PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Xander Cage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Krzykacz Esperanto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cage
vs
Esperanto

205 cm
25
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

222 cm
25
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Xander Cage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Krzykacz Esperanto!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Sandra Marshall and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cage tries for a takedown but Esperanto circles away easily

and Esperanto counters by clinching up.

Cage lands a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Esperanto looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Esperanto wants to sweep here but Cage controlling him for the moment.

Esperanto had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cage defends it easily.
Cage won't allow Esperanto to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cage lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Cage is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Cage throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Esperanto pulls Cage in close to prevent any damage.
Cage trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage throws a big right hand that misses.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Esperanto can do anything to dispel that myth.

Esperanto is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Esperanto seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Esperanto keeping moving, preventing Cage from controlling successfully.
Cage postures up in Esperanto's guard and throws a big left but Esperanto blocks it.
Cage wants to control from the top but Esperanto keeps moving.
Cage in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Esperanto 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.
Esperanto is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Cage wants to control from the top but Esperanto keeps moving.
Cage with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Cage distracts Esperanto with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cage with a flurry of punches that miss.
Esperanto is pulling down on Cage's head. It's preventing any offense from Cage, at least for the moment.
Esperanto keeping moving, preventing Cage from controlling successfully.
Esperanto avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Esperanto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

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

Esperanto has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Cage!

Esperanto working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cage is trying to escape the mount.
Cage tries to hold on but Esperanto postures up.
Cage tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cage bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Cage throwing strikes but missing.
Cage postures up.
Cage lands a couple of elbows.
Cage throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Esperanto works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cage missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cage landing some decent shots from guard.
Esperanto working a defensive guard here.
Cage postures up in Esperanto's guard and throws a big left but Esperanto blocks it.
Cage throws a big elbow that misses.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cage's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Cage throws an elbow that misses. Esperanto uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cage's guard. Nice move by Esperanto!

Cage throws his legs up looking for a submission but Esperanto uses it to pass to side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cage manages to get back to half guard.
Esperanto slows the pace down in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xander Cage dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Cage shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Esperanto but Esperanto pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Esperanto closes the distance and clinches.

Esperanto jumps into guard, dragging Cage to the mat.
Cage trying to control but Esperanto is working from the bottom.
Cage throws a big right hand that misses.
Esperanto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cage throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Esperanto works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Esperanto seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cage throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Esperanto works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cage missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cage trying to control the position from guard on top but Esperanto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cage missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage with a flurry of punches that miss.
Esperanto is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Cage trying to control but Esperanto postures up.
Ground and pound from Esperanto.

Cage looking for a kimura from the bottom but Esperanto passes into side control!
Cage tries to bench press Esperanto off him but Esperanto keeps the position.

Esperanto stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Cage gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Esperanto holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Esperanto misses with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cage drops down looking for an ankle pick but Esperanto pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xander Cage. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cage shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Esperanto but Esperanto pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cage closes this distance looking for a takedown but Esperanto circles away.
Esperanto is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Esperanto stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Esperanto wants it to stay on the feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Esperanto.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Esperanto wants to stand but Cage is controlling his arm.

Esperanto stands up and beckons Cage to his feet.
Cage misses with a takedown
and Esperanto counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Esperanto, as that shot connected.
Cage walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Esperanto clinches with his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Esperanto's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Esperanto has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cage shoots in and drives through. Esperanto sprawls well.

Esperanto shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Esperanto was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Esperanto looks up at the clock and then as Cage takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Esperanto smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Cage is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Cage being controlled for a moment.
Esperanto working the ground and pound.
Cage is being controlled here.
Cage can't do much from the bottom here.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Esperanto. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cage is trying to improve his position.
Cage is trying to escape the position but Esperanto is controlling the position.
Cage manages to get back to half guard.
Cage gets full guard.
Cage wants to control but Esperanto passes easily into half guard.
Esperanto uses his free foot to push down on Cage's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Cage.
Cage can't escape the position.
Cage manages to regain half guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Krzykacz Esperanto showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Cage with a poor takedown

and Esperanto counters with a single leg into guard. Cage didn't expect that.
Cage is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Esperanto is doing well to control the position and prevent Cage from advancing to side control.

Esperanto looking for submissions off his back.
Esperanto moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Esperanto is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Cage has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esperanto looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cage throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Esperanto works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esperanto avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cage looking to sit in guard and control but Esperanto gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Esperanto advances to half guard.
Cage is looking to improve his position.
Cage wants to control but Esperanto is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cage wants to get back to full guard.
Cage is working hard here to advance position.

Esperanto stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Cage to get to his feet.
Esperanto throws a push kick but Cage slaps the foot to one side.

Esperanto closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cage tries for a takedown. No joy.

Esperanto gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Cage might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Esperanto's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Cage is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Esperanto defends well.
Esperanto must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Cage throws his legs up looking for a submission but Esperanto uses it to pass to side control.
Cage struggling a bit here.
Cage tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Esperanto presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Esperanto content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cage manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Esperanto tries to stand and escape but Cage is controlling the position.
Esperanto performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Cage trying to hold on to Esperanto's head to control him but Esperanto postures up.
Esperanto controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Esperanto is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Esperanto trying to control the pace.
Cage is looking to improve his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cage gets back to full guard.

Esperanto avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Krzykacz Esperanto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Esperanto 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Krzykacz Esperanto!