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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Max Gross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Esparza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.
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| 178 cm
19
158 lbs
0 - 2 - 0 |
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179 cm
22
163 lbs
1 - 1 - 0 |
Excellent boxer
Prefers standup
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World class MT
Tends to cut
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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
0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Max Gross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Eric Esparza!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Albert Achterberg and Paul Aken.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gross takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Esparza fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Esparza gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Gross counters with a straight right hand.
Gross delivers a nice body kick.
Gross lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Esparza goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Eric Esparza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Esparza swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Esparza closes the distance and lands a one-two.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gross throws out a loose jab but Esparza uses good head movement to avoid it.
Esparza fails to land with a series of punches.
Esparza misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Esparza lets loose with a powerful body kick. Gross will feel that in the morning.
Gross just misses with a punch to the body.
Gross staying out of range there.
Nice jab there from Esparza.
Gross keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Esparza.
Esparza steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Gross. That one must have hurt.
Gross looks for the body kick but Esparza saw that one coming.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Gross dodges the punch combination from Esparza.
No joy there for Esparza, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Esparza throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A counter left hand to the body from Gross misses its target.
Gross misses with a hook. Esparza ducked under it nicely.
Gross fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Esparza is out of range.
Esparza lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Esparza slips a jab from Gross.
Esparza looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Esparza throws a sloppy head kick
and Gross counters with a stiff right hand.
Esparza tries to bum rush Gross with a series of wild strikes but Gross uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Esparza throws a right hand that Gross ducks under and follows up with a left that Gross also avoids with ease.
Esparza throws a series of punches but Gross moves out of range.
Esparza looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Esparza throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Gross on the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Esparza dips to his left and cracks Gross with an uppercut!
Esparza misses with a wild combination.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gross takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Esparza moves out of range of the leg kick from Gross.
Esparza rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gross moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gross misses with a hook.
Gross throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gross on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Esparza checks a leg kick nicely.
Esparza scores with a push kick.
Gross throws a jab when Esparza was well out of range.
Esparza misses with a double jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Esparza on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Gross is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Esparza.
Esparza takes a swing at Gross's ribcage but misses.
Gross is looking to counter punch.
Esparza tries to score with a low kick but Gross moves his leg out of the way.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Eric Esparza dominated that round.
That's time! Gross's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Esparza misses with a kick to the body.
Esparza bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
A left lands for Esparza.
Esparza keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gross.
Esparza is looking for the big counter here.
Gross misses with a looping left.
Esparza throws a nice looking combination but Gross bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gross throwing a counter right hand but Esparza manages to avoid it.
Gross takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Esparza has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gross showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Esparza.
Esparza misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gross fires out a quick counter leg kick but Esparza just manages to avoid it.
Gross lands with a thumping leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gross ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Esparza moves away.
Gross takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Esparza scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gross on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Gross takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Esparza does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Gross misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Esparza.
Esparza throws a head kick that misses
and Gross cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gross throws a nice looking combination but Esparza bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Jab by Esparza.
Gross lands a jab to the head.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Esparza!
Esparza tries a head kick but it misses.
Gross throwing a counter right hand but Esparza manages to avoid it.
Esparza ducks under a wild hook from Gross.
Gross will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Gross explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Gross has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Esparza.
Gross tried to score with a low kick but Esparza checks it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gross lands a front kick.
A jab lands there for Gross.
Esparza throws a series of punches but Gross moves out of range.
Esparza's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Esparza duly obliges.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Esparza. Beautiful body shot.
Esparza finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Esparza throws a sloppy head kick and Gross moves out of range easily.
Esparza tries to bum rush Gross with a series of wild strikes but Gross uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Esparza looks to land a combination but Gross avoids it well.
Esparza looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Gross throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Esparza thuds his shin into the meat of Gross's side.
Esparza pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Esparza ducks under a wild hook from Gross.
Gross ducks under a wild hook from Esparza.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gross misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Esparza.
Esparza ducks under a wild hook from Gross.
Jab, jab by Esparza - just one landing.
Gross takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
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 fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Esparza throws a body kick that misses
and Gross counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The fighters circling - Gross throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Esparza lands with a good body shot.
Esparza throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Gross counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Gross.
A telegraphed right hand from Gross misses the target.
Esparza throws a left and a right that both miss
and Gross connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gross uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Eric Esparza seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Esparza looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Eric Esparza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Esparza fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gross throws a body kick that misses.
Esparza misses the jab.
Gross takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Esparza slips under a jab from Gross.
Gross pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gross showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Esparza.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for Esparza.
Esparza lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gross circles away quickly and effectively.
Esparza looks to throw the jab but Gross is out of range.
Gross throws the kick towards the body but Esparza avoids it.
Esparza is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gross.
Esparza chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Gross can pounce on him.
Gross fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Esparza.
A good leg kick by Gross.
