PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Chris McPheters (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pablo Escobar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Escobar has chosen Dr. Kitch as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

McPheters
vs
Escobar

173 cm
26
155 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

175 cm
25
159 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chris McPheters!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pablo Escobar!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Frank Dennis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from McPheters.
Some wild striking there from Escobar.

McPheters shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
McPheters throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

McPheters is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
McPheters throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Escobar to regain full guard.
Escobar is pulling down on McPheters's head. It's preventing any offense from McPheters, at least for the moment.
McPheters throws a big right hand that misses.
McPheters trying to control but Escobar is working from the bottom.
McPheters throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar tries to land a sweep but no joy.

McPheters decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Escobar thows a leg kick but McPheters checks it

and McPheters counters with a takedown into side control.
McPheters throws an elbow but Escobar slips to the side and avoids it well.
McPheters throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
McPheters working the head with strikes.
McPheters tries to score with some ground and pound. Escobar controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Escobar tries to bench press McPheters off him but McPheters keeps the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Escobar regains half guard.
Escobar moves into full guard.
Escobar is trying to keep McPheters in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Escobar wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McPheters postures up.
Escobar working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McPheters.
McPheters trying to control but Escobar is working from the bottom.
McPheters working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
McPheters is looking to work some ground and pound but Escobar has wrist control.
McPheters scoring with some ground and pound.
McPheters postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Escobar looking to control.
McPheters loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Escobar has momentary wrist control but McPheters slips an elbow through the middle.
Escobar keeping moving, preventing McPheters from controlling successfully.
McPheters makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Escobar utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McPheters trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Escobar wants to sweep here but McPheters controlling him for the moment.
McPheters wants to control from the top but Escobar keeps moving.
McPheters looking to sit in guard and control but Escobar gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
McPheters wants to stand up but Escobar is controlling him.
Escobar trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McPheters wants to stand but Escobar is controlling the position.
Escobar throws a big right hand that misses.
McPheters avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Escobar throws a strike but McPheters rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Escobar has control of McPheters's left arm, preventing McPheters from doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McPheters throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
McPheters scoring with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris McPheters dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Escobar feints a jab promting McPheters to slip. Escobar then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. McPheters slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
McPheters looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
McPheters shoots for a takedown but Escobar saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A big right from Escobar misses.
Escobar scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. McPheters doesn't seem bothered though.
Escobar throws a push kick but McPheters slaps the foot to one side.
McPheters blocks a head kick by Escobar.

Escobar gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Escobar goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Escobar lands a body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Escobar looking to throw knees to the head but McPheters is blocking nicely.
Escobar misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from McPheters.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McPheters pulls guard.
McPheters wants to get back to his feet but Escobar is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Escobar throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McPheters works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Escobar accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Escobar throws an elbow that misses. McPheters uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Escobar's guard. Nice move by McPheters!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McPheters trying to control the position from guard on top but Escobar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McPheters postures up and lands a big shot to Escobar's brow.
Escobar has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McPheters is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Escobar is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Escobar has escaped and now he's on top!
McPheters keeping full guard, as Escobar tries to pass.
Escobar throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
McPheters wants to get back to his feet but Escobar is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Escobar throws a strike but McPheters rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar is trying to control the position from the bottom.
McPheters with a flurry of punches that miss.
McPheters working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
McPheters distracts Escobar with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
McPheters throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
McPheters postures up and lands a big shot to Escobar's brow.
McPheters working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McPheters in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Chris McPheters overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McPheters throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Escobar works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
McPheters lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Escobar is trying to control the position but McPheters postures up.
Escobar is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
McPheters trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Escobar trying to control the position here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Pablo Escobar was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Escobar scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A combination from Escobar does no damage.
McPheters moves away from the strike by Escobar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Escobar showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

McPheters circles away from the clinch attempt

and McPheters counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Escobar's guard now.
McPheters trying to control but Escobar is working from the bottom.
McPheters postures up.
Escobar utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
McPheters working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Escobar trying to control the position.
McPheters trying to control the position from guard on top but Escobar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McPheters is looking to work some ground and pound but Escobar has wrist control.
McPheters throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar working a defensive guard here.
McPheters is stalling in the full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
McPheters changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Escobar tries to avoid it but McPheters manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Escobar to the ground. Escobar escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from McPheters.
McPheters tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Escobar swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris McPheters. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McPheters shoots for a double leg takedown but Escobar sprawls well. He's pushed McPheters's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Escobar keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Chris McPheters is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Escobar throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

so McPheters counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McPheters throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Escobar controlling McPheters's posture.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Escobar trying to keep a closed guard but McPheters is proving a slippery customer.
Escobar looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McPheters postures up in Escobar's guard and throws a big left but Escobar blocks it.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Pablo Escobar wasn't active enough on the ground.

Excellent takedown into side control there by McPheters.
Escobar wants to control but McPheters postures up.

McPheters wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Escobar, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but McPheters wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Escobar wants to control but McPheters postures up.
McPheters looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Escobar is avoiding damage well.
McPheters working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
McPheters throwing strikes but Escobar manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Escobar is trying to ground and pound but McPheters uses the momentary lack of control by Escobar to regain half guard.
Escobar stops McPheters from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McPheters is refusing to be controlled, as Escobar sits in half guard.
McPheters is trying to stand up here but Escobar is controlling him well.
Escobar is just content to waste time from the top position. McPheters takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Escobar won't allow McPheters to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Escobar throws a big elbow that misses.
Escobar wants to pass the guard but McPheters is keeping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris McPheters showed his dominance in that final round.
I think McPheters 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris McPheters!
A pretty intense looking Chris McPheters took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.