PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gerard Esqueda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexandre Nieto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Esqueda comes to the cage accompanied by Cant del Barça. Nieto has chosen Bullet the Blue Sky as his entrance music. 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.

Esqueda
vs
Nieto

179 cm
31
169 lbs
26 - 11 - 2

170 cm
34
162 lbs
26 - 9 - 1

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

{R.W} Four Aces Nutrition

Union Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 11 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Gerard Esqueda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexandre Nieto!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nieto scores with a body shot.
A shot to the liver by Nieto. Beautiful body shot.
Esqueda fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Nieto fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Nieto misses with a takedown

so Esqueda counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nieto is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Esqueda is controlling him.

Nieto working for a triangle but Esqueda defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Esqueda pushing down on Nieto's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nieto trying to control from the bottom.
Esqueda looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Nieto wants to control the action here but instead Esqueda manages to pass to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esqueda landing strikes from the mount.

It looks like Alexandre Nieto has been cut.
Esqueda lands a couple of good shots and Nieto has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Esqueda throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Nieto tries to roll but Esqueda sticks to his back.
Esqueda seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Nieto is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Esqueda controlling the position well here. Nieto rolled but Esqueda kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Nieto covering up well and avoiding damage.
Esqueda is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Nieto. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Esqueda's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Nieto has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Esqueda.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda tries to get the hooks in deep but Nieto pushed the leg off.
Esqueda scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Nieto is looking for a way out.
Esqueda misses with an elbow to the head.
Nieto trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Esqueda misses with a punch to the head.
Nieto wants to escape the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nieto tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Nieto is trying desperately to improve position.
Esqueda 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda looking to control but Nieto is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Nieto bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Nieto throws a sloppy strike and Esqueda has hooked up an armbar on the loose arm! He's turned and extended fully! Nieto is forced to tap! Great BJJ from Esqueda!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:38 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Gerard Esqueda!
Gerard Esqueda really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that $300 logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.