Gross jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Esparza throws a fast counter high kick but Gross manages to duck under it in time.
Esparza throws a right hand that Gross ducks under and follows up with a left that Gross also avoids with ease.
A head kick misses from Gross.
Esparza throws a wild body kick that Gross sees coming a mile off.
Gross throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esparza misses with a wild combination.
Esparza throws a right hand that Gross ducks under and follows up with a left that Gross also avoids with ease.
Esparza looks to land a body kick but Gross moved away.
It looked like Gross wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Esparza blocks the body kick.
A little jabbing left from Esparza on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Gross missing with a left hand there. Esparza was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A low kick from Gross misses
enabling Esparza to counter with a crisp jab.
Gross throws a hook but Esparza avoids it easily.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Gross.
Gross loads up on a big right hand but Esparza slips the punch.
Esparza throws the kick towards the body but Gross avoids it.
Esparza throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gross tried to counter with a leg kick but Esparza avoided it.
Gross uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Esparza has time to react.
Gross throws a wild body kick that Esparza sees coming a mile off.
Gross pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but Max Gross did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
That's time! Back to the action!
Gross avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gross feints and then cracks Esparza's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Esparza down.
Esparza throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Esparza misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Esparza waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gross.
Esparza throws a nice looking combination but Gross bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Esparza looks for the body kick but Gross saw that one coming.
Gross scores with a hook to the body. Esparza takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Esparza misses with a kick to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick misses from Esparza.
An attempted straight right counter from Gross misses the target.
Gross misses with an uppercut. Esparza saw that one coming.
Esparza throws a counter combo.
Esparza moves away from the strike by Gross.
Esparza moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Gross moves forwards but Esparza connects with a nice, crisp jab.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Gross throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Gross tries to land a front kick but Esparza steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A slapping leg kick lands for Gross.
Esparza dodges the punch combination from Gross.
Esparza throws a big counter head kick but Gross avoids it with no problem.
A shot to the liver by Esparza. Beautiful body shot.
Gross tries a low kick but Esparza avoids it.
Gross has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Esparza finds it's way round the side to connect with Gross's head.
Esparza ducks under a wild hook from Gross.
Esparza blocks a low kick nicely.
Esparza misses the shot to the body.
Gross connects with a solid leg kick.
Gross takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Esparza throws a nice head kick!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gross throws a half hearted mid kick.
Gross with a jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gross misses with a few strikes there.
A left and a right from Esparza both land. Nice combination.
Gross takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Esparza moves away from the strike by Gross.
As Gross backs off Esparza throws a huge counter combo but Gross manages to avoid it all.
Gross moves into the clinch successfully.
Esparza wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Esparza tries to break the clinch but Gross is controlling the position.
Gross lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A shot in the inside from Gross.
Gross lands a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close fourth round but I would say that Max Gross will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!
Esparza lands with a good body shot.
Esparza misses with a body kick.
Gross pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Esparza flicks out a counter leg kick but Gross steps away.
Esparza fails to land with a series of punches.
Esparza pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Both fighters circling a little - Gross finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Gross walks forward, straight into a front kick from Esparza.
Gross looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Gross throws the kick towards the body but Esparza avoids it.
Esparza blocks the body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esparza throws a body kick, spinning off balance
enabling Gross to counter with a crisp jab.
Esparza tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A little feinted left hand from Gross on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Esparza throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice body punch from Gross.
Gross throws a hook but Esparza blocks it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Esparza throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Esparza throws a chopping leg kick but Gross manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Gross slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Gross scores with a nice strike.
Gross moves out of range as Esparza throws a body kick.
Gross appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Esparza.
Esparza is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Gross throws a push kick but Esparza slaps the foot to one side.
Esparza swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gross makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Gross looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Gross misses with a body kick.
Nice defenses there by Esparza.
Gross sizes up Esparza with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Gross lands a really nice looking cross but Esparza seems unphased.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Esparza throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gross.
It appears Gross was looking to counter with a kick there.
Esparza throws a lazy head kick
and Gross counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Esparza is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gross throws a jab but it's blocked by Esparza.
Esparza stalks Gross and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Gross's face. Gross staggers backwards, shaken.
Gross is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Esparza.
Esparza falls off balance throwing a combination
and Gross counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Esparza swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gross counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gross feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Esparza's calf.
Esparza throws a leg kick
and Gross counters with a nice body shot.
A head kick misses from Esparza.
Esparza looks for the body kick but Gross saw that one coming.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gross fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Esparza checks it well.
Gross walks forward, straight into a front kick from Esparza.
Gross connects with a right hand. Esparza shakes it off.
Esparza moves out of range as Gross throws a body kick.
And that's the end of the fight!
Max Gross showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gross 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 48:47
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 47:48
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 48:47
In favor of your winner, by split decision... Max Gross!
A victorious Max Gross thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
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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
82% |
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