PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Umberto Eco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonathan Espozito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jonathan Espozito is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Eco
vs
Espozito

182 cm
19
195 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

197 cm
20
186 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Behold The Beast
NBK Lab

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Umberto Eco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jonathan Espozito!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Edson Gomes and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Eco closes the distance and pushes Espozito back into the cage.
Knees to the body from Eco.
Eco utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Eco using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Eco.

It looks like Jonathan Espozito has been cut.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Eco takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Espozito tries to pull guard but Eco won't allow it.
Eco landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Espozito looks gassed!
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!
Eco landing knees to the body.
Eco lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Eco lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Eco with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Espozito is rocked!
Eco unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Eco scores with a knee to the head.
Espozito is still on wobbly legs! Can Eco finish him?
Espozito fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Eco using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
The referee is keeping an eye on Eco - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Espozito seems to have recovered his senses.
Eco landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Stalling in the clinch from Eco.
Eco connects with a knee to the head.
Eco tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Eco lands a knee to the head.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Espozito blocks an uppercut.
Eco landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Eco unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Eco with a knee to the head.
Eco using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Eco unloads a knee to the mid-section. Espozito lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Eco landing knees to the head.
Eco leaning against his opponent.
Eco lands an elbow just above Espozito 's eye.
Eco is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Eco.
Eco scores with a knee to the head.
Eco landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Eco unloads a knee to the mid-section. Espozito lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Eco connects with a nasty looking knee right to Espozito's face.
Eco crunches a lovely knee into Espozito's ribcage.
Eco landing some nice looking knees to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Eco lands a good knee to the midsection. Espozito won't want to take too many of those.
Espozito is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Espozito takes a knee right on the jaw!
Eco lands a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eco working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Eco using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Eco lands a knee to the head.
Eco landing knees to the head.
Espozito jumps guard but Eco stands there with Espozito around his waist. Espozito gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Umberto Eco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jonathan Espozito.
Eco stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Eco connects with a nasty looking knee right to Espozito's face.
Eco lands a knee to the head.
Eco scores with a knee to the head.

Espozito drags the fight down to the ground.

Espozito is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Eco defends well.

Espozito is looking for a triangle but Eco pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eco slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Eco avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Eco pushing down on Espozito's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Espozito tries to roll over but Eco keeps him under control.

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.
Eco is controlling the pace.
Eco throwing shots but Espozito is blocking nicely.
Eco wants to free his trapped foot but Espozito is holding on for dear life with his legs.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Eco looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Umberto Eco dominated that round.
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.

Eco has closed the distance and engaged Espozito in a clinch.
Eco putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Espozito in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Eco connects with a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Eco.
Eco utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Eco lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A knee to the head by Eco.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Eco stalling in the clinch.
Eco putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Espozito in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Eco lands a good knee to the midsection. Espozito won't want to take too many of those.
Espozito struggles to land a body shot inside as Eco controls his hands.
Eco displaying some good clinch control by pressing Espozito up against the cage.
Eco is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Espozito can do to turn this around?
Espozito takes a knee to the side of the body.
Eco manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Eco utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Eco connects with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eco lands an elbow just above Espozito 's eye.
Knees in the clinch landing for Eco.
Eco utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Eco with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

