PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Grigorio Escobar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frankie Sheldon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Grigorio Escobar has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Escobar
vs
Sheldon

225 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

170 cm
22
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Grigorio Escobar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Frankie Sheldon!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sheldon misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sheldon fails with a takedown attempt.
Sheldon misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Grigorio Escobar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frankie Sheldon.
Escobar misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sheldon.
Sheldon tries for a takedown but Escobar sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Left hook, right uppercut from Escobar.
Sheldon fails with an attempt to clinch.
Escobar needs to keep his hands up - Sheldon had a free shot at his head there.
Nice defenses there by Escobar.
Sheldon fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Sheldon changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Escobar tries to avoid it but Sheldon manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Escobar to the ground. Escobar escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sheldon shoots in but no luck this time.
Escobar throws a nice looking combination but Sheldon bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Escobar with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Sheldon looks gassed!
Escobar plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Escobar lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheldon shoots for a takedown but Escobar saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Escobar lands with a good body shot.
Escobar throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Escobar gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Escobar lands a right hand.
A right hand to the body from Escobar.
Escobar scores with a shoulder strike.
Escobar displaying some good clinch control by pressing Sheldon up against the cage.
Nice body punch from Escobar.
Escobar cracks Sheldon with a nice body shot.
Escobar effectively controlling the action here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Escobar scores with a shoulder strike.
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.
Nice body punch from Escobar - that landed with a thud.
Escobar lands a shoulder strike.
Escobar lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Escobar.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Escobar.
Escobar cracks Sheldon with a nice body shot.
Escobar lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Sheldon backwards.
Escobar pressing his opponent against the cage.
Escobar scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Escobar tries a body shot but Sheldon blocks it.
Escobar leaning his opponent against the cage.
Sheldon prevents a body shot from Escobar.
Sheldon blocks a body shot from Escobar.
Escobar scores with a hook to the body.
Escobar stalls.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sheldon's elbow.
Escobar lands with a left to the head.
Escobar tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sheldon's elbow.
Escobar lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sheldon backwards.
Escobar lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Sheldon takes a shot to the head.
Nice body punch from Escobar.
Sheldon fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Escobar lands a nice uppercut.
Escobar lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Sheldon has had enough of the clinch but Escobar keeps him there for the moment.
Escobar lands an uppercut.
Escobar is pushing Sheldon up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Escobar lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sheldon backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Escobar.
Escobar tries to throw a body punch but Sheldon avoids it by throwing Escobar back against the cage.
Escobar's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Escobar lands with a light punch inside.
Sheldon jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Escobar walks away with a smile on his face. Sheldon gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sheldon will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sheldon doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Escobar misses with a wild combination.
Escobar stuns Sheldon with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Escobar lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Grigorio Escobar is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Escobar scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Sheldon doesn't seem bothered though.
Escobar pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Sheldon back to the cage. Escobar follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Sheldon has a takedown stuffed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Escobar has taken the fight to the clinch.
Escobar tries a body shot but Sheldon blocks it.
Escobar lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Escobar lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sheldon backwards.
Escobar scores with a shot to the side of Sheldon's head.
Escobar will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Sheldon up against the cage.
Escobar throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sheldons head.
Escobar tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sheldon's elbow.
Escobar pushes Sheldon back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Sheldon tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sheldon takes a shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar presses Sheldon against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Sheldon is trying to pull guard but Escobar has him pressed against the cage.
Sheldon being controlled against the cage.
Escobar is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sheldon can do to turn this around?
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Sheldon's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Escobar has Sheldon pushed against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Escobar.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Escobar.
Escobar lands with a short shot to the head.
Escobar lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Escobar cracks Sheldon with a nice body shot.
Sheldon is breathing heavily.
Sheldon blocks a body shot from Escobar.
Escobar lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Escobar scores with a nice short uppercut.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The referee is keeping an eye on Escobar - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Escobar lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Escobar works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Escobar lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sheldon backwards.
A right hand to the body from Escobar.
A right hook to the body lands for Escobar.
A right handed body shot lands from Escobar.
A short body shot lands from Escobar as the two fighters clinch.
Escobar scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Escobar lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Sheldon letting Escobar take a breather here.
Escobar scores with a shot to the side of Sheldon's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Escobar effectively controlling the action here.
Sheldon is trying to break the clinch but Escobar is controlling him.
Escobar lands a left hand.
Still in the clinch, Escobar scores with a nice short uppercut.
Escobar presses Sheldon against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A nice right hand lands inside from Escobar.
Escobar scores with a nice hook to the head.
Escobar stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Escobar pushes Sheldon back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Come on Escobar - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Sheldon tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Escobar avoids it.
Escobar lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sheldon.
Sheldon blocks a body shot from Escobar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar works on Sheldon's body with a couple of short punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sheldon blocks a body shot from Escobar.
Grigorio Escobar has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Sheldon wants a takedown.
Grigorio Escobar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frankie Sheldon.
Escobar scores with a hook to the body.
Still in the clinch, Escobar scores with a nice short uppercut.
Escobar stalls.
A short left from Escobar.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sheldon can't get the takedown.
Escobar throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sheldons head.
Escobar lands with a light punch inside.
Escobar tries to throw a body punch but Sheldon avoids it by throwing Escobar back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grigorio 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 is the final round!

Escobar scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Sheldon fails with a takedown attempt.
Escobar keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Escobar fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Sheldon gets tackled into the cage by Escobar. Escobar maintains the clinch.
Sheldon's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Escobar tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sheldon's elbow.
Escobar is working Sheldon over against the cage.
Escobar lands a shot to the body.
Escobar cracks Sheldon with a nice body shot.
Nice body punch from Escobar.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Nice body punch from Escobar.
Sheldon takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Escobar tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Escobar lands a hook that snaps the head of Sheldon backwards.
Escobar lands with a left to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Escobar.
Escobar lands with a light punch inside.
Escobar lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sheldon backwards.
Sheldon being controlled against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Escobar.
Escobar digs a right hand underneath Sheldon's ribcage. Sheldon let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Escobar lands a right hand that snaps the head of Sheldon backwards.
Escobar stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Escobar taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Escobar lands a nice shot to the body.
Sheldon is trying desperately to land a takedown but Escobar is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Sheldon.
Escobar lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Escobar misses with a punch to the body.
Sheldon's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Escobar misses with a hook to the ribs.
Grigorio Escobar is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar stalling in the clinch.
Escobar throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sheldons head.
Sheldon wants to break free but Escobar has control.
Sheldon is looking to take this one to the mat.
Grigorio Escobar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frankie Sheldon.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Escobar gets through Sheldon's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Sheldon tries for a takedown. No joy.
Sheldon tries to score a body lock takedown but Escobar shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Escobar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar slowing the pace effectively.
Sheldon changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Escobar fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Escobar lands a slapping body shot.
Escobar throws a good cross that connects.
Escobar defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sheldon.

Escobar closes the distance and clinches.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Sheldon has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Escobar avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A hook to the body from Escobar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar lands a nice uppercut.
Sheldon tries to break the clinch but Escobar is controlling the position.
Escobar gets through Sheldon's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Escobar lands a left hand.
Escobar is stalling here.
Frankie Sheldon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sheldon misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Escobar.

And that's the end of the fight!
Grigorio Escobar showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Escobar 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:26
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Grigorio Escobar!
A relieved looking Grigorio Escobar thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.