PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ashoe Atogwe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonathan Espozito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ashoe Atogwe could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Jonathan Espozito's chin.

Atogwe
vs
Espozito

188 cm
21
210 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

197 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ashoe Atogwe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jonathan Espozito!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Mauricio Rocha and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Espozito misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Atogwe tries to clinch up but Espozito circles away and keeps his distance.
Atogwe stuffs the takedown attempt from Espozito. Espozito gets slowly back to his feet.
Atogwe tries to clinch up.
Atogwe moves in looking to clinch but Espozito pushes him off.
Espozito shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ashoe Atogwe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jonathan Espozito.
Espozito throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Atogwe's waist but Atogwe gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Espozito off to one side.
Espozito throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

Atogwe has managed to clinch.
Espozito jumps guard but Atogwe stands there with Espozito around his waist. Espozito gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Atogwe misses with a knee strike.
Atogwe lands an elbow that stopped Espozito in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Jonathan Espozito has been cut.
Atogwe throws a knee to the head but misses.
Espozito tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Atogwe smiles and moves away.
Espozito misses with a takedown attempt - Atogwe sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Espozito circles away from the clinch attempt.

Atogwe clinches with his opponent.
A knee to the head by Atogwe.
Espozito looks gassed!
Atogwe comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Espozito jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Atogwe walks away with a smile on his face. Espozito gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Espozito looks to clinch

and Atogwe counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Atogwe.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atogwe misses with a knee strike.
Knees to the body from Atogwe.
Espozito jumps guard but Atogwe stands there with Espozito around his waist. Espozito gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Atogwe lands a nice knee to the body.
Atogwe lands a knee to the body.
Atogwe landing knees to the body.
Atogwe crunches a lovely knee into Espozito's ribcage.
Atogwe landing knees to the body.
Atogwe with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Atogwe scores a nice knee to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Atogwe with a knee to the head.
Atogwe stalling the fight.
Knees in the clinch landing for Atogwe.
Atogwe stalling in the clinch but Espozito improves position.
Atogwe looking to throw knees to the head but Espozito is blocking nicely.
Atogwe is looking to control Espozito's arms but Espozito gets an underhook and turns him. Now Atogwe has his back to the cage.
Espozito avoids a wild elbow strike from Atogwe.

Espozito has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Atogwe uses from the top position.
Espozito trying to control the position.

Espozito is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Espozito has an active guard here but Atogwe has managed to pass into half guard.
Atogwe is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Espozito manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Espozito looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Espozito had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Atogwe is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Espozito Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Atogwe's back instead.
Atogwe controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad spot.

Atogwe is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Atogwe defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Espozito is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Espozito has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Atogwe has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Atogwe wants to control his opponent's hands but Espozito gets his hands free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ashoe Atogwe dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jonathan Espozito's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Atogwe has closed the distance and engaged Espozito in a clinch.
Atogwe landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Atogwe landing some nice looking knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Atogwe.

That has opened up Jonathan Espozito's cut even more.

Atogwe pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Atogwe.
Atogwe fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Espozito.
Ashoe Atogwe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Atogwe lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Espozito takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Espozito looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Atogwe!

Espozito goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Atogwe turns into him and now he's in Espozito's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Espozito is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atogwe wanted to stand there but Espozito had control of the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Espozito looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Espozito is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Espozito looking to break Atogwe's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Atogwe remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Espozito will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atogwe looking to control the position.

Atogwe defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Atogwe is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Atogwe showing good submission defense here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Espozito is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Atogwe defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Atogwe preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Espozito.
Atogwe holding both Espozito 's hands and preventing any damage.
Atogwe trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Espozito lands a shot to the head.

Espozito is persistently looking for the submission but Atogwe is defending it well.

Atogwe is having to fend off submission attempts from Espozito, who is looking to sink in the choke. Espozito doesn't have the hooks in though and Atogwe manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.

