PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Robert Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Escobar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Black
vs
Escobar

177 cm
21
165 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

170 cm
22
170 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Robert Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ryan Escobar!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Black gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Black had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Escobar defends it easily.
Escobar content to stall in guard here.

Black is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Escobar is aware though and is defending well.
Black can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Escobar controls the pace.

Black has his foot on Escobar's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Escobar works his way back into a safe position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escobar looking to pass the guard.

Black looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Black is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Escobar controls the pace.

Black isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Escobar stacks Black 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 Escobar!
Escobar is looking to take a break and control but Black is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Black is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Black is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Escobar pulls his head out easily.
Escobar seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two 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.
Black is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Black trying to control but Escobar postures up.
Black wants to get back to full guard.

Black looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Black looking for submissions off his back.
Black is refusing to be controlled, as Escobar sits in half guard.

Black looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Black actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Escobar seems content to control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Black is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Escobar pulls his head out easily.
Escobar wants to control but Black is keeping him busy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Black enables Escobar to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Black manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Black working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Escobar doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Escobar manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Black looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black working a defensive guard here.
Escobar showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Escobar postures up.
Black wants to sweep but no luck.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Black looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Escobar looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Escobar dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Escobar gets the takedown into side control.
A lull in the action here.
Escobar working the head with strikes.
Black is trying to get back to half guard.
Black is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Zero Tolerance, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Escobar slows the pace down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Black struggling a bit here.
Escobar is staying tight to Black's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Escobar is trying to get an arm triangle but Black is defending well.
Black manages to work his way to half guard, despite Escobar's best efforts.

Black looking for submissions off his back.

Black looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Black looking for submissions off his back.
Black is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Escobar's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Escobar's back!
Black has the hooks in. Escobar is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Black has got his arm under Escobar's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Escobar has spun round into Black's guard beautifully! Well done that man!
Escobar wants to stand but Black has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Black has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Escobar can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Black had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Escobar defends it easily.
Escobar trying to control the position from guard on top but Black is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Black escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Escobar gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Escobar has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Black is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Escobar is aware though and is defending well.
Black keeping moving, preventing Escobar from controlling successfully.

Black escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Escobar gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Escobar passes Black's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Black is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Escobar pulls his head out easily.

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.
Black won't allow Escobar to pass to mount.

Black is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Escobar pulls his head out easily.
Escobar sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Escobar's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Escobar is thwarting Black's attempts to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Black looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Escobar wants to take a breather but Black is having none of it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan 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. 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 closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Black to the mat! Black manages to get full guard.

Black throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Escobar controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Black working for a triangle but Escobar defends it easily.
Black keeping moving, preventing Escobar from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Black being controlled here, momentarily.
Escobar trying to stand up but can't free himself from Black's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Black throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Black is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Escobar is aware though and is defending well.
Ryan Escobar has got the better of the ground game so far.

Black looking for a guillotine here but Escobar defends easily.
Escobar trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Black controls Escobar momentarily but Escobar frees himself.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Escobar showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Escobar shoots in and bounces Black off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Black escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Escobar gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Black looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Escobar has picked Black up and slammed him! Black can't keep hold of the triangle and Escobar manages to pass to side control!
Black manages to work his way to half guard, despite Escobar's best efforts.
Escobar looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Escobar is trying to control the action in half guard but Black is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Escobar trying to pass the guard but Black defending well.
Black is not content to let Escobar control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black tries to get to full guard but Escobar has control of the leg.

Black actively working from the bottom here.
Black is not content to let Escobar control the position.

Black looking for subs from the bottom but Escobar mounts him!
Robert Black has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Black is looking to get to half guard.
Escobar misses with a head shot.
Black is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar tries to control but Black wriggling away.
Escobar tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Black slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Escobar is trying to control. Black wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Black wants to get back to full guard but Escobar has passed into side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Escobar wants to control but Black is keeping him busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Escobar comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Escobar has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Escobar!
A less than humble Ryan Escobar misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.