PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between The Sandman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Javier Esposito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sandman
vs
Esposito

180 cm
31
210 lbs
16 - 12 - 1

186 cm
29
205 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

KAISER Nutrition - Q160
Aspire Clothing

KAISER Nutrition - Q160

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 16 - 12 - 1, fighting out of New York, The Sandman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Javier Esposito!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Daniel Bishop and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sandman throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Esposito on the side of the head.

Esposito gets a takedown into half guard.
Sandman is refusing to be controlled, as Esposito sits in half guard.

Sandman looking for submissions off his back.
Nice strikes from Esposito there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sandman wants to improve his position but Esposito is controlling well.
Sandman is working hard here to advance position.
Sandman slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esposito lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Esposito is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Sandman working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Esposito doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Esposito manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Esposito postures up in Sandman's guard and throws a big left but Sandman blocks it.
Esposito must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Esposito trying to control the position from guard on top but Sandman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sandman wants to sweep but no luck.
Esposito tries to free his leg and advance position but Sandman is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Esposito makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Sandman looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sandman wants to hit a switch here but Esposito passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Sandman there!
Sandman is trying desperately to improve position.
Sandman has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Esposito's lack of action.
Esposito seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sandman does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Sandman looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Esposito is trying to control. Sandman wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Esposito connects with a nice short shot to Sandman's temple.

Sandman is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Esposito pulls his head out easily.

Sandman looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Esposito scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Sandman wants to get back to full guard.
Esposito controlling the action here.
Sandman wants to improve his position but Esposito is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sandman is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Esposito scores with a couple of nice shots.
Sandman is pressing down on Esposito's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Sandman escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Esposito gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Sandman had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Esposito defends it easily.
Sandman seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Esposito looking to sit in guard and control but Sandman gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Esposito lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Javier Esposito dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sandman takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Sandman checks a low kick from Esposito.
Esposito looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Sandman lands a glancing blow to the side of Esposito's head.
Sandman shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Esposito has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Esposito finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sandman is defended easily by Esposito.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Esposito fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Sandman to the ground. Esposito is now in Sandman's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Esposito accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sandman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Esposito is one step ahead there.

Sandman throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Esposito escapes and throws Sandman's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Sandman is looking to reverse the position.
Esposito lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Sandman down.
Esposito tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Esposito creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sandman tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Esposito wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Esposito working the ground and pound.
Sandman is looking for a sweep.
Sandman on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Esposito lands a nice forearm strike.
Sandman taking a bit of punishment here - Esposito scoring with strikes.
Esposito wants to control but Sandman is keeping him busy.
Esposito is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Esposito landing a few strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito wants to control but Sandman is keeping him busy.
Sandman is trying to get back to half guard.
Esposito lands some shots froms side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sandman is looking to regain half guard here but Esposito keeps moving and retains side control.
Esposito cracks Sandman with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Esposito trying to control the position but Sandman is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esposito controlling from side mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Esposito working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Esposito is looking to take a break and control but Sandman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Esposito working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Esposito tries to advance to mount but can't.
Sandman tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Javier Esposito showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Sandman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sandman forces Esposito back against the cage and clinches.

Sandman turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Sandman manages to end up in side control.
Sandman throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Sandman in side control, throwing shots but Esposito defends.
Javier Esposito has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sandman throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The ground and pound from Sandman seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Sandman misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Sandman is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Esposito knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Sandman wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Esposito, who protects the arm well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esposito is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sandman is looking to take a break and control but Esposito is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Esposito wants to control but Sandman postures up.

Sandman is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Esposito is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Sandman is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Esposito has escaped the position, nice work there.
Esposito managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Sandman.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sandman is looking to take a break and control but Esposito is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sandman throws an elbow but Esposito slips to the side and avoids it well.
Esposito is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Esposito manages to work his way to half guard, despite Sandman's best efforts.

Sandman seems to be working for a kimura but Esposito defends the submission attempt.
Esposito moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sandman throws a big elbow that misses.
Esposito is trying to control the position but Sandman postures up.
Sandman stands up out of Esposito's guard for a moment - Esposito manages to land a nice upkick.
Esposito utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sandman wants to control from the top but Esposito keeps moving.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Sandman throwing strikes but missing.
Esposito looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sandman is one step ahead there.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Esposito throws a lazy uppercut

and Sandman counters with a single leg into guard. Esposito didn't expect that.
Esposito keeping full guard, as Sandman tries to pass.
Esposito keeping moving, preventing Sandman from controlling successfully.
Javier Esposito is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esposito manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sandman manages to get himself to full guard.

Sandman utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Esposito content to stall in guard here.
The Sandman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sandman looking for subs off his back but Esposito has passed one foot through into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
The Sandman showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Javier Esposito!
The defeated The Sandman had this to say: 'cunt was doped up'.