PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Desmond Fairbanks (ranked 2035 p4p, 64 weight class) and Kamil Esgoban (ranked 13884 p4p, 131 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Fairbanks
vs
Esgoban

173 cm
27
142 lbs
17 - 13 - 0

171 cm
39
152 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Desmond Fairbanks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kamil Esgoban!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Ben Watson and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Esgoban moves into the clinch.
Fairbanks lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Esgoban backwards.
A right hook to the body lands for Fairbanks.
Fairbanks lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A right hand to the body from Fairbanks.
Fairbanks managing to block the knees to the body from Esgoban.
A left hand lands to the body for Fairbanks.
Good body shot from Fairbanks.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Fairbanks.
Esgoban missing with knees to the body.
Good body shot from Fairbanks.

Fairbanks gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fairbanks tries to pass to full mount but Esgoban defends it.
Fairbanks trying to control the action but Esgoban is working from the bottom.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fairbanks trying to mount his opponent but Esgoban defends it.
Fairbanks sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Esgoban is defending against the submission attempts here by Fairbanks.
Fairbanks is looking to advance position but Esgoban won't allow it.

Esgoban is defending against the submission attempts here by Fairbanks.
Fairbanks trying to pass the guard but Esgoban defending well.

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.
Fairbanks passes the guard and advances to mount!
Fairbanks wants to control the pace but Esgoban is squirming around nicely.

Fairbanks is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Esgoban can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Fairbanks pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Fairbanks is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fairbanks trying to control but Esgoban is having none of it.
Esgoban wants to try and get back to his feet.
Fairbanks wants to take Esgoban's back here but Esgoban is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Fairbanks trying to control but Esgoban is having none of it.

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.
Fairbanks tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Fairbanks is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Esgoban is surviving well by controlling Fairbanks's body position as best he can.
Fairbanks controlling his opponent.
Fairbanks moves to take his opponent's back.

Esgoban defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Fairbanks working for a choke but Esgoban is defending well.

Esgoban is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Fairbanks gets his way!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Desmond Fairbanks dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Fairbanks throws a body punch but Esgoban moves out of range.
Esgoban swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A big left from Esgoban misses.
Esgoban misses with a two punch combination.
It looked like Fairbanks was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Esgoban.
Fairbanks uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Esgoban.
Fairbanks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Fairbanks comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Esgoban looks to land a combination but Fairbanks avoids it well.
Fairbanks just misses with a punch to the body.
Fairbanks swings for the body but Esgoban moves out of range.
Fairbanks is looking to wear down Esgoban with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed right hand from Esgoban misses the target.
Fairbanks throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Fairbanks ducks under a wild hook from Esgoban.
Esgoban takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Esgoban doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Fairbanks is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Esgoban can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esgoban takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Esgoban misses with a series of wild punches.
Esgoban looks to land a left hand but Fairbanks moved out of range nicely.
A quick step to the side and Fairbanks tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Fairbanks comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Fairbanks tests Esgoban's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Fairbanks misses the shot to the body.
Fairbanks throws a body shot but no joy.
A punch combination from Esgoban misses.
Kamil Esgoban seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Esgoban tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fairbanks swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Fairbanks swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A looping hook to the body misses from Fairbanks. Esgoban does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kamil Esgoban is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fairbanks throws a shot to the body.
Fairbanks fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Fairbanks connects with a right hand. Esgoban shakes it off.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Esgoban tries to clinch but Fairbanks is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esgoban keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Esgoban throws a jab but it's blocked by Fairbanks.
Fairbanks scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Esgoban doesn't seem bothered though.
Esgoban lands a jab.
Fairbanks misses the shot to the body.
Fairbanks thuds a left hand into Esgoban's body.

Fairbanks shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Fairbanks is looking for a kimura but Esgoban is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Fairbanks to get the leverage.

Fairbanks is working for a kimura but Esgoban is defending it quite comfortably.

Fairbanks is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Esgoban has managed to free his arm - good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Esgoban is defending against the submission attempts here by Fairbanks.

Fairbanks is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Esgoban has managed to free his arm - good work.

Fairbanks looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Fairbanks is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

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.
Fairbanks stops Esgoban from getting back to his feet.
Esgoban is in trouble now - Fairbanks has advanced to mount!
Fairbanks seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Esgoban is holding on tight.

Fairbanks has hold of Esgoban's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Esgoban manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Fairbanks wants to take Esgoban's back but he can't do it this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Desmond Fairbanks dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Fairbanks connects with a right hand. Esgoban shakes it off.
Fairbanks lands with a good body shot.
Fairbanks is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Esgoban avoids the body shot from Fairbanks.
A slow jab from Esgoban misses its intended target.
Esgoban throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Esgoban tries to clinch up but Fairbanks circles away and keeps his distance.
Fairbanks tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Esgoban was well out of range. Poor timing from Fairbanks.
Esgoban throws a right and a left that both miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fairbanks misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Esgoban.
Fairbanks lands a jab to Esgoban's midsection.
Fairbanks lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Esgoban on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fairbanks keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esgoban rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Fairbanks counters with a stiff right hand.
Esgoban is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Fairbanks.
Fairbanks is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Fairbanks scores with a shot to the body.
Fairbanks swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Fairbanks fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Esgoban manages to avoid it.
Fairbanks lands a right hook to the body.
Esgoban takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Esgoban moves to clinch but Fairbanks breaks away
and Fairbanks counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Esgoban thinking.
Esgoban tries to clinch up but Fairbanks circles away and keeps his distance.
Fairbanks cracks Esgoban with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
No joy there for Esgoban, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Fairbanks misses with a wild body shot.
Desmond Fairbanks is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esgoban is looking to clinch but Fairbanks is avoiding it.
Fairbanks scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Esgoban walks into a left hand.
Fairbanks throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Esgoban fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Esgoban. Those never looked like landing.
Fairbanks was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Fairbanks dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Fairbanks misses with a wild body shot.
Esgoban looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Esgoban closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Fairbanks scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Esgoban doesn't seem bothered though.
Fairbanks swings for the body but Esgoban moves out of range.
Fairbanks connects with a body shot.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Fairbanks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fairbanks scores with a jab to the body.
Fairbanks lands a head shot.
Esgoban keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Esgoban gets caught napping as Fairbanks dives in and scores a takedown. Esgoban manages to retain guard.
Fairbanks looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Fairbanks has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Fairbanks pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Esgoban is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fairbanks pushing down on Esgoban's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Fairbanks works his way into full mount!
Fairbanks moves to back control.
Esgoban is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Fairbanks off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Esgoban is trying to stand back up.
Fairbanks controlling from the back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Desmond Fairbanks showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Fairbanks has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Dean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Desmond Fairbanks!
Desmond Fairbanks seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.