PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Vinicius (ranked 5023 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juliano Esquivel (ranked 2829 p4p, 0 weight class). Marcus Vinicius has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Vinicius
vs
Esquivel

167 cm
25
156 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

173 cm
25
158 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Marcus Vinicius!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Juliano Esquivel!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Michael Johnstone and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vinicius shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Esquivel as he avoids it easily.
Sloppy strikes from Esquivel. Those never looked like landing.
Esquivel will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Vinicius appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Vinicius avoids a kick to the body.
Vinicius shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Esquivel as he jumps to the side.
Vinicius slaps away a takedown attempt from Esquivel, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Vinicius throws a series of strikes that have Esquivel backpedaling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Esquivel has managed to clinch.
Esquivel's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Esquivel breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Esquivel shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Vinicius napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Vinicius is looking to reverse the position.
Esquivel tries to stand but Vinicius is controlling his head.
Vinicius manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Vinicius is thwarting Esquivel's attempts to control the position.

Vinicius is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Esquivel sees it coming and defends easily.
Esquivel keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esquivel blocking the ground and pound attempt from Vinicius.
Vinicius stops Esquivel from getting back to his feet.
Esquivel is trying to get back to full guard.
Esquivel keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Esquivel is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vinicius works his way into side control.
Esquivel wants to control but Vinicius postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vinicius tries to stand but Esquivel is controlling his head.

Vinicius looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Esquivel is trying to control Vinicius's posture but Vinicius avoids it.

Vinicius tries for a kimura but Esquivel is defending well.

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.
Esquivel struggling a bit here.
Vinicius wants to control but Esquivel is keeping him busy.
Vinicius tries to score with some ground and pound. Esquivel controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Esquivel can't do much from the bottom here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vinicius will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcus Vinicius. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Esquivel pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Vinicius fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Esquivel on the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Vinicius fails with the takedown.
Esquivel misses with a body kick.
As Esquivel looks to move away, Vinicius throws a big counter combo but Esquivel just gets out of the way.

Esquivel clinches up against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Vinicius tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Esquivel avoids it.

Vinicius breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Vinicius is looking to clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Vinicius is defended easily by Esquivel.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vinicius stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Vinicius wants it to stay on the feet.

Esquivel feints and as Vinicius raises his hands in defense, Esquivel changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esquivel tries to stand but Vinicius is controlling from the bottom.

Vinicius throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Esquivel looking to sit in guard and control but Vinicius gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Esquivel looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vinicius is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Vinicius throws a strike but Esquivel rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Esquivel trying to control but Vinicius is working from the bottom.
Vinicius is striking but Esquivel is not phased and passes to half guard.
Esquivel is stalling here. Vinicius is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Esquivel seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Vinicius has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Esquivel is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vinicius throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Esquivel works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Vinicius thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Vinicius wants to pass the guard but Esquivel is defending well.
Vinicius wants to take a breather but Esquivel is having none of it.
Esquivel is trying to get back to full guard.
Esquivel trying to control from the bottom.

That's four 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.
Vinicius with the ground and pound but Esquivel uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Esquivel is trying to keep Vinicius in close.
Marcus Vinicius overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vinicius trying to control the position from guard on top but Esquivel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vinicius is really struggling to control Esquivel but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Esquivel looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Juliano Esquivel will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Esquivel fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Vinicius, pushing him back against the cage.

Esquivel manages to break the clinch.

Esquivel has managed to clinch.

Esquivel has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Vinicius uses from the top position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Esquivel holds on and takes a little breather.
Vinicius wants to control from the top but Esquivel keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esquivel has a closed guard, preventing Vinicius from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esquivel looking for a sweep. Not yet Esquivel, not yet.

Esquivel looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Vinicius passes into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Esquivel tries to get to full guard but Vinicius has control of the leg.

Vinicius is looking for a kimura but Esquivel is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Vinicius to get the leverage.
Esquivel is staying active underneath Vinicius, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Vinicius is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Esquivel is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Vinicius is thwarting Esquivel's attempts to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nice sprawl there from Esquivel as Vinicius shoots in.

Esquivel takes the fight into the clinch.
Esquivel on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Esquivel tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Vinicius is trying to drag Esquivel to the mat but Esquivel just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
With the fighters up against the cage, Vinicius throws an elbow but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esquivel wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Esquivel blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Esquivel fails to pull guard.
Esquivel can't break the clinch.
Esquivel lands with a light punch inside.
A frustrated look appears on Vinicius's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Esquivel wants to break the clinch but can't.
Esquivel is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcus Vinicius. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Esquivel jumps guard but Vinicius stands there with Esquivel around his waist. Esquivel gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Esquivel is looking to take this one to the mat.

Vinicius manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Esquivel is looking to work some ground and pound but Vinicius has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vinicius escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Esquivel gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Vinicius is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Esquivel trying to control the position from guard on top but Vinicius is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vinicius controls Esquivel momentarily but Esquivel frees himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juliano Esquivel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Esquivel 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 David Hoff scores the fight 28:29
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Juliano Esquivel!