PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ezequiel Chandler (ranked 23828 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miguel Escobar (ranked 6670 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Chandler
vs
Escobar

212 cm
26
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ezequiel Chandler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Miguel Escobar!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Ian Loll and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chandler is looking to land body kicks.
Escobar fails with an attempt to clinch.
Chandler changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Escobar punishes Chandler's body with a nice straight punch.
Chandler pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Chandler tries to clinch but Escobar moves out of range.

Escobar looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Chandler is looking to stand back up but Escobar counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Chandler.

Escobar missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escobar wants to get back to his feet.
Escobar has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Escobar has hold of Chandler's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Chandler manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Escobar misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Escobar tries to control but Chandler wriggling away.
Escobar tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Chandler tries to hold on but Escobar pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Escobar misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Chandler manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Chandler tries to get to full guard but Escobar has control of the leg.
Escobar thows a huge punch but Chandler dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are battling for position here. Chandler manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Escobar has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Chandler is proving hard to escape from.
Escobar stopping the sweep attempt from Chandler.
Escobar not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Escobar trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Escobar looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Escobar looking to sit in guard and control but Chandler gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Chandler gets to his feet - Escobar follows without any prompting.
Chandler gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Escobar lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Ezequiel Chandler has been cut.
Miguel Escobar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Escobar avoids the head kick by Chandler.
Chandler tries a head kick but it misses.

Escobar shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Chandler is trying to defend but Escobar finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Chandler manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Escobar keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Escobar dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ezequiel Chandler's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Escobar shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Chandler is trying to control but can't.
Escobar is trying to control. Chandler wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Chandler trying to control here.
Escobar not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escobar trying to pass the guard but Chandler defending well.
Chandler has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Escobar is working away from the top position though.
Escobar has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chandler desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Chandler has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Escobar is working away from the top position though.
Escobar thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Chandler's head.
Escobar is trying to control. Chandler wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Chandler steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Escobar. That one must have hurt.
Chandler misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Chandler slips a jab from Escobar.

Chandler has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar landing knees to the body.
Chandler looking to throw knees to the head but Escobar is blocking nicely.

Escobar tightens his grip and picks Chandler up, before dumping him to the ground. Chandler manages to land in guard.
Escobar looking to pass the guard.
Escobar wants to stand but Chandler is controlling his posture from full guard.
Escobar wants to control from the top but Chandler keeps moving.
Chandler controls Escobar momentarily but Escobar frees himself.
Escobar 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Chandler manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Escobar gets control of Chandler's arms and successfully pulls guard. Escobar will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Escobar has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Chandler can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Chandler will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Chandler preventing the sweep.

Chandler drops back, looking for a kneebar! Escobar looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Escobar looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Escobar!

Escobar tries to move to mount but Chandler blocks the move with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chandler is trying to improve his position.
Escobar is looking to take a break and control but Chandler is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Chandler parries the strikes from Escobar easily there. Escobar is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Chandler to escape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Escobar wants to control but Chandler is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Chandler's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Escobar showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ezequiel Chandler's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Escobar pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Escobar drives through with a takedown into guard.

Chandler pushes Escobar off and gets back to his feet.

Chandler gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Chandler manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Escobar manages to get himself to full guard.

This has been an exciting period of action!

Chandler 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!

Escobar won't allow Chandler to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chandler working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Escobar.
Escobar sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Chandler's guard.

Escobar is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Chandler defends it well.
Chandler is looking for a sweep. Escobar is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Escobar looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Escobar wants to take a breather but Chandler is having none of it.

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.
Escobar is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Chandler keeping control of the position.
Escobar missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Escobar seems to be looking for submissions.
Escobar takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Chandler is pressing down on Escobar's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Escobar postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Chandler is on top in guard.

Chandler wants to control from the top but Escobar keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Chandler gets to his feet. Escobar looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Chandler lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Escobar circles away quickly and effectively.

Escobar scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Chandler struggling a bit here.

Escobar goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Chandler has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Escobar but great work by Chandler.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Chandler has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Escobar dives in and scores a takedown into Chandler's guard.

Escobar decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Chandler closes the distance and clinches.
Chandler doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Chandler changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Escobar fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Escobar closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Escobar lands in his opponent's guard.
Chandler wants to get back to his feet but Escobar passes into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ezequiel Chandler showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Escobar has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29

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