PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vicente Escalante (ranked 758 p4p, 769 weight class) and Fidel Legions (ranked 116 p4p, 117 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Escalante
vs
Legions

183 cm
30
192
21 - 5 - 0

186 cm
30
191
18 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vicente Escalante!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Fidel Legions!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Legions has managed to clinch.
Escalante can't find room to land a body shot as Legions controls the action.
Legions misses with a body punch.
Legions scores with a nice hook to the head.

Escalante breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Escalante lands with a straight right. Legions didn't see that one coming.
A big right from Escalante misses.
Legions fails with the takedown.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Legions is defended easily by Escalante.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good work by Legions as he checks the leg kick.
Legions takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Escalante cracks Legions with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Escalante lands a head kick. Legions smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

It looks like Fidel Legions has been cut.

Legions clinches up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Escalante as the two fighters clinch.
Legions wants a takedown.
Vicente Escalante has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fidel Legions.
Legions lands a hook to the side of the head.
Legions jumps guard but Escalante stands there with Legions around his waist. Legions gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Legions displaying some good clinch control by pressing Escalante up against the cage.
Legions tries to pull guard but Escalante won't allow it.
Escalante goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Legions dodges an elbow strike from Escalante.
Legions throws an elbow that misses.
Escalante is looking to break free of the clinch but Legions has double underhooks.
Escalante tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Escalante is fighting off a takedown attempt but Legions is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Escalante to the mat. Escalante regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Escalante holds on and takes a little breather.
Legions working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Legions stands up and waves to Escalante to follow him.
A swing and a miss from Escalante.
Escalante lands a leg kick that knocks Legions off balance momentarily.
Legions blocks a jab.
Escalante fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Vicente Escalante is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Legions on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A low kick from Escalante is predictable there
and Escalante takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Legions tries to clinch up but Escalante circles away and keeps his distance.
A bone on bone clash there as Legions blocks the leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Legions misses with a hook.
Legions avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Legions checks a leg kick.
Escalante keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Escalante appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Escalante chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Legions moves into the clinch.
Legions blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Escalante pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Good standup being displayed there by Escalante as he connects with a hook.
Escalante throws a leg kick but Legions sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Legions digs a good body shot into Escalante's ribs.

Legions closes the distance and clinches.
Our sources have told us that Escalante has been working on his elbows in the gym.

Escalante breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Legions checks a leg kick.

Escalante has managed to clinch.
Legions dodges an elbow strike from Escalante.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Escalante keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Legions's efforts to push away.
Escalante misses with the head strike.
Escalante pushes off an throws an elbow but Legions leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Escalante throws an elbow but it misses.
Legions jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Escalante walks away with a smile on his face. Legions gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Escalante tries to score with a low kick but Legions moves his leg out of the way.
No luck for Legions with that takedown attempt.
Escalante scoring well with a low kick there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Vicente Escalante dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Fidel Legions's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Legions fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Escalante looks to land a left hand but Legions moved out of range nicely.
Escalante takes a swing at Legions's ribcage but misses.
Escalante bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Legions's head backwards.
Legions fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Escalante avoids it really well and circles away.
Vicente Escalante is winning the standup battle so far.
Legions pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Escalante with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Legions takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A low kick lands for Legions.
Escalante lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Escalante closes the distance and clinches.
Escalante misses with a hook from the clinch.

Escalante breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Legions shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Escalante controlling the position for now.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Legions working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Escalante is trying to stand back up but Legions is controlling him
Escalante wants to control but Legions is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Legions stalling away here and it's allowed Escalante to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Legions looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escalante avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Legions looking to pass the guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Legions moves into range and clinches up with Escalante.

Escalante breaks the clinch.
Escalante misses with a body kick.

Legions has managed to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escalante gets through Legions's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Escalante lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Legions backwards.
Legions is trying to drag Escalante to the mat but Escalante just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Vicente Escalante has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fidel Legions.
Come on Legions - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Escalante manages to break the clinch.
Legions uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Escalante.
Fidel Legions is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Escalante throws a shot from downtown. Legions moves away and avoids it.
Legions shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Escalante pinned against the cage. Escalante gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Escalante throws a body kick that misses
and Legions counters with an outside leg kick.
Escalante is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Legions can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escalante swings for the body but Legions moves out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Escalante.
Vicente Escalante seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Legions wants to clinch.
Escalante tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Legions paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Legions shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Escalante clinches with his opponent.
Escalante lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Legions backwards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Legions keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Escalante's efforts to push away.

Legions turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Legions manages to end up in side control.
Escalante regains half guard, as Legions was trying to land strikes.
Escalante is controlling Legions's position as best he can from this difficult position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Vicente Escalante dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Fidel Legions's cut.
That's time! Escalante'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!

Legions shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Escalante manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Escalante seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Legions throws a big right hand that misses.
Escalante can't keep his opponent in guard - Legions advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Fidel Legions has got the better of the ground game so far.
Legions trying to control the action but Escalante is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escalante keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Legions scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Legions throwing shots but Escalante is blocking nicely.

Legions is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Escalante has managed to free his arm - good work.
Escalante is trying is best to control the position here.
Legions throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Legions seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Escalante does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Legions tries to pass the half guard into mount. Escalante knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

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.
Legions stalling away here and it's allowed Escalante to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Legions stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Escalante swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Legions throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Escalante instigates a clinch.
Legions blocks an uppercut.
Escalante can't find room to land a body shot as Legions controls the action.
Legions dodges an elbow strike from Escalante.
Legions landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Legions blocks an elbow strike from Escalante.

Escalante pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Legions fails with an attempt to clinch.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Escalante, as that shot connected.
Escalante throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Escalante sets himself, and Legions steps forward looking for the clinch! Escalante avoids it this time.
Escalante throws the left hand but Legions avoids the punch easily.
Escalante stuffs the takedown.
Fidel Legions has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vicente Escalante is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Legions thows a body kick. Escalante tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Escalante throws a hook to the side of Legions's head but Legions sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Legions closes the distance and clinches up with Escalante, looking for a takedown. Legions pushes Escalante against the cage but Escalante circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Legions throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Legions staying out of range there.
Escalante jabs at Legions's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escalante misses with a body shot
and Legions counters with a nice uppercut.
Escalante throws a nice outside leg kick.
Escalante throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Legions defending well as Escalante loads up on a big left hand.
Legions ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Legions wants to counter the offense by Escalante and move into the clinch position.

Legions clinches up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Legions has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Escalante avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Vicente Escalante has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fidel Legions.
Legions jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Escalante walks away with a smile on his face. Legions gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Legions walks into a straight right hand from Escalante.

Escalante clinches up with Legions and pushes him back against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Legions throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Escalante blocks it with crossed arms.
Legions tries to score a body lock takedown but Escalante shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Legions's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Escalante has a couple of punches blocked by Legions.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Vicente Escalante.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Escalante, 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vicente Escalante!
A relieved looking Vicente Escalante thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.