Rafael Espinoza-Robeisy Ramirez II ~ Oscar Valdez-Emmanuel Navarrete II ESPN 11/7

[TitoFan]

Finally caught a decent watch and off the top I think Espinoza was doing much better than I first gathered watching in gaps. That left hand! His left was always working, from short to long jab to turning it over into hooks and from underneath. Gave Ramirez 1st and maybe 2nd and that was it until surreal start and end in the end round. He was controlling his movement and gradually Ramirez was just giving off these odd vibes and almost fighting distracted and out of ideas. By and including the 3rd he was literally turning around looking for the ref to complain and getting caught flush in the mug for it. I can't say there was anything flagrant but you can see Espinoza is one of those gangly physical punchers up close and tbf he was directly warned as early as the 1st for turning the punch over and close with an elbow. But nothing afterwards. Ramirez was getting clipped clean in 5th and just looked adrift like he mentally hit a wall. The weird thing was his corner knew he was damaged in some regard, focused on the eye yet they and Ramirez saw fit to come out for the 6th. After the first so so left that was a wrap. I'm never too big on questioning a fighter's heart on mass but can also not imagine having the sensation of my face literally breaking and remaining calm cool and collected.

Some good points have been raised by you and Denilson. Yeah, the ending was kind of calm. I know if that punch had broken MY orbital bone, a few choice words would've immediately come out, plus I would very likely clutch at the injury as an immediate gut reaction. But just the words "orbital bone fracture" sound scary as hell. It's literally the socket that holds your eyeball place. I figure I'd rather have my jaw broken in two places than having to deal with a broken eye socket.

But again... good points. Espinoza WAS coming on, and it was beginning to look like a very long night for Ramirez as long as it lasted. I give Ramirez mad props because it's not easy giving away those huge height and reach advantages against someone who just comes in punching nonstop. Yet I thought Ramirez acquitted himself very well at first, going to the body consistently.

Now he's been reduced to damaged goods.

[Spicoli]

Finally caught a decent watch and off the top I think Espinoza was doing much better than I first gathered watching in gaps. That left hand! His left was always working, from short to long jab to turning it over into hooks and from underneath. Gave Ramirez 1st and maybe 2nd and that was it until surreal start and end in the end round. He was controlling his movement and gradually Ramirez was just giving off these odd vibes and almost fighting distracted and out of ideas. By and including the 3rd he was literally turning around looking for the ref to complain and getting caught flush in the mug for it. I can't say there was anything flagrant but you can see Espinoza is one of those gangly physical punchers up close and tbf he was directly warned as early as the 1st for turning the punch over and close with an elbow. But nothing afterwards. Ramirez was getting clipped clean in 5th and just looked adrift like he mentally hit a wall. The weird thing was his corner knew he was damaged in some regard, focused on the eye yet they and Ramirez saw fit to come out for the 6th. After the first so so left that was a wrap. I'm never too big on questioning a fighter's heart on mass but can also not imagine having the sensation of my face literally breaking and remaining calm cool and collected.

Some good points have been raised by you and Denilson. Yeah, the ending was kind of calm. I know if that punch had broken MY orbital bone, a few choice words would've immediately come out, plus I would very likely clutch at the injury as an immediate gut reaction. But just the words "orbital bone fracture" sound scary as hell. It's literally the socket that holds your eyeball place. I figure I'd rather have my jaw broken in two places than having to deal with a broken eye socket.

But again... good points. Espinoza WAS coming on, and it was beginning to look like a very long night for Ramirez as long as it lasted. I give Ramirez mad props because it's not easy giving away those huge height and reach advantages against someone who just comes in punching nonstop. Yet I thought Ramirez acquitted himself very well at first, going to the body consistently.

Now he's been reduced to damaged goods.

Yep. That's the thing, and again we're all really just armchair analyst and can't see what's inside a dude under heavy fire. But I think Ramirez had his panic upstairs and to me it started before the 5th. I'd say it was a legit bad injury but also one that messes with your head bad. Ramirez came off like he was low key freaking out. I remember the first time I got bit in the face by a big dog. I could 'feel' pain but I couldn't see it. Is my lip split, are my teeth gone, nose torn . The mind hits 0-60 freak out in an instant. Now an orbital and a bite are not on the same planet clearly, but all I wanted to do was find a mirror to see it. Then I calmed. Tremendously worse for a fighter as you know you have a glaring target once damaged, and that last left Espinoza touched him with was all the indicator he needed that it was about to get very ugly.