PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Keenan Espinoza (ranked 8479 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scott Nash (ranked 4117 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Espinoza
vs
Nash

155 cm
24
279 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
24
223 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Keenan Espinoza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Scott Nash!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Francis DeMontford and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nash shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Espinoza as he avoids it easily.
Good leg kick by Nash there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Nash fails with the takedown

and Espinoza holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Nash pulls Espinoza into guard.
Nash is trying to keep Espinoza in close.
Espinoza really is a fat lump.
Nash has his hands on Espinoza's head, controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Espinoza throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nash works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Espinoza won't allow Nash to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Espinoza trying to control but Nash is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nash is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nash is looking to stand up but Espinoza isn't so interested in that idea.
Espinoza might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Nash looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Nash wants to stand up but Espinoza is controlling him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nash shoots in for a takedown but Espinoza shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Keenan Espinoza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Scott Nash.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Nash moves to clinch but Espinoza breaks away
and Espinoza counters with a head kick. That will keep Nash thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Nash shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Espinoza as he avoids it easily.
Espinoza thinks about countering with a head kick.
Nash wants to clinch

so Espinoza counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Espinoza wants to control from the top but Nash keeps moving.
Espinoza's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Espinoza looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nash trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Nash trying to keep a closed guard but Espinoza is proving a slippery customer.
Espinoza wants to control from the top but Nash keeps moving.
Nash working a defensive guard but Espinoza manages to pass into side control anyway.
Nash is not content to let Espinoza control the position.
Nash tries to improve position but can't.

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 sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Nash is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Espinoza stands up.
Scott Nash seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nash shoots in but no luck this time.
Nash tries to clinch there but Espinoza circles away.
Espinoza looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nash swats away the attempt to clinch by Espinoza.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keenan Espinoza dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nash throws a head kick but Espinoza moves out of range.

Nash moves into the clinch.
Nash lands a left hand.
Nash has Espinoza pressed against the cage, preventing Espinoza from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Nash is trying to break free.
Espinoza tries for a takedown. No joy.
Espinoza is trying to drag Nash to the mat but Nash just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Nash 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nash is trying to pull guard but Espinoza turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Espinoza breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A slow jab from Espinoza misses its intended target.
Espinoza is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nash can do to turn this around?
Nash dives in for a single leg takedown but Espinoza sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Keenan Espinoza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Scott Nash.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nash misses with a takedown attempt - Espinoza sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nash misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nash tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Espinoza swivels and escapes.
Nash is breathing heavily.
Nash tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Espinoza swivels and escapes.
Espinoza is looking to counter with head kicks.

Nash decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Espinoza regains full guard. Nicely done.
Espinoza is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Nash is pressing down on Espinoza's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nash is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Espinoza lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Espinoza postures up in Nash's guard and throws a big left but Nash blocks it.
Espinoza has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Nash seems keen to control Espinoza's posture.
Nash wants to control but Espinoza passes easily into half guard.
Nash wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espinoza with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Nash is controlling Espinoza's trapped leg to prevent Espinoza from advancing to side control.
Espinoza prevents Nash from standing back up.
Nash is looking for a sweep. Espinoza is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Espinoza scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Nash wants to get back to full guard.
Nash is still trying to improve position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Nash throws a leg kick that misses.
Espinoza seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Nash goes for a double leg but Espinoza avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Espinoza continues to drive forward.
Espinoza feinted there with a counter leg kick.

Nash tries to keep at a distance but Espinoza has taken the fight into the clinch.

Espinoza escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A low kick from Nash is predictable there
and Espinoza counters with a nice body kick.
Nash tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Espinoza paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keenan Espinoza dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Nash moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Nash darts in and clinches Espinoza up against the cage.
Nash is looking to take this one to the mat.

Espinoza drags the fight down to the ground.
Espinoza is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Nash gets to his feet - Espinoza follows without any prompting.

Nash moves into the clinch successfully.
Espinoza wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Espinoza has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Nash is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Espinoza jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Nash walks away with a smile on his face. Espinoza gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Espinoza jabs at Nash's body.
Nash tries to score a power double leg takedown but Espinoza sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nash somewhat.
Keenan Espinoza is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nash throws a lazy head kick
and Espinoza counters with a nice leg kick.
Espinoza lands a leg kick that knocks Nash off balance momentarily.
Espinoza tries to clinch but Nash is having none of it.
Nash throws a right and a left that Espinoza avoids nicely.
Espinoza appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Nash takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Espinoza avoids the body shot from Nash.
Nash with a lazy takedown attempt
and Espinoza counters with a head kick. That will keep Nash thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Keenan Espinoza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Scott Nash.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Espinoza scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Nash shoots in but Espinoza avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Espinoza darts in and clinches Nash up against the cage.

Espinoza has hold of one of Nash's legs. Nash is fighting the takedown attempt but Espinoza gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Espinoza throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nash works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Espinoza trying to control but Nash is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nash is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Espinoza trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nash manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Espinoza manages to get himself to full guard.

Nash decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

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 gets tackled into the cage by Nash. Nash maintains the clinch.

Nash lands a takedown into guard.
Espinoza is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Espinoza wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Espinoza manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Espinoza is trying to pull guard but Nash has him pressed against the cage.
Nash fails to pull guard.
Scott Nash has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Keenan Espinoza is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nash working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Nash working aggressively here.

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 Keenan Espinoza.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Espinoza, 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keenan Espinoza!