PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Claudio Todd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Espinoza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Claudio Todd has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Todd
vs
Espinoza

224 cm
24
193 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

187 cm
21
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Claudio Todd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James Espinoza!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Yves DeLean and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Espinoza dives in and scores a takedown into Todd's guard.

Espinoza drops back looking for a leg! Todd is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Todd manages to kick Espinoza off! Espinoza jumps back into Todd's guard.
Espinoza trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Espinoza looking to pass the guard.

Todd has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Espinoza has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Espinoza misses with a punch to the body.

Espinoza pulls guard successfully.
Todd missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Todd working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Todd loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Todd scoring with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Espinoza utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Espinoza looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Todd stops Espinoza from standing up.
Todd postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Todd lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Todd really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Todd won't allow Espinoza to get back to his feet.
Todd is in close to Espinoza's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Espinoza tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Espinoza avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Todd stands up over Espinoza, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Todd working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Todd missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Todd trying to control the position from guard on top but Espinoza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Todd throws an elbow that misses. Espinoza uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Todd's guard. Nice move by Espinoza!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Espinoza being controlled here momentarily.
Espinoza prevents Todd from getting back to his feet.

Todd is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Espinoza is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Espinoza slowing the pace effectively.
Espinoza has had enough of the clinch but Todd keeps him there for the moment.
Todd tries to pull guard but Espinoza won't allow it.

Todd escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Espinoza manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Todd on his heels. He'll look to pass Todd's guard now, I'm sure.
Espinoza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Todd is keeping the position for now.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Todd is on top in guard.

Todd throwing strikes from guard but Espinoza blocks nicely.
Todd will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Espinoza working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Todd.
Todd trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Todd postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Espinoza is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Todd throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Espinoza works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Todd trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Todd working some strikes from top position.
Todd works over Espinoza with some ground and pound from guard.
Todd missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Espinoza pulls Todd in close to his closed guard and prevents Todd from doing any damage or advancing position.
Espinoza trying to control the position.
Todd trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Todd is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Espinoza is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Espinoza has control of Todd's left arm, preventing Todd from doing any damage.
Todd with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Claudio Todd dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

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

Espinoza rushes Todd and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Espinoza wants to get back to striking at distance but Todd won't allow it.
Todd tries for a takedown. No joy.

Espinoza pulls guard successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Todd trying to control the position from guard on top but Espinoza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Todd is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Espinoza is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Todd's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Todd wants to control from the top but Espinoza keeps moving.
Espinoza preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Espinoza is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Todd lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Espinoza working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Todd doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Todd manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Todd accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Todd throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Todd is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Espinoza can do to turn this around?
Todd throwing strikes from guard but Espinoza blocks nicely.
Claudio Todd overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Todd with a flurry of punches that miss.
Todd with a flurry of punches that miss.
Espinoza wants to sweep but no luck.
Espinoza utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Todd throwing strikes from guard but Espinoza blocks nicely.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Espinoza throws a big shot that misses.
It looked like Todd was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Espinoza.

Espinoza forces Todd back against the cage and clinches.

Espinoza successfully pulls guard.
Todd landing some decent shots from guard.
Todd won't allow Espinoza to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Todd throwing strikes from guard but Espinoza blocks nicely.
Espinoza has his hands on Todd's head, controlling the position.
Todd postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Todd postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Todd is looking to work some ground and pound but Espinoza has wrist control.
Todd postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Espinoza utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Espinoza avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Todd scoring with punches to the head and body.
Todd controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Todd with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Todd in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Espinoza pulls Todd in to control the position.
Espinoza is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Todd has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Espinoza is working away from the top position though.
Todd is looking for a sweep. Espinoza is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Espinoza uses his free foot to push down on Todd's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Todd.
Todd wants to control but Espinoza is having none of it.
Espinoza content just to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Espinoza 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!

Espinoza clinches up with Todd and pushes him back against the cage.
Todd jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Espinoza walks away with a smile on his face. Todd gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Horrible takedown attempt by Todd or perhaps it was just good defense by Espinoza, which made it look bad.
James Espinoza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Espinoza circles away from the clinch attempt.
Espinoza is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Espinoza misses with a shot to the body
and Todd counters with a right hand to the body.

Todd gets caught flat footed, as Espinoza shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Espinoza stands up and waves to Todd to follow him.

Espinoza closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Espinoza is looking to take a break and control but Todd is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Espinoza has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Espinoza drives through with a takedown into Todd's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Todd wants to stand up but Espinoza is controlling him.
Todd looking for a sweep. Not yet Todd, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Todd is working an open guard so Espinoza takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
James Espinoza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Espinoza.

Espinoza closes the distance and clinches.
Todd tries to pull guard but Espinoza won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Claudio Todd. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Espinoza drags the fight down to the ground.

Espinoza is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Espinoza takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Todd working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Todd in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Todd throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espinoza avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Todd working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Todd keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Espinoza's head.
Todd postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Espinoza is on top in guard.

Espinoza wanted to stand there but Todd had control of the position.
Todd wants to sweep but no luck.

Todd is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Espinoza presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Todd manages to break the clinch.
Espinoza slaps away a takedown attempt from Todd, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Todd shoots in but Espinoza avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A head kick misses from Espinoza.

Espinoza drives through with a takedown into guard.
Todd controls Espinoza momentarily but Espinoza frees himself.
Todd is controlling Espinoza's posture.
Todd wants to stand up but Espinoza is controlling him.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Espinoza comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Espinoza 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Espinoza!