PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Fenix Espada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tien Jaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fenix Espada could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Tien Jaa's chin.

Espada
vs
Jaa

185 cm
22
190 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
190 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Fenix Espada!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tien Jaa!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Yves DeLean and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Espada moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Espada fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Jaa is out of range.
Espada throws a low kick but Jaa avoids it.
Espada circles away from the clinch attempt
and Espada counters with an inside leg kick.
Jaa is looking to clinch.
Espada is looking to land body kicks.
Jaa is looking to clinch.
Espada lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Jaa tries to clinch there but Espada circles away.
Espada swats away the attempt to clinch by Jaa.
Jaa moves in looking to clinch but Espada pushes him off.
Espada walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Jaa checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Espada tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jaa tries to clinch but Espada is having none of it.
Good work by Jaa as he checks the leg kick.
Jaa tries to clinch up
and Espada counters with a big head kick but Jaa shrugs it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Espada checks a low kick from Jaa.
Espada thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Jaa if he has to take too many more of those.
Espada throws a low kick, looking for Jaa's leg but Jaa calmly moves out of range.
Jaa tries to clinch up
and Espada counters with a low kick, right behind Jaa 's knee.
Jaa wants to clinch up but Espada keeps it at a distance.
Espada attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
An inside leg kick lands from Espada.
Espada lands a nice leg kick that just misses Jaa's sensitive parts.
Espada throws a leg kick that is checked
and Jaa makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Espada fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Jaa.
Jaa throws a wild body kick that Espada sees coming a mile off.
Jaa tries to clinch but Espada is having none of it.
Espada avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Espada throws a wild body kick that Jaa sees coming a mile off.
Espada will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Espada connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Jaa doesn't manage to clinch there - Espada circles away.
Jaa's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Espada throws out a leg kick but Jaa moves out of range and Espada only half commits.
Jaa throws a sloppy head kick and Espada moves out of range easily.
Jaa moves to clinch but Espada breaks away
and Espada counters with a big head kick but Jaa shrugs it off.
Espada throws a sloppy head kick and Jaa moves out of range easily.
Espada shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jaa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Espada lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Espada tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Espada motions for Jaa to come forward. Espada throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Espada tried to score with a low kick but Jaa checks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jaa moves to clinch but Espada breaks away
and Espada makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jaa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Espada throws a head kick that Jaa semi-blocks.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jaa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A good leg kick by Espada.
Jaa tries to clinch there but Espada circles away.
Espada throws a nice inside leg kick.
Espada throws a half hearted mid kick.
Jaa tries to clinch up.
Espada throws a wild body kick that Jaa sees coming a mile off.
Jaa tries to clinch but Espada moves out of range.
Jaa moves in looking to clinch but Espada pushes him off.
Jaa tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jaa moves out of range of the body kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jaa tries to clinch up
and Espada counters with a body kick that stops Jaa in his tracks momentarily.
Jaa fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jaa tries to close the distance and clinch but Espada swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Espada throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Jaa closes the distance and clinches.
Jaa has Espada pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Espada manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Jaa tries to pull guard but Espada forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Espada tries to stall but Jaa uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Nice elbow from Espada.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Jaa with a knee to the head.
Espada being controlled against the cage.

Jaa successfully pulls guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fenix Espada dominated that round.
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.

Espada throws a low kick but Jaa avoids it.
Jaa fails with an attempt to clinch.
Fenix Espada is winning the standup battle so far.
Jaa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Espada chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Espada throws a leg kick

and Jaa counters by moving into the clinch.
Espada prevents the takedown attempt.
Espada misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Jaa.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Jaa drags the fight down to the ground.
Espada has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Espada has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Jaa is proving hard to escape from.
Espada showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Espada's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jaa seems keen to control Espada's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Fenix Espada just wasn't active enough.
Espada avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jaa takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Jaa wants to clinch up but Espada keeps it at a distance.
Espada looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Espada tried to score with a low kick but Jaa checks it.
Tien Jaa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jaa checks the leg kick.

