PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Salem Espinoza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Warden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jason Warden acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Espinoza
vs
Warden

185 cm
22
210 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
22
195 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Salem Espinoza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Jason Warden!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, William Gold and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Espinoza tries to clinch but Warden is having none of it.

Warden darts in and clinches Espinoza up against the cage.
Warden has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Espinoza is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Espinoza pulls Warden into guard.

Warden postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Espinoza is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Warden, into his guard.
Espinoza trying to control but Warden is working from the bottom.

Espinoza avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Warden throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Warden working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Espinoza has passed into half guard!
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Espinoza in particular looking to stall.
Espinoza with the ground and pound but Warden uses the opportunity to regain guard.

Warden working for a triangle but Espinoza defends it easily.
Warden looks gassed!
Espinoza trying to control the position from guard on top but Warden is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Espinoza slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Espinoza decides to stand back up. Espinoza steps back and let's Warden get back to his feet.
Espinoza shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Warden as he jumps to the side.

Espinoza gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Warden is fighting to break Espinoza's control of his arms but Espinoza is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espinoza 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.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Espinoza striking off his back.
Espinoza is pulling down on Warden's head to control his posture.
Espinoza tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Warden with a flurry of punches that miss.
Espinoza trying to control the position.

Warden has gone for a leg lock! Espinoza slips out almost immediately though and dives into Warden's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Espinoza has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Warden is proving hard to escape from.

Warden is working an open guard so Espinoza takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Warden circles away from the clinch attempt
and Warden counters with a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Salem Espinoza dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Espinoza has his takedown stuffed

and Warden counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Warden stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Espinoza scores with a nice head shot.
A low kick from Espinoza misses

and Warden counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Warden lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Espinoza keeping full guard, as Warden tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Warden is breathing heavily.
Espinoza is trying to keep Warden in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Espinoza bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Warden's guard.

Warden looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Espinoza has picked Warden up and slammed him! Warden can't keep hold of the triangle and Espinoza manages to pass to side control!
Warden avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Espinoza.
Espinoza tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
An elbow from Espinoza crashes against the mat.

Espinoza tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Espinoza has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Espinoza trying to control the action but Warden is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Warden connects with an elbow from the bottom.
Espinoza controls the position.

Espinoza has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Espinoza tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Warden counters with a single leg into guard. Espinoza didn't expect that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Warden is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Espinoza lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Warden!

Espinoza stands up from mount. Strange move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Espinoza shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Warden counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Espinoza trying to hold on to Warden's head to control him but Warden postures up.
Espinoza is pressing down on Warden's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Warden trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Espinoza manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Warden is looking for a triangle here but Espinoza uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Warden showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Espinoza with a poor takedown

and Warden decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Espinoza's guard.
Espinoza wants to stand up but Warden is controlling him.
Espinoza throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Espinoza working a defensive guard here.
Warden trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Warden is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Espinoza is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Espinoza has escaped and now he's on top!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Warden keeping moving, preventing Espinoza from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Espinoza not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Espinoza trying to stand up but can't free himself from Warden's guard.

Warden has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Espinoza is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Warden.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Warden. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

Espinoza decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Espinoza has his takedown stuffed

and Warden decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Espinoza's guard.
Warden postures up in Espinoza's guard and throws a big left but Espinoza blocks it.
Espinoza is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Espinoza manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Warden manages to get himself to full guard.

Warden looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Espinoza decides to stand up, so the ref orders Warden to his feet.
Espinoza misses with a double jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Espinoza tries for a takedown but Warden circles away easily
and Warden counters with a two punch combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Salem Espinoza. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Warden.
Espinoza is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Warden's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Espinoza trying to control here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jason Warden comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Warden has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jason Warden!