PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Darby Gordon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Javier Esposito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gordon kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is United Booty Foundation. This should be a great matchup!

Gordon
vs
Esposito

190 cm
40
217 lbs
36 - 26 - 0

186 cm
29
205 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Amped Performance

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 36 - 26 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Darby Gordon!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Javier Esposito!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Tiny Johnson and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Gordon, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Gordon pushes Esposito up against the cage in a clinch.
Gordon struggles to land a body shot inside as Esposito controls his hands.
Esposito blocks a body shot from Gordon.
Esposito lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gordon backwards.
Gordon tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Gordon lands with a left to the head.
Esposito lands with a right to the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Esposito - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Esposito misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gordon lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Javier Esposito has been cut.
Gordon swings wildly with an uppercut but Esposito uses good head movement to avoid it.
Esposito scores with a nice hook to the head.
Gordon struggles to land a body shot inside as Esposito controls his hands.
Gordon misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gordon tries a body shot but Esposito blocks it.
Gordon is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Esposito gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
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!
Gordon tries to work over Esposito's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Our sources have told us that Gordon has been working on his elbows in the gym.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gordon scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Esposito prevents a body shot from Gordon.
With the fighters up against the cage, Gordon throws an elbow but misses.
Esposito avoids a wild elbow strike from Gordon.
Gordon fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Esposito lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Gordon tries to pull guard but Esposito forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Gordon scores with a nice hook to the head.
Gordon softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Esposito tries for a takedown but Gordon manages to get underhooks.
Come on Esposito - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Gordon tries to work over Esposito's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gordon takes a shot to the head.
Esposito misses with the head strike.
Gordon misses with the head strike.
Nice body punch from Gordon - that landed with a thud.
Gordon swings wildly with an uppercut but Esposito uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gordon lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gordon struggles to land a body shot inside as Esposito controls his hands.
Esposito avoids a wild elbow strike from Gordon.

Esposito breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Esposito circles away from the clinch attempt.
Esposito takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Gordon tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gordon lands a head kick. Esposito smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Esposito throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Gordon tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Esposito is in Gordon's guard.
Esposito wants to control from the top but Gordon keeps moving.

Gordon is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Esposito defends well.
Esposito seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Gordon is looking to stand up but Esposito isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

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

Gordon manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Esposito digs a right hand underneath Gordon's ribcage. Gordon let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Gordon throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Gordon goes for a takedown attempt but Esposito pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darby Gordon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
An inside leg kick from Gordon misses.
Gordon tests Esposito's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Gordon tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Gordon dives in for a single leg takedown but Esposito sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Esposito connects with a single shot there.
Nice straight punches there by Esposito. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Esposito.
Esposito fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Esposito on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Esposito avoids the head kick by Gordon.
Esposito throws a push kick but Gordon slaps the foot to one side.
Gordon is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Esposito.
Gordon misses with a leg kick

and Esposito counters with a takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Gordon's face as Esposito controls the position.
Gordon is looking to reverse the position.
Esposito is looking to take a break and control but Gordon is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Esposito working the ground and pound.
Gordon regains half guard.
Gordon has hold of Esposito's hands but Esposito slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Esposito lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Gordon is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Darby Gordon will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Javier Esposito's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Gordon tries to clinch but Esposito moves out of range.
Gordon connects with a leg kick. Esposito looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Gordon fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Esposito changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Darby Gordon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Esposito closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Esposito lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Esposito slips under a jab.
Esposito digs a good body shot into Gordon's ribs.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Gordon lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Esposito has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Esposito and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Gordon misses with a right hand
and Esposito counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gordon takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Gordon misses with a head kick.
Gordon moves out of range as Esposito strikes.

Gordon clinches with his opponent.
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!
Esposito avoids the elbow strike from Gordon, against the cage.
Gordon pushes off an throws an elbow but Esposito leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Gordon tries to throw a body punch but Esposito avoids it by throwing Gordon back against the cage.
Gordon goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Gordon just misses with a elbow thrown towards Esposito's brow.

Esposito breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gordon stuffs the takedown.
The fighters circling - Esposito throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
An inside leg kick lands from Esposito.
Gordon fails with a takedown attempt.
Gordon tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Esposito manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Esposito fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gordon looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Javier Esposito seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gordon fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Esposito manages to avoid it.
Esposito scores with a nice head shot.
Gordon lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Esposito blocks a head kick by Gordon.
Gordon tries to clinch but Esposito moves out of range.
Esposito looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Esposito takes the fight into the clinch.
Esposito prevents a body shot from Gordon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esposito fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Esposito scores with a nice hook to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Esposito is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Gordon creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Esposito's defenses.
Esposito swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Esposito takes an elbow to the temple.
Gordon throws a punch but it's blocked by Esposito.
Gordon tries a body shot but Esposito blocks it.
Gordon stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Gordon blocks an uppercut.
Gordon lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Gordon misses with a hook from the clinch.
Esposito avoiding damage.
Darby Gordon has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Gordon misses with a hook from the clinch.
Esposito lands a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Gordon struggles to land a body shot inside as Esposito controls his hands.
Esposito blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Esposito lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Esposito takes an elbow to the forehead.
Esposito lands a nice uppercut.
Esposito misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gordon throws a punch but it's blocked by Esposito.
Gordon swings wildly with an uppercut but Esposito uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gordon throws a punch but it's blocked by Esposito.
Gordon lands an elbow inside.
A right handed body shot lands from Gordon.
Esposito slowing the pace effectively.
Gordon creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Esposito's defenses.
Gordon is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Esposito gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darby Gordon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head punch on the inside from Esposito fails to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gordon throws an elbow but it misses.
Esposito looking to slow down the pace here.
Gordon lands a right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gordon throws a head punch that misses.
Gordon's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Esposito blocks a body shot from Gordon.

