PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Altair Brain (ranked 1131 p4p, 147 weight class) and Dante Esposito (ranked 1287 p4p, 164 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Brain might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to 300 Violin. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Brain
vs
Esposito

182 cm
37
154 lbs
25 - 14 - 0

178 cm
36
161 lbs
26 - 13 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

Groove Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Altair Brain!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dante Esposito !
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Saam Ante and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice cross by Esposito .

Brain has taken the fight to the clinch.

Esposito breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Esposito tries to clinch there but Brain circles away.
Esposito throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Brain instigates a clinch.
Brain is trying to force a seperation but Esposito has the dominant position.
Esposito scores with a shot to the side of Brain's head.
Brain wants to get back to striking at distance but Esposito won't allow it.
Brain has a couple of punches blocked by Esposito .
The referee calls for Brain to work.
Esposito digs a right hand into Brain's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Brain's gas tank.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Esposito breaks from the clinch.
Brain has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Xtreme Foaming Shortcakes in the buildup to the fight.
Brain slips a jab and a cross from Esposito .
Esposito connects with a jab.
Esposito swinging wildly here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Brain will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esposito steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Brain.
Brain moves away from the strike by Esposito .
Esposito throws a good cross that connects.

Brain has closed the distance and engaged Esposito in a clinch.

Esposito breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dante Esposito seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Esposito throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Esposito missing with a left hand there. Brain was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nice uppercut there from Brain.
Esposito tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Brain manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Esposito tries to clinch there but Brain circles away.
The fighters circling - Esposito throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Brain lunges at Esposito with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Esposito 's hand.

Esposito moves into the clinch.
Brain lands a hook that snaps the head of Esposito backwards.
Esposito has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Esposito wants to break the clinch but can't.
Brain lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Esposito manages to break the clinch.
Esposito circles away from the clinch attempt.
Some wild striking there from Brain.
Esposito throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Esposito darts in and clinches Brain up against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Esposito 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Brain moves out of range of the strikes.
Brain getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Esposito throws a series of punches but Brain moves out of range.
Esposito throws a lazy right hand but Brain sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Esposito swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Brain swinging wildly here.
Esposito tries to bum rush Brain with a series of wild strikes but Brain uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Brain.
Esposito ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Brain looks to land a right hand but Esposito moved out of range.
Esposito throws a big shot that misses.
Nice straight punches there by Brain. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Brain.
Esposito throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Brain throws a right and a left that both miss.
Brain tries to clinch but Esposito is having none of it.
Esposito throws out a counter right but Brain avoids it with no problem.
Esposito throws an overhand right that lands on Brain's shoulder, as Brain tries to avoid the shot.
Brain doesn't manage to clinch there - Esposito circles away.
Brain misses with a wild combination.
Esposito is looking to clinch.
Brain moves out of range as Esposito strikes.
Brain throws a right and a left that both miss.
Brain misses with a few strikes there.
Esposito on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Esposito on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Brain avoids the head kick by Esposito .

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Esposito has taken the fight to the clinch.

Brain breaks from the clinch.
Brain throws a chopping leg kick but Esposito manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Esposito tries to clinch but Brain is having none of it.
Esposito pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Esposito uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Brain.
Esposito misses with a body shot.
Brain looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Brain throws a right and a left that both miss.
Brain throws a hook but Esposito blocks it.
Brain swats away the attempt to clinch by Esposito .
Esposito will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A nice leg kick lands there from Brain.
No joy there for Esposito , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Esposito throws a looping overhand right but Brain ducks down to avoid it.
Brain moves forwards but Esposito connects with a nice, crisp jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Esposito throws a jab but it's blocked by Brain.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dante Esposito will probably get the nod.
That's time! Brain's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Esposito blocks a head kick by Brain.
Esposito moves away from the strike by Brain.
Esposito on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Esposito swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Esposito takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Brain rushes Esposito and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Esposito lands a nice uppercut.
Esposito takes a shot to the head.

Esposito manages to break the clinch.
Esposito tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Brain counters with a straight right hand.

Esposito has Brain up against the cage in a clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Esposito - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Altair Brain has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Brain taking a breather.
Brain tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Brain scores with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brain dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Esposito is looking to break free of the clinch but Brain has double underhooks.

Esposito breaks from the clinch.
Altair Brain is winning the standup battle so far.
Brain dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Esposito . That did some damage!
Brain works the jab nicely.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Esposito scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Brain doesn't seem bothered though.
Brain wants to slow Esposito down by chopping away at his legs.
Esposito pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Brain throws a leg kick which misses Esposito 's front leg but catches the back leg as Esposito tries to avoid it.
Esposito takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Brain just misses with a punch to the body.
Esposito throws a hook to the side of Brain's head but Brain sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Brain tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Esposito was well out of range. Poor timing from Brain.
A looping hook to the body misses from Esposito . Brain does a little dance to reset his feet.
Brain is looking to counter punch.
Esposito fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Brain manages to avoid it.
Brain checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Brain appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brain lands with an overhand left.

