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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rory Espinoza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manny Zelaya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zelaya is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Can't hold us. Rory Espinoza has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?
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| 179 cm
18
193 lbs
2 - 5 - 0 |
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188 cm
25
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Can Moonwalk |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rory Espinoza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Manny Zelaya!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Kenichi Hosakawa and Shirou Masuda.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Zelaya with that takedown attempt.
Zelaya misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Zelaya shoots in for a takedown but Espinoza shows good takedown defense.
As Zelaya tries to get set, Espinoza tries to push him back and clinch up but Zelaya manages to avoid the attempt.
Rory Espinoza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manny Zelaya.
Zelaya closes the distance and clinches up with Espinoza, looking for a takedown. Zelaya pushes Espinoza against the cage but Espinoza circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Espinoza is looking for a counter combo.
Espinoza slaps away a takedown attempt from Zelaya, before circling back to the center of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zelaya has closed the distance and engaged Espinoza in a clinch.
Zelaya fails to pull guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Zelaya on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zelaya tries to pull guard but Espinoza won't allow it.
With the fighters up against the cage, Espinoza throws an elbow but misses.
Espinoza stops a takedown attempt from Zelaya.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Espinoza can't break the clinch.
Zelaya pulls guard effortlessly.
Zelaya wants to sweep but no luck.
Zelaya seems keen to control Espinoza's posture.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Espinoza throws a strike but Zelaya rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Zelaya is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Espinoza is looking for a triangle but Zelaya pushes his legs off easily.
Zelaya loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zelaya is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espinoza can't keep his opponent in guard - Zelaya advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Zelaya controlling the action here.
Espinoza is defending against the submission attempts here by Zelaya.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Zelaya performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Zelaya's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Manny Zelaya dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Zelaya shoots in but Espinoza avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Espinoza keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Zelaya keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Espinoza's efforts to push away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zelaya is working for takedown but Espinoza is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rory Espinoza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manny Zelaya.
Espinoza is trying to break free.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Espinoza tries to break free but Zelaya pushes him back against the cage.
Espinoza is trying to break free.
Zelaya wants to take the fight to the mat but Espinoza manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Espinoza tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Zelaya tries for a takedown. No joy.
Zelaya breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zelaya shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Espinoza sprawls well. Espinoza wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Zelaya gets slowly back to his feet.
Espinoza throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Zelaya stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zelaya instigates a clinch.
Zelaya blocks the elbow strike.
Zelaya's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Zelaya ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Zelaya no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Zelaya manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Espinoza manages to get himself to full guard.
Zelaya is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espinoza doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Zelaya is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Zelaya trying to control the position from guard on top but Espinoza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zelaya pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Espinoza is keeping the position for now.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zelaya controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Zelaya passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Zelaya working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zelaya wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Espinoza, who protects the arm well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Manny Zelaya showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!
Espinoza stuffs the takedown attempt from Zelaya. Zelaya gets slowly back to his feet.
Zelaya goes for a double leg but Espinoza avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Espinoza continues to drive forward.
Espinoza is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Zelaya.
Zelaya closes this distance looking for a takedown but Espinoza circles away.
Espinoza is looking to counter the offense by Zelaya and move into the clinch.
Rory Espinoza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manny Zelaya.
Zelaya drives through and clinches with Espinoza against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Espinoza just misses with a elbow thrown towards Zelaya's brow.
Espinoza is trying to break free.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Espinoza pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zelaya is defended easily by Espinoza.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Zelaya misses with a head kick.
Espinoza displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Zelaya.
Espinoza changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Espinoza misses with a straight left.
Zelaya clinches.
Zelaya decides to pull guard.
Espinoza working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Zelaya's head.
Zelaya looking for a sweep. Not yet Zelaya, not yet.
Zelaya is trying to control the position but Espinoza postures up.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zelaya tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zelaya takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Espinoza chips away with some ground and pound.
Manny Zelaya has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zelaya is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Espinoza tries to get to full guard but Zelaya has control of the leg.
Zelaya is looking for a kimura but Espinoza is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Zelaya to get the leverage.
Zelaya is keen to just control but Espinoza is a slippery customer.
Espinoza is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espinoza is defending against the submission attempts here by Zelaya.
Espinoza wants to improve his position but Zelaya is controlling well.
Zelaya not doing much here.
Zelaya seems to be looking for submissions.
That's four 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.
Zelaya keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Zelaya.
Zelaya fails with a takedown attempt.
And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Manny Zelaya.
I've got Zelaya winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manny Zelaya!
A determined Manny Zelaya didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!
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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
18% |
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