PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Horatio Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rocco Escobar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Escobar's choice of entrance music: Boom - POD. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Nelson
vs
Escobar

174 cm
24
163 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

169 cm
25
148 lbs
6 - 3 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

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 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Horatio Nelson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rocco Escobar!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Paulo Santos and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Escobar tries to clinch but Nelson is having none of it.
Nelson does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

Nelson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Nelson wants to control but Escobar is keeping him busy.
Escobar struggling a bit here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escobar tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nelson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Escobar manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Nelson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Escobar is working away from the top position though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Escobar looks to land a left hand but Nelson moved out of range nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nelson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Escobar was covering up waiting for the punch and Nelson finishes the takedown easily into guard.

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

Escobar got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nelson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Escobar has managed to get both his arms back between Nelson's legs - danger averted.
Escobar pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nelson is keeping the position for now.
Nelson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Nelson controlling from mount.

Nelson wants to finish this one by submission but Escobar is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Nelson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson wants to take Escobar's back here but Escobar is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Escobar is looking to get to half guard.
Nelson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Escobar is looking to escape.
Nelson fails to advance to Escobar's back.
Escobar is squirming around, avoiding Nelson's attempts to control the action.
Escobar gets back to half guard.
Nelson with the ground and pound but Escobar uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar trying to keep a closed guard but Nelson is proving a slippery customer.
Nelson tries to free his leg and advance position but Escobar is retaining full guard.

Escobar working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nelson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Nelson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Nelson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nelsonis looking to pass into half guard but Escobar pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Escobar is in guard.
Escobar is working Nelson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Nelson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Escobar content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Escobar passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Escobar thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar tries to advance to mount but can't.
Nelson taking a bit of punishment here - Escobar scoring with strikes.
Nelson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Nelson trying to control here.
Escobar is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Nelson is trying to escape the mount.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Nelson wants to control but Escobar is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Horatio Nelson will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Escobar has his takedown stuffed

and Nelson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Nelson.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Nelson.
Nelson misses with an elbow strike.
Nelson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Escobar smiles and moves away.
Nelson looks for a takedown but Escobar sprawls well.

Escobar clinches up with Nelson and pushes him back against the ropes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nelson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Escobar uses from the top position.

Escobar has gone for a leg lock! Nelson slips out almost immediately though and dives into Escobar's guard.

Nelson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar lands some strikes from the bottom.
Escobar trying to keep a closed guard but Nelson is proving a slippery customer.
Nelson trying to control the position from guard on top but Escobar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Escobar keeping full guard, as Nelson tries to pass.
Nelson is working hard here to advance position.
Escobar tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nelson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Escobar misses with a takedown attempt

and Nelson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Escobar won't be happy with that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar is looking for a sweep.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

Nelson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Escobar wants to control but Nelson postures up.
Escobar manages to get back to half guard.
Nelson frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Nelson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Escobar is looking to escape.

Nelson is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Escobar has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Escobar!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar postures up.

Escobar drops back, looking for a kneebar! Nelson looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Nelson looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Nelson!
Escobar sneaks back into half guard.
Escobar is looking to improve his position.
Nelson content to control rather than advance.
Escobar is trying to maintain the position but Nelson is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four 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.
Nelson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Nelson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Escobar does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Nelson is thwarting Escobar's attempts to control the position.
Nelson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Escobar does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Escobar tries to close the distance and clinch but Nelson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nelson throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Escobar looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Horatio Nelson dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Nelson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Escobar gets a clinch.
Escobar jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Nelson walks away with a smile on his face. Escobar gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nelson wants to clinch but Escobar slips to the side
enabling Escobar to counter with a crisp jab.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Escobar checks a leg kick.
Nelson tries to clinch but Escobar moves out of range.
Escobar tries to clinch there but Nelson circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escobar tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Nelson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Nelson trying to control but Escobar is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar trying to keep a closed guard but Nelson is proving a slippery customer.
Nelson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Escobar slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Escobar has his foot on Nelson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nelson works his way back into a safe position though.
Nelson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Nelson wants to control but Escobar is keeping him busy.
Nelson trying to mount his opponent but Escobar defends it.

Nelson seems to be working for a kimura but Escobar defends the submission attempt.
Escobar is not content to let Nelson control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar trying to control from the bottom.
Nelson thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Escobar to regain full guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Escobar is looking for a triangle but Nelson pushes his legs off easily.
Escobar keeping moving, preventing Nelson from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nelson misses with a low kick.

Escobar shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Escobar showed some decent athleticism there.
Nelson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Escobar is working away from the top position though.
Nelson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Escobar is one step ahead there.
Escobar postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nelson keeping moving, preventing Escobar from controlling successfully.

Nelson is looking for a triangle but Escobar pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nelson keeping full guard, as Escobar tries to pass.

Nelson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Escobar sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Nelson's guard.

Escobar is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

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.
Escobar is thwarting Nelson's attempts to control the position.
Escobar trying to control the action but Nelson is working from the bottom.
Escobar sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Nelson is pressing down on Escobar's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Nelson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Escobar's guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Escobar is trying to keep Nelson in close.
Nelson trying to control but Escobar is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Horatio Nelson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nelson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight for Horatio Nelson!
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight for Horatio Nelson!
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight for Horatio Nelson!

Horatio Nelson wins by unanimous decision!