PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jon Rambo (ranked 3692 p4p, 2371 weight class) and Diego Escobar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Rambo
vs
Escobar

180 cm
29
149
12 - 22 - 0

182 cm
40
160
42 - 16 - 1

Good wrestling
Good knees
Very quick

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 22 - 0, fighting out of London, Jon Rambo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 42 - 16 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Diego Escobar!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Daniel Bishop and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Escobar lands with a nice body punch.
Escobar connects with a crisp jab.
Rambo takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Escobar throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rambo on the side of the head.
Escobar throws a head kick that misses.

Escobar gets the takedown into side control.
Rambo's coaches at London MMA Club have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
An elbow from Escobar crashes against the mat.

Escobar is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rambo is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rambo is trying to get back to half guard.

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

Escobar working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Escobar tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Escobar has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Escobar wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rambo, who protects the arm well.
Rambo managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Escobar.

Escobar is trying to get an arm triangle but Rambo is defending well.
Escobar in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Escobar tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
You can see the frustration on Rambo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rambo is trying to get back to half guard.
Escobar misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Escobar throws an elbow but Rambo slips to the side and avoids it well.
Escobar throws an elbow but Rambo slips to the side and avoids it well.
Rambo can't do much from the bottom here.

Escobar wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rambo, who protects the arm well.
Rambo is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Rambo sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Rambo takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Escobar swings around for an armbar but Rambo sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Escobar's guard.
Escobar keeping moving, preventing Rambo from controlling successfully.
Escobar wants to stand and escape but Rambo is having none of it.

Rambo stands up from Escobar's guard - Rambo perhaps looking for a knockout.
A nice inside leg kick there by Escobar. That's going to slow Rambo down.
Escobar displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rambo.
Escobar tests Rambo's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar throws a nice head kick!
Diego Escobar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Escobar lands a body shot.
Rambo throws a leg kick
and Escobar counters with a straight right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Escobar moves into the clinch.

Escobar lands a takedown into guard.
Escobar tries to free his leg and advance position but Rambo is retaining full guard.
Rambo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Escobar missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rambo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Escobar landing with the ground and pound.
Escobar throwing strikes from guard but Rambo blocks nicely.
Rambo pulls Escobar in close to prevent any damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Escobar dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rambo closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rambo tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Escobar has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Escobar slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Rambo stops Escobar from standing up.
Rambo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Escobar swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Escobar is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Escobar is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rambo defends well.

Rambo gets to his feet - Escobar follows without any prompting.
Escobar tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rambo was well out of range. Poor timing from Escobar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar lands a body shot.

Escobar clinches up against the cage.

Escobar wants the takedown. Rambo is fighting it off but Escobar persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Rambo's guard against the cage.
Escobar postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Escobar throwing strikes but missing.
Escobar is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Rambo is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Escobar postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Rambo is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Escobar, into his guard.

Rambo trying to control the position from guard on top but Escobar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Escobar has his foot on Rambo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rambo works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Escobar isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Rambo stacks Escobar on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Rambo!
Rambo wants to control but Escobar is keeping him busy.
Escobar is trying to get back to half guard.
Escobar pushes Rambo away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Rambo gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Escobar has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Escobar is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Rambo looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Escobar is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Rambo has just dragged him back down to the mat.
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.
Escobar manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Escobar is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Rambo still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Rambo has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Escobar is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Rambo wants to control but Escobar is keeping him busy.
Escobar tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rambo wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar tries to escape but Rambo is in control.
Rambo is looking to take a break and control but Escobar is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Escobar is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Rambo has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Escobar is trying to get back to half guard.
Escobar wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rambo tries to advance to mount but Escobar denies him.

Rambo stands up and we're back to a striking position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jon Rambo will probably get the nod.
That's time! 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.

Escobar looks to score with a jab to the body but Rambo is just out of range.
Rambo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Escobar sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Escobar chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rambo can pounce on him.

Escobar has closed the distance and engaged Rambo in a clinch.

Escobar turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Escobar manages to end up in side control.

Rambo explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Rambo closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rambo lands in his opponent's guard.
Escobar wants to get back to his feet but Rambo passes into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Escobar tries to kick Rambo off but Rambo keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Escobar makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Escobar.

Escobar has his foot on Rambo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rambo works his way back into a safe position though.
Rambo tries to free his leg and advance position but Escobar is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rambo gets to his feet. Escobar looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Escobar jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Rambo takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Escobar scores with a punch to the head.

Escobar closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Escobar breaks the clinch.
Jon Rambo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Escobar bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Escobar lands with a nice combination. Rambo backs away looking to recover.
Rambo tries a low kick but Escobar avoids it.
Escobar shapes to counter with a head kick.
Rambo tries to clinch but Escobar is having none of it.
Escobar smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rambo on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Rambo fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Escobar is out of range.

Rambo gets caught flat footed, as Escobar shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Rambo is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rambo is looking to break free of the clinch but Escobar has double underhooks.

Rambo jumps into guard, dragging Escobar to the mat.
Escobar working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rambo wants to stand and escape but Escobar is having none of it.

Rambo working for a triangle but Escobar defends it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Escobar postures up in Rambo's guard and throws a big left but Rambo blocks it.
Escobar working some strikes from top position.
Rambo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Escobar throws an elbow that misses. Rambo uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Escobar's guard. Nice move by Rambo!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar is looking to stand back up but Rambo counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Escobar.
Escobar is trying to stand up here but Rambo is controlling him well.

Rambo is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Escobar doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rambo.
Escobar tries to kick Rambo off but Rambo keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Escobar is not content to let Rambo control the position.

Escobar looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Escobar is trying to stand up here but Rambo is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Rambo seems to be working for a kimura but Escobar defends the submission attempt.
Rambo stops Escobar from getting back to his feet.

Escobar actively working from the bottom here.
Escobar wants to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Escobar shoots in and bounces Rambo off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Escobar postures up in Rambo's guard and throws a big left but Rambo blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Diego Escobar.
I think Escobar 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 James Atkins scores the fight 28:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Diego Escobar!