PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Esponosa (ranked 3259 p4p, 2755 weight class) and Jacob Handler (ranked 373 p4p, 332 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Esponosa
vs
Handler

181 cm
20
163
1 - 0 - 0

172 cm
20
165
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ricardo Esponosa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jacob Handler!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Alec Ball and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Handler avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Handler swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Esponosa.
Esponosa doesn't manage to clinch there - Handler circles away.
Esponosa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Handler feints a jab promting Esponosa to slip. Handler then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Esponosa slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Handler scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Handler looks to land a combination. Esponosa sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Handler stalks Esponosa and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Esponosa's face. Esponosa staggers backwards, shaken.
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!

Esponosa takes the fight into the clinch.

Esponosa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Esponosa jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Handler is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Esponosa's half guard.

Esponosa makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esponosa missing with a left hand there. Handler was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Esponosa looks to land a left hand but Handler moved out of range nicely.
Esponosa throws a series of punches but Handler moves out of range.
Handler lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Esponosa circles away quickly and effectively.
Handler throws a hook to the side of Esponosa's head but Esponosa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Esponosa loads up on a big right hand but Handler slips the punch.
Handler moves away from the strike by Esponosa.
Esponosa moves in looking to clinch but Handler pushes him off.
Esponosa scores with a decent looking hook.
Handler slips a jab from Esponosa.
Handler moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Handler throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Some wild striking there from Handler.
Handler avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Esponosa wants to clinch up but Handler keeps it at a distance.
Handler scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esponosa waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Handler.
Esponosa's corner calls for a 1-2. Esponosa obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Handler looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Esponosa!
Esponosa tries to buck Handler off but Handler is having none of it.
You can see the frustration on Esponosa's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Esponosa tries to bench press Handler off him but Handler keeps the position.
Handler landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Esponosa is trying to improve his position.
Esponosa manages to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Handler looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Handler is thwarting Esponosa's attempts to control the position.
Handler trying to control the action but Esponosa is working from the bottom.
Esponosa wants to get back to full guard.
Esponosa keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Handler lands strikes from half guard.
Handler working over Esponosa with some ground and pound. Esponosa looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Handler seems to be working for a kimura but Esponosa defends the submission attempt.
Esponosa wants to control but Handler is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esponosa is controlling Handler's trapped leg to prevent Handler from advancing to side control.
Esponosa is pressing down on Handler's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Handler avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Esponosa is trying to keep Handler in close.
Esponosa looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Handler lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Esponosa seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Esponosa looking to control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jacob Handler dominated that round.
That's time! Esponosa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Handler lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Esponosa misses the jab.
Esponosa moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Handler cracks Esponosa with a right hand to the side of the head.

Handler drives through with a takedown into Esponosa's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Esponosa looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Handler avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Handler stands up over Esponosa, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Handler is working Esponosa over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Esponosa is trying to control the position but Handler postures up.
Esponosa keeping moving, preventing Handler from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Handler wants to stand and escape but instead Esponosa has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Esponosa passes into half guard.
Handler pushes Esponosa off looking to stand but Esponosa dives back in and keeps control.
Handler wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Esponosa seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Handler does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Handler is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Esponosa pulls his head out easily.
Esponosa stops Handler from getting back to his feet.
Handler is looking for a sweep. Esponosa is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Esponosa performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Handler is staying active underneath Esponosa, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esponosa keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Handler actively working from the bottom here.
Handler tries to get to full guard but Esponosa has control of the leg.
Esponosa is looking to take a break and control but Handler is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Esponosa seems to be working for a kimura but Handler defends the submission attempt.
Handler has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Handler looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esponosa prevents Handler from improving his position.

Esponosa postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Handler to stand up.
Esponosa steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Handler.
Esponosa takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Esponosa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Esponosa tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Handler is able to avoid easily.
Handler with the counter takedown but Esponosa avoids it easily.
Handler throws a shot from downtown. Esponosa moves away and avoids it.
Jacob Handler is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Handler scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Handler staying out of range there.
Handler connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Esponosa momentarily.
Esponosa takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Esponosa drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Handler defending well as Esponosa loads up on a big left hand.
Handler changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Esponosa swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Esponosa is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Handler cracks Esponosa with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Ricardo Esponosa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Handler uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Esponosa.
Esponosa takes one to the side of the head.
Esponosa ducks under a wild hook from Handler.
Handler moves away from the strike by Esponosa.
Handler has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Esponosa dodges the punch combination from Handler.
Esponosa takes one to the chin there.
Handler lands a jab-cross combination.

Esponosa is rocked!
Handler misses with a wild combination.
Left hook, right uppercut from Handler.
Oh Esponosa is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Esponosa misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jacob Handler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Handler missing with a left hand there. Esponosa was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Esponosa seems to have got his legs back now.
Handler throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Esponosa.
Esponosa misses with an uppercut. Handler saw that one coming.
Esponosa slips a jab and a cross from Handler.
Handler throws a hook to the side of Esponosa's head but Esponosa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Esponosa closes the distance and clinches.

Handler pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Handler looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The fight stays on the outside here - Esponosa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Handler bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esponosa misses with a few strikes there.

Esponosa moves into range and clinches up with Handler.

Esponosa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Esponosa looks to land a right hand but Handler moved out of range.
Jacob Handler seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Handler uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Esponosa.
Handler feints the counter takedown.
Esponosa with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Handler circles away from the clinch attempt.
Esponosa missing with a left hand there. Handler was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
And Handler tries to counter it with a takedown but Esponosa pushes his down on his head and steps out.
A punch combination from Handler misses.
Esponosa dodges the punch combination from Handler.
Esponosa on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Handler slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Esponosa looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Handler slips under a jab from Esponosa.
Handler circles away from the clinch attempt.
Esponosa tried to score with a low kick but Handler checks it.
A big right from Esponosa misses.

Handler throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Esponosa tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Handler is in Esponosa's guard.
Handler stopping the sweep attempt from Esponosa.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Handler's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esponosa looking to control.
Handler throws a strike but Esponosa rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Handler looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Esponosa engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Handler keeping moving, preventing Esponosa from controlling successfully.
Esponosa's corner is telling him to maintain position.

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

Handler is looking for a triangle here but Esponosa uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esponosa trying to control the action but Handler is working from the bottom.
Handler is trying to buck Esponosa off.
Handler is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Handler is trying to control Esponosa's posture but Esponosa avoids it.
Handler is trying to get back to half guard.
Esponosa is looking to take a break and control but Handler is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four 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.
Handler is looking to reverse the position.

Esponosa stands up and beckons Handler to his feet.
Esponosa takes a swing at Handler's ribcage but misses.
Esponosa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Handler paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Handler swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Esponosa throws an overhand right that lands on Handler's shoulder, as Handler tries to avoid the shot.
Esponosa looks to throw the jab but Handler is out of range.
Esponosa takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Esponosa throws a looping overhand right but Handler ducks down to avoid it.
Esponosa missing with a left hand there. Handler was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Handler lands an overhand right.
Ricardo Esponosa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Esponosa throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Handler steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Esponosa.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jacob Handler.
I've got Handler winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight for Jacob Handler!
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight for Jacob Handler!
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight for Jacob Handler!

Jacob Handler wins by unanimous decision!
An out of breath Jacob Handler thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
Ricardo Esponosa spoke after the fight, saying 'We’ll get it next time '.