PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jose Rizal (ranked 4734 p4p, 3510 weight class) and Pablo Esposito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Rizal
vs
Esposito

171 cm
25
149
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
153
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jose Rizal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Pablo Esposito!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Sandra Marshall and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rizal looks to score with a jab to the body but Esposito is just out of range.

Esposito shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rizal manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Rizal is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rizal is trying to keep Esposito in close.
Esposito is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esposito controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rizal has his foot on Esposito's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Esposito works his way back into a safe position though.
Rizal has Esposito pulled in close to control his posture.
Esposito content to stall in guard here.
Esposito stands and throws Rizal's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Esposito scoring with punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esposito is putting a hurting on Rizal here, landing some big shots from side control.
Rizal can't do much from the bottom here.
Esposito moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Rizal gets back to half guard.
Rizal tries to roll over but Esposito keeps him under control.
Rizal is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Esposito's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Esposito's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rizal has the hooks in. Esposito is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Rizal struggling to keep hold of the position.
Esposito trying to control the hands but Rizal won't let him.
Rizal trying to control.

Rizal is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Esposito has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Rizal tries to get the hooks in deep but Esposito pushed the leg off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Esposito looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Esposito tries to break free.
Rizal definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Esposito is holding onto Rizal's left hand, preventing any choke attempts.

Rizal is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Rizal looking for the choke but no joy.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Pablo Esposito will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rizal throws a big shot that misses.

Esposito scores with a takedown into Rizal's guard.
Esposito 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.
Rizal trying to keep a closed guard but Esposito is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esposito scoring with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Esposito drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rizal looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rizal looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rizal!

Esposito tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Esposito wants to control but Rizal postures up.
Pablo Esposito has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rizal trying to control the action but Esposito is working from the bottom.
Esposito can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esposito tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Rizal presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Rizal trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Esposito tries to hold on but Rizal postures up.
Rizal wants to control the pace but Esposito is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito is working to get back to half guard.

Rizal moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Esposito has worked his arm free - good work by Esposito!
Esposito manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rizal's best efforts.
Rizal prevents Esposito from improving his position.
Rizal works his way into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rizal tries to control but Esposito wriggling away.
Esposito gets back to half guard.

Rizal is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Esposito sees it coming and defends easily.
Esposito controlling the position for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Esposito is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rizal's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rizal's back!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Pablo Esposito will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A low kick from Rizal misses

so Esposito counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rizal bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Esposito's guard.

Esposito has his hands on Rizal's head, controlling the position.
Rizal pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Esposito is keeping the position for now.
Rizal is fighting to break Esposito's control of his arms but Esposito is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esposito tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Esposito has his hands on Rizal's head, controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizal wants to control from the top but Esposito keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rizal got a little sloppy there for a moment and Esposito has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rizal has managed to get both his arms back between Esposito's legs - danger averted.
Esposito is controlling Rizal's posture.
Esposito keeping moving, preventing Rizal from controlling successfully.
Jose Rizal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Rizal is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Esposito is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Rizal decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Rizal seems to be working for a kimura but Esposito defends the submission attempt.
Rizal wants to take a breather but Esposito is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizal is pressing down on Esposito's thigh, looking to free his foot. Esposito is holding on for now.

Rizal is looking for a kimura but Esposito is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rizal to get the leverage.
Esposito is not content to let Rizal control the position.
Esposito wants to get back to full guard.
Esposito is controlling Rizal's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Esposito slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Rizal passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Esposito preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Esposito is looking for a sweep. Rizal is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rizal is looking to advance position but Esposito won't allow it.
Esposito is looking to improve his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Esposito moves into full guard.

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 Jose Rizal.
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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:29
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Pablo Esposito!