PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hernandez Escado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raymond Wannis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Escado
vs
Wannis

199 cm
22
204 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
22
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Experienced

Combat Pro Design

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 Helsinki, Hernandez Escado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Raymond Wannis!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wannis tries to clinch up.

Escado looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Escado seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Wannis is trying to control the position but Escado postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Escado gets to his feet. Wannis looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Wannis tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Escado paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Escado closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Wannis is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Escado is controlling him well.
Escado has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Wannis!
Wannis tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Wannis is trying to stand.
Escado controlling from the full mount.
Escado avoids the attempt from Wannis to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escado lands a nice shot to the head.
Wannis is desperately trying to improve his position but Escado has a good base and remains in mount.
Wannis tries to hold on but Escado postures up.
Escado with a couple of short strikes.
Escado with the ground and pound from mount.
Wannis keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Wannis is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Escado lands a big shot there that rocks Wannis but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Wannis wants to control but Escado is having none of it.
Escado has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Wannis's face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Escado looking to secure an arm triangle but Wannis defends it well.
Escado controlling his opponent.

Escado is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Wannis is surviving well by controlling Escado's body position as best he can.
Escado is breathing heavily.
Wannis is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Wannis tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Escado will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Wannis is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wannis is in a horrible position here. Escado smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Escado controlling the pace for now.
Wannis is trying to escape the mount.
Escado tries to control but Wannis wriggling away.
Wannis is wriggling around trying to escape.
Wannis is just holding on here. Escado manages to take his back.
Wannis trying to control the position but Escado manages to sink in the hooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Wannis takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Escado controlling the position well here. Wannis rolled but Escado kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Escado has the hooks in. Wannis is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Wannis is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Escado gets his hands free as Wannis looks to control.
Wannis manages to reverse the position and now he's in Escado's guard. Nice work there by Wannis.
Escado has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Wannis wants to stand but Escado has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Wannis trying to control but Escado is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hernandez Escado dominated that round.
That's time! Escado's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Wannis tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Escado looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Escado preventing the sweep.
Wannis is trying to control the position but Escado postures up.

Escado avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Escado looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Hernandez Escado overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Wannis is looking for a triangle but Escado pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Escado postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wannis might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Escado kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Escado passes Wannis's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Wannis trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Escado manages to pass to mount!
Escado looking to control and managing it successfully.
Wannis tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Wannis tries to hold on but Escado postures up.
Escado controlling the pace for now.
Wannis doing his best to control the position. Can he escape?

That's two 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.
Wannis tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Wannis wants to hold on but Escado pushes him away.
Wannis can't escape the position.
Wannis tries to lock up and control but Escado gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Wannis is looking to improve his position but Escado isn't that keen on the idea.
Escado landing punches.
Escado avoids the attempt from Wannis to control.

Despite being in the dominant position, Raymond Wannis just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Wannis wants to clinch.
Raymond Wannis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escado fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Wannis as Escado shoots in.
The fight stays on the outside here - Wannis looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Wannis should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Wannis tries to clinch there but Escado circles away.
Raymond Wannis is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Wannis is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Wannis has taken the fight to the clinch.
Wannis misses with a hook from the clinch.
Wannis missing with knees to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Wannis.
Escado avoids a wild elbow strike from Wannis.
Escado blocking some punches.
Escado tries to pull guard but Wannis holds him up against the cage and eventually Escado drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hernandez Escado. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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.
Wannis lands a damaging elbow.
Wannis trying to land knees to the body.
Escado blocks an elbow strike.
Wannis fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Escado pulls guard successfully.
Wannis looking to sit in guard and control but Escado gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Wannis is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Wannis wants to sweep here but Escado controlling him for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wannis is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Wannis had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Escado is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Wannis Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Escado's back instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hernandez Escado dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Wannis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Escado swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Wannis tries to clinch there but Escado circles away.
Wannis doesn't manage to clinch there - Escado circles away.
Wannis wants to clinch.
Escado circles away from the clinch attempt.
Wannis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Escado swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Wannis tries to close the distance and clinch but Escado swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Escado fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Wannis sprawls well initially but Escado persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Wannis is looking to get back to full guard here but Escado has managed to pass to side control instead.
Escado looking to control and managing it successfully.
Wannis is looking to get to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escado looking to control but Wannis is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Wannis tries to hold on but Escado postures up.
Wannis is in all sorts of trouble here.
Wannis wants to control but Escado is having none of it.

That's two 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.
Wannis is in all sorts of trouble here.
Wannis wants to control but Escado is having none of it.
Escado landing strikes from the mount and Wannis is in trouble!
Escado working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Wannis is trying desperately to improve position.
Escado content just to control the position here.
Wannis is desperately trying to improve his position but Escado has a good base and remains in mount.
Escado avoids the attempt from Wannis to control.
Escado manages to capitalize on a mistake by Wannis to take his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escado lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Wannis hold on?!
Escado is not going to allow Wannis to sit and survive in this position.

Escado looking for the RNC.
You can see the frustration on Wannis's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Escado is trying to stick to Wannis's back but Wannis is turning into Escado. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Escado's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Wannis.
Wannis wants to control from the top but Escado keeps moving.

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.
Escado has a closed guard, preventing Wannis from standing up.
Escado wants to sweep but no luck.
Wannis looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Wannis stands and steps away. Escado gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Wannis tries to clinch up but Escado circles away and keeps his distance.
Wannis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Escado swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Escado keeps the fight on the outside.
Wannis tries to clinch but Escado is having none of it.
Raymond Wannis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hernandez Escado is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Wannis tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Escado paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Escado closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hernandez Escado showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Escado, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hernandez Escado!