Brain closes the distance and clinches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Brain is looking to break free of the clinch but Esposito has double underhooks.
Brain lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Esposito goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Esposito blocks a body shot from Brain.
Brain pushes Esposito back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Esposito .
Brain tries a body shot but Esposito blocks it.
Esposito blocks an uppercut.

Brain breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Esposito scores with a shot to the body.
Brain attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Esposito pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Esposito throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Esposito lands a lovely overhand right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brain sizes up Esposito with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Esposito rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Brain moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Brain misses with a wild combination.
Nice shot lands for Brain.
Esposito moves out of range of the strikes.
Brain throws the left hand but Esposito avoids the punch easily.
Esposito throws out a counter right but Brain avoids it with no problem.
Brain moves in looking to clinch but Esposito pushes him off.
Esposito takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Esposito lands with a kick to the temple. Brain shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Esposito rushes Brain and presses him up against the cage.
Esposito tries a body shot but Brain blocks it.
Brain content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Brain.
A shot in the inside from Brain.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Esposito throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Brains head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brain creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Esposito 's defenses.
Brain can't find room to land a body shot as Esposito controls the action.
Esposito cracks Brain with a nice body shot.
Brain blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Esposito working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Brain breaks from the clinch.
Esposito lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Esposito tests Brain's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Esposito scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Esposito looks to score with a jab to the body but Brain is just out of range.
Brain throws a right and a left that Esposito avoids nicely.
Esposito lands a really nice looking cross but Brain seems unphased.
Esposito moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Esposito checks the leg kick nicely there.
Esposito misses with a hook. Brain ducked under it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Altair Brain will probably get the nod.
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.

Esposito looks to land a combination but Brain avoids it well.
Altair Brain is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A cross from Esposito lands.
Esposito takes a swing at Brain's ribcage but misses.
That kick from Brain tenderised Esposito 's leg. Esposito is trying to keep his angry face on.
Brain connects with a body shot that sends Esposito 's belly button to the back.

Esposito clinches.

Brain manages to break the clinch.
Brain keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Esposito .
Brain looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
A jab from Brain misses.
Esposito avoids a punch combination nicely.
Brain misses with an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esposito throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Brain blocks a jab.
Brain scoring well with a low kick there.
Brain throws a right and a left that Esposito avoids nicely.
Brain swats away the attempt to clinch by Esposito .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esposito misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Esposito fails to land with a series of punches.
The fight stays on the outside here - Brain looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Brain tries to clinch but Esposito moves out of range.
Brain ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Esposito swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Esposito misses with a wild combination.
Brain connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Esposito 's hands.
Brain keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Esposito .
Esposito tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Brain scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Esposito throws a body punch but Brain moves out of range.
Esposito throws a sloppy head kick and Brain moves out of range easily.
Brain misses with a straight right.
Esposito throws a sloppy head kick and Brain moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esposito throws a sloppy head kick and Brain moves out of range easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Brain tries to clinch up but Esposito circles away and keeps his distance.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Esposito ! But no joy.
Esposito ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Brain moves away.
Brain is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Esposito .
Brain throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Esposito jabs at Brain's body.
Esposito takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Brain misses with a straight left.
Brain throws a front kick aimed at Esposito 's knee but Esposito avoids it well.
Brain swats away the attempt to clinch by Esposito .
Brain lands with a cross.

Brain closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Brain wants to get back to striking at distance but Esposito won't allow it.

Esposito escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Brain slips under a jab from Esposito .

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito lands with a shot to the body.
Esposito missing with a left hand there. Brain was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Esposito throws a head kick but Brain moves out of range.
Brain fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Brain throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Esposito .
Esposito tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Esposito wants to clinch.
Brain lands with a cross.
Brain tries to clinch up.
Esposito scores with a push kick.
Brain throws a lazy right hand but Esposito sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Brain takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Brain getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Esposito lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Brain circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esposito throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Esposito misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Brain fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Esposito manages to avoid it.
Brain stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Esposito wants to clinch but Brain slips to the side
and Brain makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Brain takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Esposito throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Brain counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Brain tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Esposito paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Brain connects with a solid leg kick.
Brain is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Esposito .
Brain tries to clinch there but Esposito circles away.
Nice shot by Esposito .
Esposito misses with a body shot.
Esposito throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Esposito has taken the fight to the clinch.

Brain breaks from the clinch.

Esposito closes the distance and clinches.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Altair Brain.
Well Brain 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight for Dante Esposito !
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight for Altair Brain!
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight for Altair Brain!

Altair Brain wins by split decision!
Our winner, Altair Brain, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.