Jaa instigates a clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Jaa as Espada tries to tie him up.
Jaa trying to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jaa fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Jaa obliges.
Espada trying to stall but Jaa improves his position.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Jaa obliges.
Jaa unloads a knee to the mid-section. Espada lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jaa jumps guard but Espada stands there with Jaa around his waist. Jaa gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Fenix Espada has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tien Jaa.
Espada taking a breather.
Espada connects with a knee to the head.
Espada throws a knee to the head but misses.
Jaa missing with knees to the body.
Espada throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Jaa blocks it with crossed arms.
Espada throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Jaa blocks it with crossed arms.
Jaa lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Espada tries to stall but Jaa uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Jaa missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jaa has Espada pressed against the cage.
Jaa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Espada lands a good knee to the midsection. Jaa won't want to take too many of those.
Espada managing to block the knees to the body from Jaa.
Espada connects with a nasty looking knee right to Jaa's face.
Jaa taking a breather.
Jaa missing with knees to the body.
Jaa effectively controlling the action here.
Espada on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Jaa is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Espada lands a damaging elbow.

Jaa pulls Espada into guard.
Jaa controlling Espada's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jaa's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Espada wants to control from the top but Jaa keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Fenix Espada just wasn't active enough.
Jaa wants to clinch up but Espada keeps it at a distance.
Espada misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Espada connects with a solid leg kick.
Jaa blocks a leg kick.
Jaa doesn't manage to clinch there - Espada circles away.
Espada pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Fenix Espada will probably get the nod.
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.

Espada takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Espada throws the kick towards the body but Jaa avoids it.
Jaa moves out of range of the body kick.
Espada looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Jaa moves in looking to clinch but Espada pushes him off.
Espada plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Espada shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Espada does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Espada lands a head kick. Jaa smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Espada throws a head kick but Jaa moves out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Good leg kick by Espada there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Jaa keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Espada tries to score with a low kick but Jaa moves his leg out of the way.
No joy there for Jaa, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Jaa checks a low kick from Espada.
Jaa wants to clinch up but Espada keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jaa tries a head kick but it misses.
Crunch! Espada slams his shin into Jaa's torso.
Espada feints and then cracks Jaa's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Jaa down.
Espada avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jaa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Espada misses with a low kick.
Jaa tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Espada manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Jaa darts in and clinches Espada up against the cage.
Jaa tries to land knees in the clinch but Espada avoids the damage to the body.
Espada stalling against the cage.
Espada creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Jaa's defenses.
Tien Jaa seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Jaa manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Jaa keeping moving, preventing Espada from controlling successfully.
Jaa working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Espada wants to stand but Jaa is controlling his posture from full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jaa is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Jaa has a closed guard, preventing Espada from standing up.

We're going to have a standup here because Fenix Espada wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Jaa tries to clinch
and Espada counters with a slapping leg kick.
Jaa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jaa on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Espada. Espada obviously looking to wear him down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espada misses with a leg kick.
Jaa throws a sloppy head kick and Espada moves out of range easily.
Espada throws a low kick but Jaa avoids it.
Espada tried to score with a low kick but Jaa checks it.
Espada throws a low kick, looking for Jaa's leg but Jaa calmly moves out of range.
Espada tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jaa moves out of range of the body kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Espada.
Jaa tries to clinch there but Espada circles away.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Espada.

Jaa has taken the fight to the clinch.
Nice elbow from Espada.
Espada tries a knee to the head but Jaa blocks it.
Jaa is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Espada to keep the fight standing.
Jaa missing with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jaa throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Jaa tries to land knees in the clinch but Espada avoids the damage to the body.
Jaa tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Espada smiles and moves away.
Jaa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Espada keeps the fight on the outside.
Jaa takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Jaa chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Espada can pounce on him.
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!
Jaa moves in looking to clinch but Espada pushes him off.
Espada walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Jaa checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Espada misses with a low kick.
Jaa moves to clinch but Espada breaks away
and Espada counters with a nice leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jaa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Jaa tries to clinch up but Espada circles away and keeps his distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fenix Espada clearly takes that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A chopping leg kick lands by Espada.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Jaa checks a leg kick.
Jaa moves out of range of the body kick.
Jaa moves out of range of the body kick.
Jaa misses with a head kick.
Jaa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jaa takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Espada turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A good leg kick by Espada.
Espada fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Jaa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Espada swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jaa tries to clinch
and Espada counters with a low kick, right behind Jaa 's knee.
Jaa misses with a leg kick.
Espada throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Jaa's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jaa moves in looking to clinch but Espada pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Espada lands a leg kick that knocks Jaa off balance momentarily.
Espada scores with a head kick. Jaa tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Jaa tries to clinch but Espada moves out of range.
Espada avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jaa throws a head kick but Espada moves out of range.
Jaa throws a head kick that Espada semi-blocks.
Jaa is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Espada lands a front kick.
Espada tries to work over Jaa's front leg with a kick but Jaa checks it.
Jaa has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Espada.
An inside leg kick lands from Espada.
Jaa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Espada lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Espada feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Jaa's calf.
A lazy body kick from Espada

