PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rosco Espino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Greg LaFleche (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
LaFleche

160 cm
22
160 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

175 cm
22
160 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rosco Espino!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Greg LaFleche!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Dillan Fox and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Espino shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts LaFleche as he jumps to the side.
LaFleche throws a leg kick but Espino moved away.
LaFleche keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Espino could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Espino shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Espino tries to stand but LaFleche is controlling from the bottom.
LaFleche bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Espino's guard.
LaFleche trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
LaFleche preventing the sweep.

Espino looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Espino is looking to stand back up but LaFleche counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Espino.
LaFleche trying to control the position but Espino is working away.
Espino is being controlled here.
LaFleche scoring with punches and elbows.
LaFleche lands a few punches from side control.

Espino is rocked!
LaFleche is looking to take a break and control but Espino is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Oh Espino is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's one minute gone in the round.
LaFleche lands a nice forearm strike.
Espino is looking for a sweep.
LaFleche lands an elbow.
Espino is working to avoid the ground and pound but LaFleche connects with a decent elbow.
Espino is breathing heavily.
LaFleche is putting a hurting on Espino here, landing some big shots from side control.

LaFleche is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Espino knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
LaFleche connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Espino some visible discomfort.
Espino might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
LaFleche lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Espino down.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
LaFleche takes a little break here. Espino wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Espino manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
LaFleche regains full guard. Nicely done.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
LaFleche manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Espino is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Espino regains half guard.
LaFleche working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Espino makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Espino.
LaFleche looking to pass the guard.
LaFleche stopping the sweep attempt from Espino.
LaFleche is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
LaFleche tries to free his leg and advance position but Espino is retaining full guard.
LaFleche chips away with some ground and pound.
LaFleche slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
LaFleche working the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

LaFleche is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Espino is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
LaFleche lands an elbow.
Espino is trying to control LaFleche's posture but LaFleche avoids it.
LaFleche connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Espino some visible discomfort.
LaFleche grinds an elbow into Espino's temple.
LaFleche scores with punches from side control.
LaFleche lands a decent elbow from side control.
LaFleche working the ground and pound from side control.

LaFleche is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Espino is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Espino is looking for a sweep.
LaFleche in side control lands a decent elbow.
LaFleche happy to just control the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Espino is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Espino gets back to half guard.
Espino is looking for a sweep. LaFleche is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Espino moves into full guard.
Espino keeping full guard, as LaFleche tries to pass.
LaFleche preventing the sweep.
Espino pulls LaFleche in to control the position.
Espino wants to sweep here but LaFleche controlling him for the moment.

Espino throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
LaFleche stopping the sweep attempt from Espino.
Espino will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Greg LaFleche dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Espino looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
LaFleche lands a decent punch to the body there.

Espino drops back looking for a leg! LaFleche is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and LaFleche manages to kick Espino off! Espino jumps back into LaFleche's guard.

LaFleche is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Greg LaFleche has got the better of the ground game so far.
LaFleche looking for a sweep. Not yet LaFleche, not yet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if LaFleche can do anything to dispel that myth.

Espino is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Espino is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! LaFleche is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! LaFleche has escaped and now he's on top!
LaFleche trying to control the position from guard on top but Espino is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
LaFleche sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Espino's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Espino tries to get to full guard but LaFleche has control of the leg.
LaFleche lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Espino has hold of LaFleche's hands but LaFleche slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

LaFleche wants to work for an arm triangle but Espino is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Espino avoiding damage under a succession of punches from LaFleche.
LaFleche trying to control the pace.
Espino is trying to defend against the ground and pound but LaFleche scores with a couple of nice shots.
LaFleche is looking to take a break and control but Espino is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

LaFleche is looking for a kimura here.
LaFleche trying to control from half guard but Espino is working away.
Espino won't allow LaFleche to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from LaFleche.
The fighters are battling for position here. Espino manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Espino has momentary wrist control but LaFleche slips an elbow through the middle.

Espino is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Espino is trying to keep LaFleche in close.
LaFleche wants to pass the guard but Espino is keeping the position.

Espino throws his legs up looking for a submission but LaFleche uses it to pass to side control.
Espino manages to work his way to half guard, despite LaFleche's best efforts.
Espino wants to improve his position but LaFleche is controlling well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Espino manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Espino wants to get back to his feet but LaFleche is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

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

LaFleche is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espino avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
LaFleche working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
LaFleche trying to control but Espino is working from the bottom.
LaFleche cracks Espino with a solid left hand.
LaFleche advances position into side control!
LaFleche cracks Espino with a big right hand but Espino just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Espino tries to improve position but can't.
Espino on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Espino tries to improve position but can't.
Espino is working hard here to advance position.
LaFleche grinds an elbow into Espino's temple.

LaFleche stands up.
Espino wants to clinch up but LaFleche keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by LaFleche or perhaps it was just good defense by Espino which made him look bad.

Espino feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
LaFleche throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Espino missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Espino wants to get up but he can't break LaFleche's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
LaFleche wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Espino passes LaFleche's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
LaFleche is trying to get back to full guard.
Espino is keen to just control but LaFleche is a slippery customer.
LaFleche preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
LaFleche wants to get back to full guard.
LaFleche is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
LaFleche lands with a few short shots to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Greg LaFleche showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Espino shoots and misses

and LaFleche decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Espino's guard.
LaFleche trying to control the position from guard on top but Espino is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
LaFleche sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Espino's guard.
LaFleche takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
LaFleche scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
LaFleche seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
LaFleche landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
LaFleche passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Espino!
Espino slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
LaFleche winds up and cracks Espino with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Espino regains full guard. Nicely done.
LaFleche takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
LaFleche stops Espino from standing up.
LaFleche sitting in guard, not really doing much.
LaFleche is working Espino over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Espino looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Espino is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst LaFleche is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Espino keeping moving, preventing LaFleche from controlling successfully.
LaFleche looking to pass the guard.
Espino wants to stand and escape but LaFleche is having none of it.
LaFleche scoring with some ground and pound.
LaFleche content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Espino kicks LaFleche off and gets to his feet.
LaFleche has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
LaFleche throws a leg kick that misses.
Espino with a poor takedown

and LaFleche changes levels and lands a brilliant counter slam that knocks Espino senseless! The eyes are open but nobody's home! LaFleche is victorious and celebrates with his fans in the crowd. Congratulations that man!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Slam). Greg LaFleche!