PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Braulio Escobar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Escobar
vs
James

187 cm
16
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Braulio Escobar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jason James!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Franklyn Lucas and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Escobar takes one to the chin there.
Escobar throws a shot from downtown. James moves away and avoids it.
James is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
James stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and James wants it to stay on the feet.
James dodges the punch combination from Escobar.

James clinches up with Escobar and pushes him back against the cage.
Escobar is trying to drag James to the mat but James just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Escobar is trying to force a seperation but James has the dominant position.
Escobar is trying to pull guard but James turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Braulio Escobar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escobar is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but James is keeping busy.
James with an attempt at a knee that misses.
James utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
James stalling in the clinch.
Escobar is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Escobar taking a breather.
Escobar tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Escobar is trying to push James away but James has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Escobar tries to circle away but James has him pinned against the cage.
Escobar tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. James smiles and moves away.
Escobar scores with a punch to the head.

It looks like Jason James has been cut.
Escobar misses with a wild body shot.
James is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.

That's two 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.

James closes the distance and clinches.
James unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Escobar fails to pull the fight into his guard.
James landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Escobar fails to pull guard.
Escobar working hard to break the clinch.
Come on James - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
James tries to land a knee to the head but Escobar blocks with his arms.
Escobar jumps guard but James stands there with Escobar around his waist. Escobar gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
James tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
James stalls.
James looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar can't get the takedown.
Escobar is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables James to keep the fight standing.
James connects with a knee to the head.
James unloads a knee to the mid-section. Escobar lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Escobar wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Escobar tries to pull guard but James forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
James with a knee to the head.
James throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Escobar blocks it with crossed arms.
Escobar is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Stalling in the clinch from James.
James using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Escobar has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Escobar tries to circle away but James has him pinned against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar can't get the takedown.
Escobar is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Escobar working hard to break the clinch.
Escobar tries for a takedown but James manages to get underhooks.
James tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Escobar tries to pull guard but James holds him up against the cage and eventually Escobar drops back down to his feet.
James leaning against his opponent.
Escobar wants to stall.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
James tries to stall but Escobar uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
James trying to stall but Escobar improves his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason James dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jason James's cut.
That's time! Escobar's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Escobar misses with the combination.
Escobar throws out a loose jab but James uses good head movement to avoid it.
Escobar tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. James manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
James tries to clinch up.
Escobar avoids the head kick by James.
An inside leg kick from James misses.
Escobar throws a series of strikes that have James backpedaling.
Jason James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Escobar throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Escobar will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escobar swats away the attempt to clinch by James.
Escobar throws a right hand that misses
and James counters with a series of strikes. Escobar will be more careful next time no doubt.
James is breathing heavily.
James takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Escobar misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar checks a low kick from James.
Escobar throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Escobar looks to score with a jab to the body but James is just out of range.
Escobar looks to score with a jab to the body but James is just out of range.
James throws out a counter right but Escobar avoids it with no problem.
Escobar misses with an uppercut
and James cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Escobar just misses with a punch to the body.
James displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Escobar throws out the jab.
Escobar misses with a body shot.
Escobar blocks a leg kick.
James tries to clinch up but Escobar circles away and keeps his distance.
Escobar scores with a punch to the head.
Escobar looks to land a right hand but James moved out of range.
Escobar throws a series of punches but James moves out of range.
Escobar ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Escobar throws a combination. James tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James moves out of range as Escobar strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
James takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
James slips a jab from Escobar.
Escobar misses with a jab, cross combination.
Escobar looks to land a right hand but James moved out of range.
A jab from Escobar misses.
Jason James is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Escobar throws a lazy right hand but James sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Escobar is looking to clinch but James is avoiding it.
Escobar pulls out of a head kick attempt.
James staying out of range there.
James defending well as Escobar loads up on a big left hand.
Braulio Escobar is winning the standup battle so far.
Escobar fakes high and swings low for a body shot but James manages to avoid it.
Escobar takes a swing at James's ribcage but misses.
Escobar misses with a body shot.
James was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Escobar.
Escobar throws a combination but it was largely blocked by James.
James keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Escobar.
James bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
James tries a quick counter leg kick but Escobar is wise to it.
A punch combination from Escobar misses.
Escobar misses with a hook.
Escobar jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A lazy left from Escobar finds it's target.
James uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Escobar.
Escobar throws a looping overhand right but James ducks down to avoid it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Escobar lands with a right to the head.
Escobar tries to pull guard but James holds him up against the cage and eventually Escobar drops back down to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by James as Escobar tries to tie him up.
Escobar misses with an elbow strike.
Escobar is trying to break the clinch but James has him pressed against the cage.
Escobar is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. James is defending well for now.
Escobar missing with knees to the body.
James landing knees to the head.
Escobar is trying to drag James to the mat but James just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Escobar looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Braulio Escobar dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jason James's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

James drives through and clinches with Escobar against the cage.
Escobar is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
James throws a knee to the head but misses.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Escobar managing to block the knees to the body from James.
Escobar tries to pull guard but James holds him up against the cage and eventually Escobar drops back down to his feet.
Escobar tries for a takedown but James manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Braulio Escobar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escobar is trying to push James away but James has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Escobar is trying to stall.
James prevents Escobar from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James stalling in the clinch.
Escobar tries to pull guard but James forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
James utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
James blocks an uppercut.
Jason James seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
James keeps control of Escobar as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Escobar tries to break the clinch but James is controlling the position.
James lands a nice knee to the body.
James controlling the action here for a moment.
Escobar tries to pull guard but James won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar tries to pull guard but James forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
James is pushing Escobar 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 goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Escobar misses with a hook from the clinch.
James using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Escobar jumps guard but James turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
James gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Escobar.
Escobar jumps guard but James stands there with Escobar around his waist. Escobar gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James has Escobar pressed against the cage.
Escobar looking to slow down the pace here.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Escobar changes levels and goes for a takedown here. James fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Escobar misses with a straight right.
Despite the aggression on James's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Escobar looks to score with a jab to the body but James is just out of range.

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 works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Escobar jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Escobar misses with a looping right.
James raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
James throws a sloppy head kick and Escobar moves out of range easily.
James uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Escobar.
Escobar swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Braulio Escobar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Escobar fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A big right from Escobar misses.
James throws a counter combo.
Escobar scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Escobar missing with a left hand there. James was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
James only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A telegraphed right hand from Escobar misses the target.
Escobar lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
James uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Escobar.
Escobar throws a nice looking combination but James bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Braulio Escobar showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Escobar 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Braulio Escobar!