PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nick Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Escobar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Diaz
vs
Escobar

182 cm
28
180 lbs
18 - 20 - 0

170 cm
24
170 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Good gas tank

AnonymouS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 20 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nick Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ryan Escobar!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Cecil Peabody and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Escobar closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Diaz quickly recovers to half guard.
Diaz tries to kick Escobar off but Escobar keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Escobar looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Escobar perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Diaz looking for submissions off his back.
Escobar wants to pass to mount but Diaz is defending the position.
Escobar perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz trying to hold on to Escobar's head to control him but Escobar postures up.
Escobar content to control rather than advance.
Diaz tries to get to full guard but Escobar has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Escobar is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Escobar's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Escobar decides to stand and escape the position.

Diaz gets caught napping as Escobar dives in and scores a takedown. Diaz manages to retain guard.
Escobar is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Let's hope that Escobar has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Escobar stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Diaz to get to his feet.
Diaz avoids the body shot from Escobar.
Diaz fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Escobar on the side of the head.

Escobar feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Escobar slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
It looks like Escobar might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Diaz is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Escobar pulls his head out easily.
Diaz is trying to stand.
Well, if Escobar is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Diaz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

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.
Diaz won't allow Escobar to pass to mount.
Escobar with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
More stalling from Escobar.
Diaz wants to control but Escobar is keeping busy.
Escobar perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Diaz is trying to stand up here but Escobar is controlling him well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Escobar punishes Diaz's body with a nice straight punch.

Escobar drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Diaz is looking for a triangle but Escobar pushes his legs off easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Escobar stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Diaz swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Diaz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Escobar is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Escobar dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Escobar shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Escobar showed some decent athleticism there.
Escobar controlling the pace.
Diaz pushes Escobar off looking to stand but Escobar dives back in and keeps control.
Escobar keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Diaz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Diaz tries to kick Escobar off but Escobar keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escobar is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Escobar is looking to advance position but Diaz won't allow it.
Well, if Escobar is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar is continuing to stall.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Escobar slips a straight right by Diaz.
Escobar bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Diaz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Escobar was well out of range. Poor timing from Diaz.

Escobar is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Diaz's half guard.
Escobar trying to pass the guard but Diaz defending well.
Still in half guard, Escobar seems content to control.
Diaz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz wants to get back to full guard.
Diaz pushes Escobar off looking to stand but Escobar dives back in and keeps control.
Escobar slows the pace down in half guard.
Escobar is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Diaz tries to kick Escobar off in order to stand up. Escobar Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
You can see the frustration on Diaz's face as Escobar controls the position.
Escobar has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Diaz is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Escobar has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Diaz is working hard here to advance position.
Escobar takes a little break here. Diaz wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Escobar throws an elbow but Diaz slips to the side and avoids it well.
Escobar controls the position.
You can see the frustration on Diaz's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Escobar is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Diaz is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Diaz tries to improve position but can't.

That's four 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.
Escobar staying calm.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Escobar.
Escobar advances to full mount.
Diaz is in all sorts of trouble here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Escobar controlling the position easily from mount.
Diaz can't escape the position.
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.
That's time! Diaz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Escobar uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Diaz.

Escobar looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Escobar controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Diaz had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Escobar defends it easily.
Diaz can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Escobar controls the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Diaz 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.
Escobar showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Escobar postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Diaz is looking for a triangle but Escobar pushes his legs off easily.
Escobar slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Escobar stands and throws Diaz's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Nick Diaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Escobar is staying tight to Diaz's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Diaz is looking for a sweep.
The ground and pound from Escobar seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Diaz is being controlled here.
Escobar throws a strike aimed at the side of Diaz's head but Diaz avoids it well.
Diaz is looking for a sweep.
A lull in the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar with more of the same as he continues to hold on.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Diaz is looking to reverse the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Escobar controls the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Diaz connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Escobar tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Diaz was well out of range. Poor timing from Escobar.

Escobar shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Escobar keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Yet more stalling tactics from Escobar.
Diaz wants to get back to full guard.
Escobar trying to control the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Escobar comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Escobar winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Escobar!
Ryan Escobar tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.