PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Juanito Escobar (ranked 233 p4p, 1668 weight class) and Samuel Sycek (ranked 30 p4p, 191 weight class). Escobar's entrance music is Sweat (Skeler Remix) - Charlie A.Y.O. A fine choice. Juanito Escobar is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Escobar
vs
Sycek

190 cm
33
185
23 - 13 - 0

178 cm
27
193
13 - 10 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

Hoarse Pills
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Shadow Realm Apparel

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 23 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Juanito Escobar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Samuel Sycek!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sycek 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 not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sycek throws a big elbow that misses.

Sycek got a little sloppy there for a moment and Escobar has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sycek has managed to get both his arms back between Escobar's legs - danger averted.
Sycek working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Escobar's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Escobar wants to sweep but no luck.
Sycek is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sycek scoring with some ground and pound.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Sycek working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Sycek throwing strikes but missing.
Escobar avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sycek scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sycek trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Escobar is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sycek is aware though and is defending well.

Escobar throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Escobar is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sycek is aware though and is defending well.
Escobar working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sycek throws a strike but Escobar rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sycek is on top in guard.

Sycek postures up in Escobar's guard and throws a big left but Escobar blocks it.
Sycek throwing strikes but missing.
Sycek scoring with some ground and pound.

Escobar escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sycek gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Escobar trying to keep a closed guard but Sycek is proving a slippery customer.
Sycek being controlled here momentarily.
Sycek in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sycek postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Escobar controls Sycek momentarily but Sycek frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Escobar looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Escobar is trying to keep Sycek in close.
Escobar seems keen to control Sycek's posture.
Sycek works over Escobar with some ground and pound from guard.
Sycek landing some decent shots from guard.
Sycek throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sycek won't allow Escobar to sweep him here.
Escobar is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

This has been an exciting period of action!

Sycek is defending against the submission attempts here by Escobar.
Escobar wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sycek keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sycek works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sycek trying to control the position.
Sycek wants to sweep here but Escobar controlling him for the moment.

Escobar drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Escobar jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Escobar wants to control from the top but Sycek keeps moving.
Sycek wants to sweep but no luck.
Escobar will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Sycek wants to hit a sweep here but Escobar passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Sycek there!
Escobar trying to control but Sycek is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sycek keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Escobar tries to control but Sycek wriggling away.
Sycek tries to reverse the position but Escobar maintains control.
Escobar looking to control but Sycek is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Sycek wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

Escobar is persistently looking for the submission but Sycek is defending it well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Samuel Sycek will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Sycek fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Escobar sprawls well initially but Sycek persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Escobar is pressing down on Sycek's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Escobar is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Escobar throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Escobar has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sycek can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Escobar looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sycek is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sycek lands a couple of elbows.
Escobar wants to sweep but no luck.
Sycek being controlled here momentarily.
Sycek postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar working a defensive guard here.

Escobar looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sycek works over Escobar with some ground and pound from guard.
Sycek throwing strikes but missing.
Sycek postures up in Escobar's guard and throws a big left but Escobar blocks it.
Samuel Sycek has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sycek works over Escobar with some ground and pound from guard.

Sycek got a little sloppy there for a moment and Escobar has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sycek has managed to get both his arms back between Escobar's legs - danger averted.
Sycek throwing strikes but missing.
Sycek distracts Escobar with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Sycek is working Escobar over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sycek content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sycek trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sycek is working Escobar over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sycek's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Escobar looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sycek working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Escobar's head.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sycek's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Escobar has his foot on Sycek's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sycek works his way back into a safe position though.

Escobar looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Escobar has momentary wrist control but Sycek slips an elbow through the middle.
Sycek makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sycek with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sycek's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sycek has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Escobar bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sycek's guard.

Sycek trying to control the position.
Sycek keeping moving, preventing Escobar from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sycek is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Sycek is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Sycek managing to control the position.
Escobar trying to control the position from guard on top but Sycek is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sycek looking for a sweep. Not yet Sycek, not yet.
Escobar trying to control but Sycek is working from the bottom.
Sycek looking to hit a scissor sweep but Escobar is one step ahead there.

That's four 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 forces his way into half guard.

Escobar looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Sycek missing with punches from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Escobar is looking for a kimura here.
Sycek wants to get back to full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Samuel Sycek showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sycek shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Escobar's guard.
Juanito Escobar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Sycek got a little sloppy there for a moment and Escobar has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sycek has managed to get both his arms back between Escobar's legs - danger averted.
Sycek stands up over Escobar, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Escobar wants to sweep but no luck.
Escobar is working hard here to advance position.
Sycek is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sycek working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sycek working some strikes from top position.

Escobar is looking for a triangle but Sycek pushes his legs off easily.

Escobar is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sycek defends well.
Sycek must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sycek scoring with some ground and pound.
Sycek loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sycek distracts Escobar with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Sycek works over Escobar with some ground and pound from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sycek missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sycek missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sycek lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Escobar looking for a triangle here. Sycek is fighting it but it looks tight! Escobar pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Sycek is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Juanito Escobar!
Juanito Escobar decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.