PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Isaias Espinoza (ranked 24554 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ahmad Talib (ranked 8682 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Espinoza
vs
Talib

213 cm
18
214 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

175 cm
22
210 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Isaias Espinoza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ahmad Talib!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Alyssa Summers and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Talib feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Espinoza is striking but Talib is not phased and passes to half guard.
Talib lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Talib looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Talib not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Talib trying to control from half guard but Espinoza is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Talib is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Talib prevents Espinoza from improving his position.
Talib wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Espinoza uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
Talib controls from within his opponent's guard.
Let's hope that Talib has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Talib looking to pass the guard.

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.
Espinoza being controlled here, momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Espinoza shoots in for a takedown but Talib shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Talib avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Espinoza doesn't manage to clinch there - Talib circles away.
Espinoza shoots in but Talib avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Talib looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Espinoza wants to get back to his feet but Talib passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Talib wants to pass the guard but Espinoza is defending well.
Talib stalling.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Talib connects with a nice short shot to Espinoza's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Talib working Espinoza over with strikes.

Talib looking for a submission but Espinoza manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Talib slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Talib wanted to stand there but Espinoza had control of the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Talib slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahmad Talib dominated that round.
That's time! Espinoza's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Espinoza tries to clinch up but Talib circles away and keeps his distance.
Talib drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Espinoza defends it well.

Talib drops Espinoza with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Espinoza looks back up at him and smiles so Talib waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

Espinoza is rocked!

It looks like Isaias Espinoza has been cut.

Talib has taken the fight to the clinch.
Oh Espinoza is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Talib successfully pulls guard.
Ahmad Talib has got the better of the ground game so far.
Talib pulls Espinoza in close to his closed guard and prevents Espinoza from doing any damage or advancing position.
Talib is continuing to stall.

Talib looking for subs off his back but Espinoza has passed one foot through into half guard.
Espinoza seems to have got his legs back now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Espinoza not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Talib manages to get to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Talib had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Espinoza defends it easily.

Talib is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Espinoza is aware though and is defending well.
Talib working a defensive guard but Espinoza passes into half guard.
Talib is looking to get back to full guard here but Espinoza has managed to pass to side control instead.
A control attempt from Talib but he's now mounted!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Talib is wriggling around trying to escape.
Talib is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Talib has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Talib regains half guard.
Espinoza throwing shots but Talib is blocking nicely.

Espinoza is trying to work for a kimura but Talib is defending well.
Talib avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Espinoza.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espinoza throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Espinoza throwing shots but Talib is blocking nicely.
Talib is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Espinoza jumps into side control!
Talib trying his best to control but Espinoza has mounted him.
Espinoza lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Espinoza fails to move to back control.
Talib is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Talib tries to lock up and control but Espinoza gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Espinoza won't let Talib get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Espinoza will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Talib wants to hold on but Espinoza pushes him away.
Talib is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Talib tries to hold on but Espinoza postures up.

Talib bucks up and throws Espinoza to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Talib clinches.
Espinoza tries to circle away but Talib has him pinned against the cage.
Talib prevents Espinoza from breaking the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahmad Talib showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Isaias Espinoza's cut.
That's time! Espinoza's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Talib dives in for a single leg takedown but Espinoza sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Espinoza tries to close the distance and clinch but Talib swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Talib looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Espinoza looking to hit a scissor sweep but Talib is one step ahead there.
Espinoza working a defensive guard but Talib passes into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Espinoza is trying to get back to full guard.
Talib is controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Talib takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Espinoza trying to control here.
Talib trying to pass the guard but Espinoza defending well.

Talib is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

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.
Talib trying to control the pace.
Espinoza has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Talib is working away from the top position though.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Talib in particular looking to stall.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Talib throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Espinoza appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Espinoza moves to clinch but Talib breaks away
and Talib counters with a left to the body.

Espinoza gets caught flat footed, as Talib shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Talib trying to control but Espinoza is working from the bottom.
Espinoza looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Talib puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Espinoza is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Espinoza is staying active underneath Talib, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Talib stands up from half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Good work by Espinoza as he checks the leg kick.
Espinoza tries to score a power double leg takedown but Talib sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Espinoza somewhat.
Espinoza tries to clinch

and Talib counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Talib with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Ahmad Talib comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Talib 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ahmad Talib!