Espozito throws his legs up looking for a submission but Atogwe uses it to pass to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jonathan Espozito will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jonathan Espozito's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Espozito avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Espozito shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Atogwe counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Espozito has his takedown stuffed
and Atogwe counters with a nice low kick that buckles Espozito's knee momentarily.

Atogwe has taken the fight to the clinch.
Atogwe lands a knee to the body.
Atogwe landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Ashoe Atogwe has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Atogwe connects with a nasty looking knee right to Espozito's face.
Atogwe stalling in the clinch but Espozito improves position.
Espozito tries to pull guard but Atogwe won't allow it.
Ashoe Atogwe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jonathan Espozito.
Espozito takes a knee right on the jaw!
Espozito fails to pull guard.
Atogwe landing knees to the body.
Atogwe landing knees to the body.

Espozito jumps guard and drags Atogwe to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Espozito looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Atogwe passes into side control.

Atogwe has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Espozito doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Atogwe counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Atogwe.
Atogwe landing knees to the body.
Atogwe connects with a nasty looking knee right to Espozito's face.
Espozito tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Atogwe just stands there and leans against the cage.
Espozito jumps guard but Atogwe stands there with Espozito around his waist. Espozito gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Atogwe landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Espozito jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Atogwe walks away with a smile on his face. Espozito gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Espozito shoots for a double leg takedown but Atogwe sprawls well. He's pushed Espozito's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Atogwe scores with a head kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Atogwe unloads a knee to the mid-section. Espozito lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Espozito looking for a takedown.
Espozito is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Espozito jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Atogwe walks away with a smile on his face. Espozito gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Espozito has his takedown stuffed

and Atogwe counters by moving into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atogwe with a knee to the head.
Atogwe with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Atogwe breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Atogwe gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Espozito fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Atogwe landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Atogwe using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Espozito tries to pull guard but Atogwe holds him up against the cage and eventually Espozito drops back down to his feet.

Atogwe breaks from the clinch.
Ashoe Atogwe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Atogwe gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Espozito wants to pass the guard but Atogwe is keeping the position.

Espozito gets to his feet. Atogwe looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Atogwe tries to clinch but Espozito is having none of it.
Espozito shoots and misses
and Atogwe counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Atogwe is looking to clinch.
Espozito misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espozito tries for a takedown but Atogwe circles away easily

and Atogwe counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Atogwe.
Espozito tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Atogwe smiles and moves away.
No luck for Espozito with that takedown attempt.

Atogwe darts in and clinches Espozito up against the cage.
Atogwe throws a knee to the head but misses.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Espozito jumps guard but Atogwe stands there with Espozito around his waist. Espozito gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Espozito tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Atogwe unloads a knee to the mid-section. Espozito lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Espozito jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Atogwe walks away with a smile on his face. Espozito gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Espozito misses with a takedown attempt
and Atogwe counters with a slapping leg kick.
Espozito gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Atogwe counters with a leg kick.
Espozito tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Atogwe swivels and escapes.
Espozito tries for a takedown but Atogwe circles away easily
and Atogwe counters with a low kick, right behind Espozito 's knee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Atogwe moves into range and clinches up with Espozito.
Espozito blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Espozito jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Atogwe walks away with a smile on his face. Espozito gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Atogwe clinches.
Espozito fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Atogwe using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Atogwe escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Espozito doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Atogwe counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Atogwe scores a nice knee to the body.
Atogwe trying to land knees to the body.
Espozito jumps guard but Atogwe stands there with Espozito around his waist. Espozito gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Espozito jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Atogwe walks away with a smile on his face. Espozito gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Atogwe drives through and clinches with Espozito against the cage.
Atogwe trying to land knees to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Atogwe wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Atogwe using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Atogwe misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Espozito.

Espozito jumps guard.
Atogwe stopping the sweep attempt from Espozito.

Espozito looking for a guillotine here but Atogwe defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ashoe Atogwe showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Atogwe 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ashoe Atogwe!