PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Taylor Atkinson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Esparza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taylor Atkinson has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Atkinson
vs
Esparza

180 cm
20
152 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

179 cm
22
163 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

Excellent MT
Tends to cut

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 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Taylor Atkinson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Eric Esparza!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Sam Margolis and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Esparza wants to clinch up but Atkinson keeps it at a distance.
A low kick from Atkinson misses
and Esparza counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Esparza lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Atkinson throws a wild body kick that Esparza sees coming a mile off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Atkinson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Atkinson misses with a body shot.
It seemed like Esparza was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Atkinson throws a sloppy head kick and Esparza moves out of range easily.
Esparza looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Esparza lands a nice looking body kick.
Atkinson throws a head kick that misses
and Esparza counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atkinson throws a leg kick
and Atkinson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Atkinson throws a leg kick
and Esparza counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Esparza blocks a jab.
Atkinson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Esparza lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Nice body punch from Esparza.
Atkinson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Esparza digs a good hook to Atkinson's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esparza lands a nice shot that snaps Atkinson's head back.
Atkinson throws a head kick that misses.
Esparza slips a straight right by Atkinson.
Esparza scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Atkinson misses with a body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Esparza crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Atkinson - the referee stops the clock and Esparza gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Atkinson. Esparza manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Atkinson pivots, looking for a leg kick but Esparza is out of range and Atkinson settles back down.
Esparza doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Atkinson throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Esparza raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Atkinson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Esparza.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Atkinson throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Esparza counters with a nice body kick.
Atkinson misses with a hook to the body
and Esparza counters with a two punch combo.
Atkinson cracks Esparza with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Atkinson throws a sloppy head kick and Esparza moves out of range easily.
Esparza throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Atkinson fires out a quick counter leg kick but Esparza just manages to avoid it.
Esparza misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
It looked like Atkinson wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Esparza tries to close the distance and clinch but Atkinson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Atkinson jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Esparza steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Atkinson moves forwards but Esparza connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Atkinson wants to clinch.
Esparza connects with a looping right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Esparza dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Esparza checks the leg kick.
Esparza avoids the body shot from Atkinson.
Esparza is looking for the big counter here.
Esparza scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Atkinson lands with a thumping leg kick.
A head kick misses from Atkinson.
Esparza lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Atkinson throws a low kick, looking for Esparza's leg but Esparza calmly moves out of range.
A little jabbing left from Esparza on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Taylor Atkinson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Atkinson fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Esparza is out of range.
Esparza scores with a head kick. Atkinson tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

It looks like Taylor Atkinson has been cut.
Atkinson's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Esparza connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Atkinson scrambles back to his feet.
Atkinson is looking to wear down Esparza with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esparza lands a body shot.
A clash of legs there as Esparza blocks the low kick.
Atkinson looks to score with a jab to the body but Esparza is just out of range.
A leg kick checked by Esparza.
Atkinson tries to land a leg kick but Esparza saw it coming and moves away.
A head kick by Atkinson misses
and Esparza counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Eric Esparza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Atkinson motions for Esparza to come forward. Atkinson throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Atkinson swings away with a leg kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Atkinson.
Atkinson misses with a body kick.
Esparza swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Esparza scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Atkinson doesn't seem bothered though.
Atkinson throws a lazy body kick
and Esparza counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Atkinson misses with a body shot
and Esparza counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Atkinson tried to score with a low kick but Esparza checks it.
Esparza follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Atkinson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Esparza was well out of range. Poor timing from Atkinson.
Esparza throws a fast counter high kick but Atkinson manages to duck under it in time.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Atkinson throws a head kick but Esparza moves out of range.
Esparza lands a head kick. Atkinson smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson lands with a hook. Esparza tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Atkinson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Atkinson throws a leg kick but Esparza sees it coming and checks it nicely.
As Atkinson backs off Esparza throws a huge counter combo but Atkinson manages to avoid it all.
Esparza blocks a head kick by Atkinson.
A looping hook to the body misses from Atkinson. Esparza does a little dance to reset his feet.
Esparza shapes to counter with a head kick.
Atkinson misses with a low kick.
Atkinson throws a sloppy head kick
and Esparza counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Atkinson misses with a kick to the body
and Esparza counters with a three punch combo that has Atkinson backing up. Atkinson nods at Esparza to acknowledge the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson throws a lazy body kick
and Atkinson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A big right from Atkinson misses.
As Atkinson backs off Esparza throws a huge counter combo but Atkinson manages to avoid it all.
Esparza pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Esparza throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Esparza tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Esparza lands a lovely overhand right.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A low kick from Atkinson misses
and Esparza counters with a big head kick but Atkinson shrugs it off.
Atkinson throws a leg kick
and Esparza counters with a series of strikes. Atkinson will be more careful next time no doubt.
Atkinson misses with a low kick.
A countering left hand to the body from Esparza misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Esparza showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Taylor Atkinson's cut.
That's time! Atkinson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Atkinson looks to score with a jab to the body but Esparza is just out of range.
Atkinson misses with a low kick as Esparza jumps back.
It seemed like Esparza was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Esparza checks the leg kick.
Atkinson looks to land a left hand but Esparza moved out of range nicely.
Atkinson throws a lazy body kick
and Esparza counters with a stiff right hand.
Atkinson misses with a leg kick
and Esparza counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Atkinson feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Esparza's calf.
Atkinson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Esparza unleashes a big counter combination but Atkinson bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Atkinson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atkinson throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Atkinson misses with a low kick.
Esparza let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Esparza blocks a jab.
Atkinson throws a leg kick that is checked
and Esparza counters with a slapping leg kick.
Esparza has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Atkinson pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Atkinson takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Atkinson takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Eric Esparza seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Atkinson throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Esparza counters with a stiff right hand.
Esparza throws a head kick that misses.
Atkinson looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick from Atkinson misses.
Esparza unleashes a big counter combination but Atkinson bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Esparza jabs Atkinson right on the nose. Atkinson blinks but takes it well.
Esparza lands a head kick!
Atkinson lands a nice looking body shot.
Atkinson feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Esparza's calf.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Esparza checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Esparza unleashes a big counter combination but Atkinson bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
A punch combination from Esparza misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson throws a half hearted mid kick.
Atkinson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Esparza throws out a counter right but Atkinson avoids it with no problem.
Esparza slips a jab from Atkinson.
Atkinson blocks a head kick by Esparza.
Atkinson quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Atkinson. Esparza shrugs it off though.
Atkinson connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Atkinson throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A low kick from Atkinson misses
and Esparza counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Atkinson is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esparza goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Atkinson swings for the body but Esparza moves out of range.
Atkinson throws a sloppy head kick and Esparza moves out of range easily.
Esparza checks a leg kick.
Atkinson throws a body shot but no joy.
Esparza follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Esparza checks a leg kick.
Atkinson thows a leg kick but Esparza checks it
and Esparza connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A clash of legs there as Esparza blocks the low kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eric Esparza comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Esparza has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eric Esparza!