PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jakaya Kikwete (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Espino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jakaya Kikwete could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Tony Espino's chin.

Kikwete
vs
Espino

225 cm
18
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

220 cm
22
290 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jakaya Kikwete!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tony Espino!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Radbod Blank and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kikwete rushes Espino and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Espino goes for a takedown attempt but Kikwete pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Espino bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Espino misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Kikwete wants to control but Espino postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Espino working the ground and pound but Kikwete is defending the strikes.
Kikwete sneaks back into half guard.
Espino tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Kikwete.
Kikwete pushes Espino off looking to stand but Espino dives back in and keeps control.
Kikwete moves into full guard.
Espino loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Espino pushes down on Kikwete's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Kikwete slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kikwete wants to sweep here but Espino controlling him for the moment.
Kikwete is pulling down on Espino's head to control his posture.
Espino stopping the sweep attempt from Kikwete.
Kikwete manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Espino sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Espino looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kikwete is trying to control the action in half guard but Espino is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kikwete prevents Espino from improving his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Espino manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Espino looking for a sweep. Not yet Espino, not yet.
Kikwete trying to control the position from guard on top but Espino is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kikwete prevents Espino from getting back to his feet.
Kikwete showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Kikwete stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espino moves out of range as Kikwete throws a body kick.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Espino avoids the head kick by Kikwete.
Espino avoids the head kick by Kikwete.
No joy there for Espino, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kikwete misses with a few strikes there.
Kikwete lands a high kick!
Kikwete tries to clinch but Espino moves out of range.
Kikwete throws a series of punches but Espino avoids them all with ease.
A head kick misses from Kikwete.
Espino fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kikwete throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Kikwete throws a head kick but Espino moves out of range.
Kikwete throws a right and a left that both miss.
Espino ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Espino keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kikwete.
Kikwete misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Espino clinches up with Kikwete and pushes him back against the cage.
Kikwete tries a knee to the head but Espino blocks it.
Espino lands a nice knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Espino has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kikwete avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Jakaya Kikwete has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Espino.
Kikwete with a knee to the head.
Kikwete lands a nice knee to the body.
Espino misses with a knee strike.
Espino takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kikwete with a knee to the head.

Kikwete pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kikwete misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Espino scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Kikwete tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Espino shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Espino was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Espino throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Espino connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Kikwete gets back to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Espino throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Espino tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jakaya Kikwete dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kikwete avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kikwete knocks Espino to the floor with a head kick! Can he finish him!?
Kikwete wants to control but Espino is keeping him busy.
A lull in the action here.
Espino is trying to improve his position.
Kikwete content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Espino is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kikwete decides to stand up, so the ref orders Espino to his feet.
Espino throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Espino on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kikwete. Kikwete obviously looking to wear him down.
Kikwete misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kikwete throws a head kick but Espino moves out of range.
Jakaya Kikwete is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kikwete fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Espino.
Espino lands a jab-cross combination.
Espino gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A head kick misses from Kikwete.
Kikwete connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Espino's hands.
Kikwete pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Espino changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kikwete tries to avoid it but Espino manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kikwete to the ground. Kikwete escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A punch combination from Kikwete misses.
Espino fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kikwete tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kikwete pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kikwete avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kikwete throws a head kick that misses.
Espino throws a right hand that Kikwete ducks under and follows up with a left that Kikwete also avoids with ease.
Kikwete throws a sloppy head kick and Espino moves out of range easily.
Espino ducks under a wild hook from Kikwete.
Espino displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Espino blocks a head kick by Kikwete.
Kikwete plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Kikwete has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kikwete moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Kikwete moves in looking to clinch but Espino pushes him off.
Espino scores with a three punch combo!
Kikwete plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Espino avoids the head kick by Kikwete.
Espino takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Kikwete throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Espino pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kikwete throws a sloppy head kick and Espino moves out of range easily.
Kikwete is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espino has a takedown stuffed.
Jakaya Kikwete has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Espino.
Espino avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kikwete fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kikwete takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Kikwete moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Espino takes one to the chin there.
Espino tries a head kick but it misses.
Kikwete misses with a two punch combination.
Espino takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Espino misses with a series of wild punches.
Kikwete misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Espino.
Kikwete throws a sloppy head kick and Espino moves out of range easily.
Espino throws a series of punches but Kikwete avoids them all with ease.
Kikwete throws a head kick that misses.
Espino lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Kikwete is looking to slow Espino down with leg kicks.
Kikwete looks to land a combination but Espino avoids it well.
Kikwete fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Espino throws a series of punches but Kikwete avoids them all with ease.
Espino stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kikwete.
Kikwete throws a head kick that misses.
Espino fails to land with a series of punches.
Kikwete lands a head kick!
Kikwete blocks a head kick by Espino.
Jakaya Kikwete is winning the standup battle so far.
Espino moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Kikwete misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Kikwete moves into the clinch.
Espino can't get the takedown.
Espino misses with a knee to the head.

Kikwete manages to break the clinch.
Espino fails to land with a series of punches.
Kikwete tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Espino keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kikwete dodges the punch combination from Espino.
Kikwete looks to land a combination. Espino sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Espino looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jakaya Kikwete dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kikwete will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kikwete takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Kikwete throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kikwete throws a sloppy head kick and Espino moves out of range easily.
Espino doesn't manage to clinch there - Kikwete circles away.
Espino blocks a head kick by Kikwete.
Espino throws a series of punches but Kikwete moves out of range.

Espino has Kikwete up against the cage in a clinch.
Kikwete is pressed up against the cage. Espino has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kikwete down to the mat. Kikwete avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kikwete moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Jakaya Kikwete is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Espino circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kikwete moves in looking to clinch but Espino pushes him off.
Kikwete throws a nice head kick!
Kikwete misses with a series of wild punches.
Espino throws a series of punches but Kikwete avoids them all with ease.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kikwete scores with a shot to the body.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kikwete.
Espino throws a nice looking combination but Kikwete bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kikwete misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Espino throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Kikwete throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Kikwete.

Kikwete gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Kikwete working for a triangle but Espino defends it easily.
Kikwete looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Espino with a flurry of punches that miss.
Espino has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kikwete is proving hard to escape from.
Espino throws and elbow that misses. Kikwete uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Espino's guard. Nice move by Kikwete!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kikwete stands up and waves to Espino to follow him.
Espino misses with a double jab.

Kikwete clinches with his opponent.

Kikwete breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kikwete throws a nice looking combination but Espino bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Espino shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kikwete napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Espino working the ground and pound.

Kikwete bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Espino displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Kikwete pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kikwete tries a head kick but it misses.
Espino lands a two punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kikwete throws a nice inside leg kick.
Espino fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A head kick misses from Kikwete.
Kikwete misses with an uppercut. Espino saw that one coming.
Espino tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Espino looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Kikwete!
Kikwete gets back to half guard.
Kikwete blocking the ground and pound attempt from Espino.
Tony Espino has got the better of the ground game so far.
Espino prevents Kikwete from improving his position.
Kikwete works his way to full guard. Good work.

Espino drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kikwete manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Espino has Kikwete in his guard.
Espino looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kikwete is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kikwete stops Espino from standing up.
Kikwete controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Tony Espino has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jakaya Kikwete is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Espino escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kikwete gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jakaya Kikwete showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kikwete, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jakaya Kikwete!