The cut above Jonathan Espozito's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Eco connects with a knee to the head.
Espozito takes a knee to the side of the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Eco.
Eco putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Espozito in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Umberto Eco has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Eco unloads a knee to the mid-section. Espozito lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Eco connects with a nasty looking knee right to Espozito's face.
Espozito takes a knee to the side of the body.
Espozito tries to pull guard but Eco holds him up against the cage and eventually Espozito drops back down to his feet.
Espozito tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Eco just stands there and leans against the cage.
Eco tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Eco.
Espozito takes a knee right on the jaw!
Eco with a knee to the head.
Eco using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Espozito fails to pull guard.
Umberto Eco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jonathan Espozito.
Eco crunches a lovely knee into Espozito's ribcage.
Espozito tries for a takedown. No joy.
Eco holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Eco lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Eco landing knees to the head.
Espozito tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Eco working aggressively here.
Eco stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Eco crunches a lovely knee into Espozito's ribcage.
Espozito tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Eco just stands there and leans against the cage.
Espozito takes a knee to the side of the body.
Eco connects with a nasty looking knee right to Espozito's face.
Espozito tries to pull guard but Eco won't allow it.
Espozito tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eco stalls.
Eco putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Espozito in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Espozito tries to pull guard but Eco holds him up against the cage and eventually Espozito drops back down to his feet.
Eco is struggling to control the position.
Eco gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Eco lands a right hand.
Eco scores with a knee to the head.
Eco lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Eco just leaning against Espozito, taking a breather.
Espozito has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Eco is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Eco landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Espozito fails to pull guard.
Eco unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Espozito tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Eco scores a nice knee to the body.
Espozito tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Eco utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Espozito jumps guard but Eco stands there with Espozito around his waist. Espozito gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eco landing knees to the head.
Eco is stalling here.
Espozito jumps guard but Eco stands there with Espozito around his waist. Espozito gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A knee to the head by Eco.
Espozito tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Eco connects with a knee to the head.
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 Eco walks away with a smile on his face. Espozito gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Eco swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Eco gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Eco goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Eco stalling the fight.
A knee to the head by Eco.
Espozito tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Eco just stands there and leans against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Eco working Espozito over with knees to the body.
Espozito tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Eco stalling.
Espozito tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Eco smiles and moves away.

Espozito tries to keep at a distance but Eco has taken the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Umberto Eco dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jonathan Espozito's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Horrible takedown by Espozito or perhaps it was just good defense by Eco which made him look bad.
Espozito is trying hard to land a takedown here. Eco sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Eco rushes Espozito and presses him up against the cage.
Eco utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Eco pushes Espozito back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A knee to the head by Eco.
Eco goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Eco tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Espozito's elbow.
Eco unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Eco stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
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 Eco walks away with a smile on his face. Espozito gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Umberto Eco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jonathan Espozito.
Eco stuffs the takedown.

Eco moves into 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 Eco walks away with a smile on his face. Espozito gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Eco dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Espozito. That did some damage!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Eco lands a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eco controlling the action here for a moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Eco putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Espozito in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Eco putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Espozito in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Eco.
Eco lands a nice knee to the body.
Eco landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Eco lands a knee to the head.
Eco landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Eco utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Eco tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Espozito's elbow.
Eco stalling against the cage.
Eco gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Eco connects with a nasty looking knee right to Espozito's face.
Espozito fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Eco leaning his opponent against the cage.
Espozito tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Eco smiles and moves away.

Eco gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eco'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.
Eco with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Espozito fails to pull guard.
Eco landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Espozito takes a knee right on the jaw!
Eco landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Espozito jumps guard but Eco stands there with Espozito around his waist. Espozito gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Eco slows down the pace here.
Eco lands a nice knee to the body.
Espozito jumps guard but Eco stands there with Espozito around his waist. Espozito gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Eco lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Eco putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Espozito in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Eco lands a knee to the head.
Eco crunches a lovely knee into Espozito's ribcage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eco displaying some good clinch control by pressing Espozito up against the cage.
Eco crunches a lovely knee into Espozito's ribcage.
Espozito tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Eco just stands there and leans against the cage.
Eco lands a knee to the head.
Eco lands a body punch.
Eco connects with a nasty looking knee right to Espozito's face.
Espozito takes an elbow to the temple.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Eco landing knees to the body.
Eco scores a nice knee to the body.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Eco connects with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Eco.
Eco putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Espozito in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Eco is struggling to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Eco lands a nice knee to the body.
Espozito tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Eco smiles and moves away.
Jonathan Espozito seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Eco forces Espozito back against the cage and clinches.
A nice left hand lands by Eco.
A knee to the head by Eco.
Eco utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Eco lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Eco.
Eco stalling the fight.
Espozito wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Eco unloads a knee to the mid-section. Espozito lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Eco with a knee to the head.
Eco slowing the pace effectively.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
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 Eco walks away with a smile on his face. Espozito gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Eco moves into the clinch.
Jonathan Espozito has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Umberto Eco is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Eco landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Umberto Eco showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Eco has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:24
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:24
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Umberto Eco!