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Esqueda keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Vesnev.
Vesnev is looking to wear down Esqueda with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Vesnev walks into a jab.
Esqueda tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Esqueda throws a low kick, looking for Vesnev's leg but Vesnev calmly moves out of range.
A low kick from Esqueda is predictable there
and Vesnev counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Esqueda!
Vesnev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Esqueda keeps working.
Vesnev controlling from side mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vesnev in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Yury Vesnev had his way with Gerard Esqueda in that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!
Vesnev gets a double leg takedown into Esqueda's guard.
Esqueda utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Vesnev tries to free his leg and advance position but Esqueda is retaining full guard.
Vesnev throwing strikes from guard but Esqueda blocks nicely.
Vesnev trying to control the position from guard on top but Esqueda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Esqueda wants to sweep here but Vesnev controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vesnev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Esqueda is keeping the position for now.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Vesnev seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Vesnev pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A bone on bone clash there as Esqueda blocks the leg kick.
Esqueda blocks a leg kick.
Vesnev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Esqueda takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Esqueda swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gerard Esqueda seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Vesnev shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Vesnev showed some decent athleticism there.
Esqueda controlling the position well.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda is trying to get back to full guard.
Gerard Esqueda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vesnev lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Vesnev trying to control from half guard but Esqueda is working away.
Vesnev tries to pass the half guard into mount. Esqueda knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vesnev is keen to just control but Esqueda is a slippery customer.
Vesnev 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.
Vesnev looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Vesnev trying to control from half guard but Esqueda is working away.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Good leg kick by Esqueda there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Vesnev bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Esqueda pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Vesnev throws a hook to the side of Esqueda's head but Esqueda sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
An inside leg kick from Vesnev misses.
Vesnev misses with a series of wild punches.
Nice shot by Esqueda.
Vesnev fails to land with a series of punches.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Esqueda throws an ugly left hook that misses
so Vesnev counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Vesnev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Vesnev trying to control but Esqueda is working from the bottom.
And that's the end of the fight!
Yury Vesnev showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Vesnev 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 49:46
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 50:46
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 49:46
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yury Vesnev!
Our winner, Yury Vesnev, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
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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
31% |
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