PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jimmy Esperanza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jol Katarin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jol Katarin has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Esperanza
vs
Katarin

187 cm
30
222 lbs
24 - 21 - 0

186 cm
31
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Black Hand Fight Gear & Laundry

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 24 - 21 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jimmy Esperanza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jol Katarin!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Aleksandr Martynov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Katarin with a poor takedown
and Esperanza counters with a straight right hand.
No joy there for Esperanza, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Katarin has his takedown stuffed
and Esperanza counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Katarin chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Esperanza can pounce on him.
Esperanza throws a series of punches but Katarin avoids them all with ease.
No luck for Katarin with that takedown attempt.
Jimmy Esperanza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jol Katarin.
Katarin with a lazy takedown attempt
and Esperanza counters with a big head kick but Katarin shrugs it off.
Katarin has his takedown stuffed
and Esperanza counters with a stiff right hand.
Esperanza tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Katarin with a poor takedown
and Esperanza counters with a head kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Katarin with a lazy takedown attempt
and Esperanza counters with a good low kick that Katarin was not able to check.
Esperanza wants to clinch.
That kick from Esperanza tenderised Katarin's leg. Katarin is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esperanza digs a good body shot into Katarin's ribs.
Katarin fails with the takedown
and Esperanza connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Katarin has his takedown stuffed
and Esperanza counters with a left to the body.
Katarin looks gassed!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Katarin enables Esperanza to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Katarin manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Esperanza sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Katarin keeping moving, preventing Esperanza from controlling successfully.
Esperanza wants to stand but Katarin has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Esperanza trying to control the position from guard on top but Katarin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Jimmy Esperanza wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Katarin doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Esperanza makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Katarin fails with the takedown
and Esperanza counters with a nice low kick that buckles Katarin's knee momentarily.
Esperanza connects with an inside leg kick.
Jol Katarin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Katarin gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Esperanza counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Katarin takes one to the side of the head.
Katarin is trying desperately to land a takedown but Esperanza is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Katarin.
Katarin tries for a takedown but Esperanza circles away easily
and Esperanza counters with a head kick.
A cross from Esperanza lands.

Esperanza gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Esperanza stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Esperanza lands a hook that snaps the head of Katarin backwards.
Esperanza taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esperanza scores with a shot to the side of Katarin's head.
Katarin looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Esperanza has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Katarin clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
A bit of a pause in the action here. Esperanza controlling the positon.
Esperanza has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Esperanza gets his hands free as Katarin looks to control.
Katarin might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Esperanza kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Katarin tries to escape the position.
Katarin is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esperanza controlling well, preventing Katarin from escaping the position.
Katarin trying to control the action but Esperanza just sinks the hooks in.
Katarin has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Esperanza.
Katarin avoids the strikes from Esperanza.
Katarin is trying to break free.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Esperanza biding his time, looking for the opening.
Katarin tries to escape but Esperanza has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Katarin is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Esperanza lands a shot to the body.
Katarin tries to break free.
Esperanza lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Katarin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Esperanza dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Katarin misses with a takedown attempt
and Katarin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Katarin doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Esperanza counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Katarin on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Jimmy Esperanza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Katarin misses with a takedown
and Esperanza counters with a series of strikes. Katarin will be more careful next time no doubt.
Jimmy Esperanza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jol Katarin.
Katarin tries for a takedown but Esperanza circles away easily
enabling Esperanza to counter with a crisp jab.
Esperanza tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Katarin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Esperanza clinches up against the cage.
Esperanza tries to work over Katarin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Esperanza stalling in the clinch but Katarin improves position.
Esperanza can't find room to land a body shot as Katarin controls the action.
Esperanza tries for a takedown. No joy.
A short uppercut from Katarin.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Katarin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Katarin avoids the body shot from Esperanza.

Esperanza clinches up with Katarin and pushes him back against the cage.
Esperanza misses with a body punch.

Katarin turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Esperanza is trying to control Katarin's posture but Katarin avoids it.
Esperanza is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Esperanza takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esperanza dodges the ground and pound from Katarin.
Katarin working the head and body with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Esperanza takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Esperanza sneaks back into half guard.
Katarin landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Jimmy Esperanza overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Katarin lands a nice short elbow.
Esperanza missing with punches from the bottom.
Esperanza regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Katarin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Katarin scoring with some ground and pound.

Esperanza looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Katarin passes into half guard.
Esperanza wants to improve his position but Katarin is controlling well.
Katarin working the head and body with strikes.
Esperanza is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Katarin scores with a couple of nice shots.
Esperanza is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esperanza keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Katarin working over Esperanza with some ground and pound. Esperanza looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Katarin looks to land a strike but Esperanza avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Katarin stopping the sweep attempt from Esperanza.
Katarin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Katarin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Esperanza tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Katarin tries to free his leg and advance position but Esperanza is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jol Katarin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Katarin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Esperanza throws out the jab.
Katarin on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Esperanza. Esperanza obviously looking to wear him down.
Katarin shoots in looking for a takedown but Esperanza manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Katarin's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nice sprawl there from Katarin as Esperanza shoots in.
Jimmy Esperanza is winning the standup battle so far.

Esperanza forces Katarin back against the cage and clinches.
Esperanza is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Katarin to keep the fight standing.
Esperanza drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jimmy Esperanza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Esperanza can't get the takedown.
Esperanza wants to stall.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Esperanza.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esperanza tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Esperanza landing knees to the head.
Katarin is trying to pull guard but Esperanza turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Katarin blocks a body shot from Esperanza.
Esperanza prevents Katarin from breaking the clinch.
Esperanza scores a nice knee to the body.
Esperanza tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Katarin's elbow.

Katarin decides to pull guard.
Katarin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Esperanza is one step ahead there.
Katarin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esperanza wants to stand but Katarin is controlling his posture from full guard.
Katarin has control of Esperanza's left arm, preventing Esperanza from doing any damage.
Katarin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Esperanza manages to get himself to full guard.
Katarin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Esperanza is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Katarin defends well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Katarin stopping the sweep attempt from Esperanza.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esperanza has momentary wrist control but Katarin slips an elbow through the middle.
Katarin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Esperanza manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Esperanza can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Katarin is looking to escape.
Esperanza unloads with some shots from mount but Katarin bucks and avoids them well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esperanza controlling the position easily from mount.
Esperanza thowing shots but they're missing.
Katarin really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Katarin slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Katarin gets full guard.
Esperanza trying to control but Katarin is working from the bottom.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Katarin wants to hit a switch here but Esperanza passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Katarin there!

And that's the end of the fight!
Jimmy Esperanza showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Esperanza has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jimmy Esperanza!
A very excited looking Jimmy Esperanza made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.