PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tony Espino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Klaas van Dam (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.

Espino
vs
van Dam

220 cm
22
290 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

200 cm
22
275 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tony Espino!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Klaas van Dam!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Albert Achterberg and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Espino is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in van Dam's half guard.
Espino will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Espino looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks van Dam with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Espino throwing shots but van Dam is blocking nicely.
van Dam avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Espino.
van Dam is concentrating on defense, preventing Espino from advancing position.
van Dam trying to control here.
Espino wants to pass the guard but van Dam is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
van Dam is looking for a sweep. Espino is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Espino not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Espino misses with a series of wild punches.
Espino shoots in looking for a takedown. van Dam tries to sprawl out of it but Espino keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. van Dam manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Espino misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
van Dam looks to land a combination but Espino avoids it well.
Espino misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Espino has a takedown stuffed.
van Dam shoots in for a takedown but Espino shows good takedown defense.
van Dam dives in and grabs Espino's left leg, looking for a takedown. Espino pushes down on van Dam's head and hops out.
van Dam tries to close the distance and clinch but Espino swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Espino fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Espino. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Espino throws a left and a right that both miss

and van Dam counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Espino looks like he's trying to stand up.
Espino is trying to get back to full guard.
Espino is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Espino manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Espino tries to clinch but van Dam moves out of range.
Espino throws a head kick but van Dam moves out of range.
Espino looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Espino throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around van Dam's waist but van Dam gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Espino off to one side.
Espino tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but van Dam swivels and escapes.
van Dam shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
van Dam tries to clinch up.
van Dam looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Espino swats away the attempt to clinch by van Dam.
van Dam fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Espino avoids it really well and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espino misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
van Dam dodges the punch combination from Espino.
The fight stays on the outside here - van Dam looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Espino fails with a takedown attempt.
Espino lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Espino tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Espino throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Espino scores with a kick to the body.

Espino looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Espino postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for van Dam to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Espino lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Espino throws a sloppy head kick and van Dam moves out of range easily.
Horrible takedown by van Dam or perhaps it was just good defense by Espino which made him look bad.
A combination from Espino does no damage.
Espino throws a left and a right that both miss

and van Dam counters by moving into the clinch.
van Dam is pressed up against the cage. Espino has hold of a leg and is looking to drag van Dam down to the mat. van Dam avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Espino throws a head kick but van Dam moves out of range.
Espino fails to land the takedown.
van Dam throws a right and a left that both miss.
Espino throws a combination that misses

so van Dam counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Espino is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
van Dam throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Klaas van Dam will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Espino shoots in for a takedown but van Dam shows good takedown defense.
Espino swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and van Dam counters with a series of strikes. Espino will be more careful next time no doubt.
Espino falls off balance throwing a combination

and van Dam counters by clinching up.
Espino has van Dam pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. van Dam manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Espino is working for takedown but van Dam is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Espino. That's going to take a lot out of him.
van Dam wants to break the clinch but can't.
Espino wants to stall.
van Dam jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Espino walks away with a smile on his face. van Dam gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Espino tries a head kick but it misses.
van Dam throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Espino's waist but Espino gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing van Dam off to one side.
Espino tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Espino takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Tony Espino seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Espino tries a head kick but it misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
van Dam works Espino's body with a nice hook.
van Dam throws a head kick that misses.
Espino throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Espino tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
van Dam closes this distance looking for a takedown but Espino circles away.
Espino swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Espino misses with a double jab.
Espino fails with the takedown.
van Dam throws a sloppy head kick and Espino moves out of range easily.
Espino throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by van Dam.
Espino throws a series of punches but van Dam moves out of range.
Espino lands a jab-cross combination.
Espino throws a sloppy head kick and van Dam moves out of range easily.
van Dam throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Espino.
Espino throws a left and a right that both miss

and van Dam counters by moving into the clinch.
Espino drops to a knee looking for a takedown but van Dam gets the underhooks and prevents it.

van Dam gets control of Espino's arms and successfully pulls guard. van Dam will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

van Dam manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
van Dam shoots in looking for a takedown. Espino tries to sprawl out of it but van Dam keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Espino manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Espino lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
A decent looking cross lands there for Espino.
Espino misses with a few strikes there.
Espino misses with a two punch combination.
Espino connects with a looping right hand.
Espino tries to clinch up.
Espino leaves van Dam with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Espino lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Espino.
Espino misses with a wild combination.
Tony Espino is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Espino misses with a double jab
and van Dam counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Espino fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espino swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and van Dam counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Stalling in the clinch from Espino.
Espino goes for a takedown attempt but van Dam pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Espino tries to score a power double leg takedown but van Dam sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Espino somewhat.
van Dam throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Espino shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as van Dam sprawls well. van Dam wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Espino gets slowly back to his feet.
Espino throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Espino throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Espino shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has van Dam pinned against the cage. van Dam gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Espino stuffs the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Espino misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
van Dam fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
van Dam throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Espino's waist but Espino gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing van Dam off to one side.

Espino decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Espino throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
van Dam is trying to stand up here but Espino is controlling him well.

Espino stands up and beckons van Dam to join him on the feet.
Espino swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
van Dam tries to land a front kick but Espino steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Espino will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
van Dam throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Espino throws a right and a left that both miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Klaas van Dam showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

van Dam looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Espino is fending him off so far but van Dam persists. Nope, Espino circles away and we're back to standing.
Espino cracks van Dam with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Espino throws a combination. van Dam tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Espino fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Espino fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Espino shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Espino fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Espino. That's going to take a lot out of him.
van Dam misses with a low kick.
van Dam tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Espino throws a hook but van Dam blocks it.
Espino displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from van Dam.
Espino pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Horrible takedown by van Dam or perhaps it was just good defense by Espino which made him look bad.
Espino tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Espino gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Espino goes for a takedown in the clinch but van Dam prevents it.

van Dam decides to pull guard.

Espino stands up and waves to van Dam to follow him.
Espino falls off balance throwing a combination

and van Dam counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Espino manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Espino is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
van Dam throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Espino manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Espino sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
van Dam tries to reverse the position but Espino maintains control.
Espino lands a heavy elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
van Dam tries to reverse the position but Espino maintains control.
Espino has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Espino sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Espino putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Espino prevents van Dam from getting the reversal.
Espino throws some wild stikes that van Dam manages to avoid easily.
Espino throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Espino lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
van Dam tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Espino fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Espino working van Dam over with strikes here.
Klaas van Dam has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espino working van Dam over with strikes here.
Espino thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Espino throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Espino avoids the attempt from van Dam to control.
Espino working the ground and pound effectively.
Espino is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Espino breaks from van Dam's wrist control and lands an elbow.
van Dam is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Espino is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Espino throws some wild stikes that van Dam manages to avoid easily.
Espino sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
van Dam tries to get back to half guard but can't.
van Dam is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Espino cracks van Dam with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Espino unloading with bombs!
Espino sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
van Dam doing his best to control the position. Can he escape?
A nice elbow there by Espino.
Tony Espino has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Klaas van Dam is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Espino looking to finish with strikes here!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tony Espino.
I think van Dam has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 29:29
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!