PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Frank Esposito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shawn Wexler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wexler has chosen Go To Sleep - Eminem as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Esposito
vs
Wexler

178 cm
38
187 lbs
49 - 20 - 1

182 cm
34
178 lbs
24 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

VIRAL COMBAT

Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 49 - 20 - 1, fighting out of New York, Frank Esposito!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Shawn Wexler!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Bruno Lombardi and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Esposito darts in and clinches Wexler up against the cage.
Esposito tries a knee to the head but Wexler blocks it.
Esposito blocks an uppercut.
Wexler swings wildly with an uppercut but Esposito uses good head movement to avoid it.
Esposito throws a knee to the head but misses.
Esposito lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Wexler avoiding damage.
Wexler managing to block the knees to the body from Esposito.
Esposito tries a knee to the head but Wexler blocks it.
Esposito is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Wexler works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Esposito throws a knee to the head but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esposito lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Wexler is trying to break the clinch but Esposito has him pressed against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Esposito.
Wexler blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Wexler lands a body punch in the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Wexler.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Esposito landing knees to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esposito looking to throw knees to the head but Wexler is blocking nicely.
Wexler working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Esposito misses with a knee strike.
The referee calls for Wexler to work.
Wexler presses Esposito against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Wexler managing to block the knees to the body from Esposito.
Esposito misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Wexler.
Wexler lands a body punch in the clinch.
Wexler lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Esposito with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Wexler blocks an uppercut.
Esposito tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Wexler throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Esposito with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Esposito misses with some punches.
Nice body punch from Wexler - that landed with a thud.
Esposito throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wexler tries a body shot but Esposito blocks it.

Wexler pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Esposito misses with a low kick.
Wexler lands a nice shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Esposito uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Wexler.
Wexler looks to score with a jab to the body but Esposito is just out of range.

Esposito clinches.

Wexler pulls guard effortlessly.
Wexler not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Esposito accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Wexler 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.
Esposito wants to stand but Wexler is controlling his posture from full guard.
Esposito being controlled here momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wexler looking for subs off his back but Esposito has passed one foot through into half guard.
Wexler has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Esposito is working away from the top position though.
Esposito tries to stand but can't do so whilst Wexler controls his leg.

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.
Esposito is thwarting Wexler's attempts to control the position.
Wexler is looking for a sweep. Esposito is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Esposito misses with a straight right.
Esposito throws a right and a left that Wexler avoids nicely.
Wexler tries for a takedown but Esposito sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Wexler shoots in but no luck this time.
Frank Esposito has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shawn Wexler.
Esposito misses with a head kick.
Esposito is looking to land body kicks.

Wexler looking to score a takedown here. Esposito is defending well but Wexler drives through and ends up in Esposito's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wexler postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Esposito dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Wexler moves out of range of the strikes.
Esposito misses with a body kick.
Esposito fails in his attempt to clinch.
Wexler tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Esposito was well out of range. Poor timing from Wexler.
Esposito loads up on a big right hand but Wexler slips the punch.
Wexler moves out of range of the body kick.
Wexler circles away from the clinch attempt.
Wexler throws a sloppy body shot
and Esposito makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Esposito takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A slow jab from Esposito misses its intended target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wexler throws a sloppy head kick
and Esposito counters with a stiff right hand.
Wexler lands a slapping body shot.

Wexler drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
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!

Wexler is trying to get an arm triangle but Esposito is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wexler goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Esposito has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Wexler but great work by Esposito.
Esposito is looking to take a break and control but Wexler is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Esposito tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Wexler sneaks back into half guard.
Wexler has a hand on Esposito's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Esposito takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wexler is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Wexler manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Wexler holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Wexler trying to control from the bottom.
Wexler is staying active underneath Esposito, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Wexler gets full guard.
Wexler controls Esposito momentarily but Esposito frees himself.

Esposito got a little sloppy there for a moment and Wexler has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Esposito has managed to get both his arms back between Wexler's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wexler looking for a sweep. Not yet Wexler, not yet.
Wexler pulls Esposito in close to prevent any damage.
Esposito postures up and lands a big shot to Wexler's brow.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
Wexler not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Esposito misses with a body punch
letting Wexler counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nice defenses there by Wexler.
Wexler ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Esposito moves away.
A jab from Esposito finds it's way through Wexler's defenses.
Esposito throws a leg kick which misses Wexler's front leg but catches the back leg as Wexler tries to avoid it.

Wexler tries to keep at a distance but Esposito has taken the fight into the clinch.
Wexler tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Esposito pushes Wexler back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Still in the clinch, Wexler scores with a nice short uppercut.

Wexler gets control of Esposito's arms and successfully pulls guard. Wexler will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Esposito has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Esposito passes easily into side control. Nice work.
You can see the frustration on Wexler's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Wexler manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Shawn Wexler will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Thud! ouch! good body kick from Esposito - that will leave a mark!
No joy there for Esposito, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Wexler digs a good hook to Esposito's body.
Wexler takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Esposito fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Wexler looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Wexler throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Esposito misses with a low kick.
Wexler uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Esposito.
Esposito's corner calls for a 1-2. Esposito obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Esposito misses with a looping left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slow jab from Esposito misses its intended target.
Wexler swings for the body but Esposito moves out of range.
Wexler tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Wexler scores with a hook to the body. Esposito takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Frank Esposito is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wexler throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
The fighters circling - Wexler throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Wexler lands with a kick to the temple. Esposito shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like Frank Esposito has been cut.
Wexler misses with a looping right.
Wexler checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Wexler misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Esposito is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Frank Esposito is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Esposito swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Wexler counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Esposito thinking.
Wexler throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Esposito misses with a left hand
and Wexler counters with a right hand to the body.
Wexler just misses with a punch to the body.
Frank Esposito seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Esposito tries a low kick but Wexler avoids it.
Wexler with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Wexler with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esposito avoids the head kick by Wexler.
Esposito lands the left hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wexler tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Esposito swivels and escapes.
Esposito tries to clinch there but Wexler circles away.
Esposito throws a hook but Wexler blocks it.
Esposito misses with a straight left.
Esposito misses with a body shot.
Wexler throws a lazy right hand but Esposito sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Wexler ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Esposito moves away.
Wexler scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Esposito walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Wexler checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Wexler steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Esposito.
Esposito walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito tries to clinch but Wexler moves out of range.
Esposito goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Esposito drops his hands momentarily and Wexler takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Wexler shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Esposito working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Wexler.
Wexler being controlled here momentarily.
Wexler looking to sit in guard and control but Esposito gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Wexler working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Esposito pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wexler is keeping the position for now.
Wexler controlling Esposito's posture.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Wexler 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 referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shawn Wexler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Wexler has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Shawn Wexler!
Shawn Wexler seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
Frank Esposito spoke after the fight, saying 'This was my final competitive fight. It's been a great career.'.