PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sosa Escobar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bryce Carter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Carter has chosen Empire State of Mind as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Bryce Carter has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Sosa Escobar's chin.

Escobar
vs
Carter

190 cm
23
165 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
21
158 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

FEARLESS INC.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sosa Escobar!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bryce Carter!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Escobar looks for a takedown but Carter sprawls well.
Carter moves in looking to clinch but Escobar pushes him off.
Escobar shoots in but Carter avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Escobar shoots for a takedown but Carter saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sosa Escobar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Escobar tries to clinch up.
Escobar tries to score a power double leg takedown but Carter sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Escobar somewhat.
Carter shoots in but Escobar avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Escobar shoots and misses

and Carter counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Carter pulls guard successfully.
Carter keeping moving, preventing Escobar from controlling successfully.
Carter bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Escobar's guard.
Escobar wants to sweep here but Carter controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar keeping moving, preventing Carter from controlling successfully.
Escobar really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Carter tries to stand but Escobar is controlling from the bottom.
Escobar trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Carter stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Escobar swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Carter trying to control but Escobar is working from the bottom.
Escobar will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Carter drops back, looking for a kneebar! Escobar looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Escobar looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Escobar!
Escobar takes advantage of some sloppy striking from Carter to pass into mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Escobar blocks Carter's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Carter is working to get back to half guard.

Escobar is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Carter can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Escobar trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carter can't escape the position.
Escobar scoring with strikes but Carter is staying in there.

Escobar is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Escobar is breathing heavily.
Carter throws a right hand that Escobar ducks under and follows up with a left that Escobar also avoids with ease.
Carter tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Escobar shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Carter counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Carter.
Carter trying to control but Escobar is working from the bottom.
Carter is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Carter trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Escobar utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Carter working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Escobar's head.
Carter tries to free his leg and advance position but Escobar is retaining full guard.
Escobar trying to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Carter misses with a takedown

and Escobar counters with a shoot takedown. Carter fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Carter trying to keep a closed guard but Escobar is proving a slippery customer.
Escobar would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bryce Carter will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Carter has his takedown stuffed

and Escobar counters by moving into the clinch.
Carter wants a takedown but no success here.

Carter escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Carter darts in trying to clinch

and Escobar counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Carter holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Carter tries to roll over but Escobar keeps him under control.

Carter looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Escobar performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carter flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Escobar takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Carter is trying to maintain the position but Escobar is very close to passing his half guard.
Escobar is trying to control the action in half guard but Carter is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Carter wants to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Carter tries for a takedown but Escobar circles away easily

and Escobar counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Sosa Escobar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bryce Carter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Carter wants to get back to his feet.
Carter wants to control but Escobar is keeping busy.
Carter trying to get back to full guard but Escobar takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Escobar dominating with strikes here.
Escobar landing strikes from the mount and Carter is in trouble!
Escobar sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carter wants to control but Escobar is having none of it.
Carter is squirming around, avoiding Escobar's attempts to control the action.
Escobar landing punches.
Carter wants to control but Escobar is having none of it.
Escobar trying to control but Carter is having none of it.
Escobar has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Carter's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
A nice elbow there by Escobar.
Escobar wants to control the pace but Carter is squirming around nicely.
Escobar putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Carter is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Escobar controlling the pace for now.

Escobar has hold of Carter's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Carter manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sosa Escobar dominated that second round.
That's time! Escobar's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Carter.
Carter throws a hook but Escobar avoids it easily.
Carter wants to clinch but Escobar slips to the side

and Escobar decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Carter's guard.
Escobar postures up.
Escobar with a flurry of punches that miss.
Carter keeping moving, preventing Escobar from controlling successfully.
Carter looking to hit a scissor sweep but Escobar is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carter is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Escobar slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Carter looking for a guillotine here but Escobar defends easily.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Carter can do anything to dispel that myth.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Carter scores a takedown into full mount!
Escobar is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carter thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Escobar wants to control but Carter is having none of it.
Carter raining down shots from the mount!
Escobar bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Carter is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Escobar trying to control but Carter is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Carter working for submissions but it's allowed Escobar to get to half guard.

Escobar stands up out of the half guard.
Escobar shoots in and drives through. Carter sprawls well.

Carter scores with a takedown into Escobar's guard.
Escobar avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Carter preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carter trying to control but Escobar is working from the bottom.
Carter won't allow Escobar to get back to his feet.
Escobar striking off his back but it's not causing Carter any problems.
Carter trying to control but Escobar is working from the bottom.

Carter stands up and waves to Escobar to follow him.
Carter doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Escobar counters with a takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sosa Escobar clearly takes that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Escobar with a poor takedown

and Carter counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Carter is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Escobar is just riding it out for now. Carter eventually gives up the hold.
Escobar is not content to let Carter control the position.
Sosa Escobar overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Escobar moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Carter is looking to work some ground and pound but Escobar has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Escobar manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Sosa Escobar is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Carter fails to land with a series of punches.

Escobar tries to keep at a distance but Carter has taken the fight into the clinch.
Carter wants a takedown.
Escobar lands a nice elbow.

Escobar breaks the clinch.

Carter scores a takedown into full mount!
Carter looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Escobar wants to control but Carter is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carter lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Escobar tries to lock up and control but Carter gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Carter stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Carter throws a one two combo.
Carter gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Escobar.
Escobar wants to clinch up but Carter keeps it at a distance.

Carter looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Carter is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carter is keen to just control but Escobar is a slippery customer.
Carter prevents Escobar from improving his position.
Carter wants to take a breather but Escobar is having none of it.

Carter is working for a kimura but Escobar is defending it quite comfortably.
Escobar is holding on to half guard well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Carter is keen to just control but Escobar is a slippery customer.

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

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Carter shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Carter showed some decent athleticism there.
Carter wants to take a breather but Escobar is having none of it.
Escobar trying to hold on to Carter's head to control him but Carter postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryce Carter dominated that fourth round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Escobar tries for a takedown but Carter sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Escobar stuffs the takedown attempt from Carter. Carter gets slowly back to his feet.

Carter shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Escobar's guard.
Carter wants to control from the top but Escobar keeps moving.

Carter drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Escobar dives on top into guard.

Carter is looking for a triangle here but Escobar uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

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!
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Carter is avoiding damage well.
Escobar lands a decent elbow from side control.
Escobar wants to control but Carter is keeping him busy.
Carter holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Carter is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Escobar's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Carter trying to control here.
Carter is trying is best to control the position here.
Carter trying to control from the bottom.

Escobar is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Carter sees it coming and defends easily.
Carter is trying to get back to full guard.
Escobar scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Carter tries to roll over but Escobar keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Escobar clinches up with Carter and pushes him back against the cage.
Carter wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Carter tries a body shot but Escobar blocks it.
Carter has Escobar pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Escobar manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Escobar breaks from the clinch.

Escobar throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Carter was covering up waiting for the punch and Escobar finishes the takedown easily into guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Carter is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar is controlling Carter's posture.

Escobar has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Carter can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Escobar can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Carter controls the pace.
Carter trying to control but Escobar is working from the bottom.

Carter decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

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 Sosa Escobar.
I think Escobar has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andi Peters scores the fight 48:47
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 48:47
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 49:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sosa Escobar!
Sosa Escobar is the new lightweight champion!