and Jaa counters by moving into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jaa is looking to control Espada's arms but Espada gets an underhook and turns him. Now Jaa has his back to the cage.
Espada looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jaa jumps guard but Espada turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
With the fighters up against the cage, Jaa throws an elbow but misses.
Jaa tries to land knees in the clinch but Espada avoids the damage to the body.
Jaa takes an elbow to the temple.
Espada using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Jaa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Espada stalling in the clinch but Jaa improves position.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Espada tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Jaa is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Espada is keeping busy.
Jaa misses with a knee to the head.
Espada scores with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jaa tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Espada avoids it.
Stalling in the clinch from Espada.
Espada with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Espada tries to stall but Jaa uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
The referee calls for Espada to work.
Jaa is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Espada is defending well for now.
Espada on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Espada tries a knee to the head but Jaa blocks it.
Espada looking to throw knees to the head but Jaa is blocking nicely.
Jaa is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Espada is defending well for now.
Espada lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Espada using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Jaa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Espada misses with a knee to the head.
Espada on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jaa trying to control the position but instead, Espada has worked for underhooks and has pushed Jaa into the cage.
Jaa missing with knees to the body.
Espada tries a knee to the head but Jaa blocks it.
Jaa blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Jaa missing with knees to the body.
Espada is looking to control Jaa's arms but Jaa gets an underhook and turns him. Now Espada has his back to the cage.
Knees to the body from Espada.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jaa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Espada slowing the pace effectively.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jaa manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Jaa jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Espada walks away with a smile on his face. Jaa gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fenix Espada had his way with Tien Jaa in that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Espada swats away the attempt to clinch by Jaa.
Jaa fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jaa walks forward, straight into a front kick from Espada.
A slapping body kick lands there for Espada.
Jaa fails with an attempt to clinch.
Espada swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Espada lands with a slapping head kick.
Jaa fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jaa throws out a leg kick but Espada moves out of range and Jaa only half commits.
Jaa tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Espada manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jaa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Espada - that will leave a mark!
Espada lands a nice leg kick that just misses Jaa's sensitive parts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jaa fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jaa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Espada circles away from the clinch attempt.
Good work by Jaa as he checks the leg kick.
Jaa tries a head kick but it misses.
Espada throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Espada tries a head kick but it misses.
Jaa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jaa is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Espada lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Jaa misses with a head kick.
Espada throws a leg kick but Jaa sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Espada gets tackled into the cage by Jaa. Jaa maintains the clinch.
Espada unloads a knee to the mid-section. Jaa lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Espada misses with a knee strike.
Espada'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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Espada blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Espada misses with a knee to the head.
Jaa tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Espada smiles and moves away.
Jaa tries to clinch but Espada moves out of range.
Jaa checks a leg kick.

Jaa pushes Espada up against the cage in a clinch.
Jaa dodges an elbow strike from Espada.
Jaa crunches a lovely knee into Espada's ribcage.
Espada using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Jaa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Jaa letting Espada take a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jaa missing with knees to the body.
Jaa is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Espada is keeping busy.
Jaa trying to land knees to the body.
Fenix Espada is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Jaa looking to throw knees to the head but Espada is blocking nicely.
Espada avoiding damage as Jaa throws knees to the body.
Jaa working Espada over with knees to the body.
Jaa landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Jaa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Jaa trying to land knees to the body.
Jaa tries to land knees in the clinch but Espada avoids the damage to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jaa missing with knees to the body.
Jaa taking a breather.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Espada.
Jaa throws an elbow but it misses.
Jaa tries to land knees in the clinch but Espada avoids the damage to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Jaa obliges.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jaa tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Tien Jaa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Espada avoids a wild elbow strike from Jaa.

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 Fenix Espada.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Espada, 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 50:45
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 50:47
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 50:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fenix Espada!
Fenix Espada retains his middleweight title!
During a confident post fight interview, Fenix Espada thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.