Gordon manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Gordon is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Esposito tries to roll over but Gordon keeps him under control.
Esposito slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Gordon wants to stand but Esposito has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
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 Darby Gordon will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Javier Esposito's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Esposito explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Esposito fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gordon has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Esposito.
Esposito delivers a nice body kick.
Esposito scores with a jab to the body.
Gordon tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Esposito is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Esposito scores with a leg kick.
Gordon throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Esposito counters with a nice uppercut.
Gordon wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gordon lands the left hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gordon is looking to land body kicks.
Gordon thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gordon shoots for a takedown but Esposito saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Gordon shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Esposito thuds his shin into the meat of Gordon's side.

Esposito looking to score a takedown here. Gordon is defending well but Esposito drives through and ends up in Gordon's guard.
Esposito slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Esposito got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gordon has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Esposito has managed to get both his arms back between Gordon's legs - danger averted.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Esposito stays in close to Gordon's body and controls the position.

Gordon working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Esposito doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Esposito manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gordon looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Gordon is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Esposito is aware though and is defending well.
Esposito looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A good leg kick by Esposito.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito tries to close the distance and clinch but Gordon swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Esposito jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Gordon shoots in for a takedown but Esposito shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Esposito scores with a leg kick.

Esposito looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Gordon trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Esposito chips away with some ground and pound.
Esposito showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Gordon had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Esposito defends it easily.
Esposito working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gordon throws his legs up looking for a submission but Esposito uses it to pass to side control.
Esposito taking a breather here.
Esposito's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Esposito cracks Gordon with a big right hand but Gordon just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Esposito takes advantage of some sloppy striking from Gordon to pass into mount.
Esposito controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Javier Esposito really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Javier Esposito's cut.
That's time! Gordon's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gordon is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Esposito drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Gordon defends it well.
Esposito avoids the head kick by Gordon.
Gordon looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Esposito feints the counter takedown.
Gordon takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Esposito shoots in and drives through. Gordon sprawls well.
Nice shot lands for Esposito.
Esposito throws a shot from downtown. Gordon moves away and avoids it.
Gordon scores with a nice right hand.
Gordon throws a jab when Esposito was well out of range.
Gordon throws a right hand that misses
and Esposito counters with a low kick, right behind Gordon 's knee.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice sprawl there from Esposito as Gordon shoots in.
Esposito unleashes a big counter combination but Gordon bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Esposito looks to score with a jab to the body but Gordon is just out of range.

Esposito closes the distance and pushes Gordon back into the cage.
Gordon swings wildly with an uppercut but Esposito uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gordon throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esposito misses with a punch to the body.

Esposito breaks from the clinch.
Esposito tries to bum rush Gordon with a series of wild strikes but Gordon uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
An attempted straight right counter from Gordon misses the target.
Gordon misses with an uppercut. Esposito saw that one coming.
Gordon misses with a kick to the body
enabling Esposito to counter with a crisp jab.
Esposito avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gordon darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Gordon is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Gordon doesn't manage to clinch there - Esposito circles away.
Gordon throws a head kick that misses

and Esposito decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gordon's guard.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Esposito passes Gordon's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Esposito not doing much here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gordon is looking to escape.
Gordon is looking for a sweep. Esposito is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Gordon actively working from the bottom here.
Gordon is looking to improve his position.
Esposito slows the pace down in half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gordon tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Esposito has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Gordon is looking to improve his position but Esposito isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito controlling the pace for now.
Esposito scoring with strikes but Gordon is staying in there.
Gordon is in all sorts of trouble here.
Esposito avoids the attempt from Gordon to control.
Esposito controlling from the full mount.
Javier Esposito has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gordon working to try and regain half guard.
Esposito controlling his opponent.
Gordon working to try and regain half guard.
Gordon manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Esposito wants to take a breather but Gordon is having none of it.
Esposito perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Javier Esposito dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Javier Esposito's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Gordon tries to clinch up
and Esposito counters with a leg kick.
Gordon is looking to clinch but Esposito is avoiding it.
Esposito fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Gordon has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Gordon tries to clinch up.
Esposito feints a counter leg kick.
Esposito has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Esposito goes for a double leg but Gordon avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Gordon continues to drive forward.
Gordon swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Gordon takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Gordon gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Gordon tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch on the inside from Esposito fails to land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Esposito gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Gordon regains guard.

Gordon is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Esposito controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Esposito got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gordon has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Esposito has managed to get both his arms back between Gordon's legs - danger averted.
Esposito seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Gordon is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Esposito defends well.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Esposito cracks Gordon with a solid left hand.
Esposito trying to control the position from guard on top but Gordon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Esposito postures up.
Esposito sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Gordon has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Esposito can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Gordon looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Gordon looking for subs off his back but Esposito has passed one foot through into half guard.

Gordon looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Esposito moves into full mount! Gordon won't be happy about that!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito content just to control the position here.
Gordon in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Gordon is looking to get to half guard.
Esposito tries to control but Gordon wriggling away.
Gordon tries to hold on but Esposito pushes him away.
Gordon is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gordon is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Gordon tries to reverse the position but Esposito maintains control.
Gordon tries to lock up and control but Esposito gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gordon tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Esposito controlling the position easily from mount.
Gordon is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gordon can't escape the position.
Esposito can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gordon is looking to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Javier Esposito comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Esposito 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 47:48
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 47:48
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 47:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Javier Esposito!
Javier Esposito is the new light heavyweight champion!