PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Juanito Escobar (ranked 382 p4p, 2164 weight class) and Samuel Sycek (ranked 50 p4p, 250 weight class). Escobar comes to the cage accompanied by Sweat (Skeler Remix) - Charlie A.Y.O. Samuel Sycek acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Escobar
vs
Sycek

190 cm
33
185
24 - 14 - 0

178 cm
28
193
14 - 13 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Hoarse Pills

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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 24 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Juanito Escobar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Samuel Sycek!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, William Gold and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sycek gets a clinch.

Sycek gets control of Escobar's arms and successfully pulls guard. Sycek will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Sycek looking for a sweep. Not yet Sycek, not yet.
Escobar content to stall in guard here.
Sycek keeping full guard, as Escobar tries to pass.
Sycek working a defensive guard but Escobar manages to pass into side control anyway.
Sycek sneaks back into half guard.
Escobar is pressing down on Sycek's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sycek is holding on for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escobar stalling.
Sycek tries to roll over but Escobar keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sycek trying to control here.
Escobar stalling.

Escobar is working for a kimura but Sycek is defending it quite comfortably.
Sycek trying to control but Escobar postures up.
Escobar controlling the pace.
Escobar prevents Sycek from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Escobar moves nicely into side control.
Escobar is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Sycek will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Escobar has control of an arm but Sycek manages to advance to Escobar's back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sycek throwing sloppy strikes.
Escobar tries to break free.
Sycek lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Sycek is working the ground and pound. Can Escobar escape?
Escobar is really stuck here.
Escobar is working hard here to advance position.
Sycek scores with punches and elbows.
Escobar tries to escape the position.
The referee is taking a good look at Escobar as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Sycek!
Escobar covers up after that shot from Sycek.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar is trapped and Sycek is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Sycek punches Escobar on the ear.
Escobar is really stuck here.
Sycek connects with a big shot to the side of Escobar's head.
Escobar trying to control the action but Sycek just sinks the hooks in.
Escobar manages to reverse the position and now he's in Sycek's guard. Nice work there by Escobar.
Sycek tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Escobar is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Sycek is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sycek lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sycek scoring with punches to the head and body.

Escobar looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sycek keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Escobar's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Escobar looking to control.
Sycek is in close to Escobar's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sycek stopping the sweep attempt from Escobar.
Sycek landing with the ground and pound.
Escobar will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Escobar is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sycek working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sycek lands a couple of elbows.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Samuel Sycek dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A low kick from Escobar is predictable there

and Sycek decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Escobar's guard.
Sycek landing some decent shots from guard.
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.
Escobar not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sycek has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Escobar is looking for a triangle but Sycek pushes his legs off easily.
Escobar keeping moving, preventing Sycek from controlling successfully.
Sycek throws a strike but Escobar rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Sycek looking for a sweep. Not yet Sycek, not yet.
Escobar showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Escobar trying to control the position from guard on top but Sycek is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sycek looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Escobar puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Sycek trying to control from the bottom.
Sycek wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sycek wants to sweep but Escobar has passed to side control!
Sycek tries to buck Escobar off but Escobar is having none of it.
Sycek is letting Escobar control him for a moment.
Sycek is trying to get back to half guard.
Escobar trying to control the position but Sycek is working away.
Escobar advances to mount.
Escobar tries to control but Sycek wriggling away.
Sycek is desperately trying to improve his position but Escobar has a good base and remains in mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sycek is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Sycek might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Escobar haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Sycek can't escape the position.
Escobar takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Sycek really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Escobar controlling the pace for now.
Sycek regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar moves nicely into side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Sycek tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Escobar tries to advance to mount but can't.
Sycek is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Escobar wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sycek keeps working.

Escobar working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Sycek is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Escobar off and has taken his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sycek scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Sycek punches the canvas rather than the man.
Escobar tries to roll but Sycek sticks to his back.
Sycek scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Sycek connects with a big shot to the side of Escobar's head.
A lull in the action here.
Escobar trying to control but not successfully.
Sycek lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Escobar grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Sycek is trying to stick to Escobar's back but Escobar is turning into Sycek. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Sycek's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Escobar.
Sycek is controlling Escobar's posture.
Sycek manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Escobar manages to get himself 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.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Escobar throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Juanito Escobar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Escobar's jab looks to have found its range, popping Sycek under the eye.
Sycek shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nice takedown defense from Escobar. No joy for Sycek on that attempt.
Escobar is looking to counter punch.
Escobar works the jab nicely.

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 looking to improve his position.
Sycek trying to control the action but Escobar is working from the bottom.

Escobar looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nice strikes from Sycek there.
Sycek is thwarting Escobar's attempts to control the position.
Escobar is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sycek takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Sycek thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Escobar holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Sycek looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Escobar is looking for a sweep. Sycek is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sycek working Escobar over with strikes.
Escobar moves into full guard.
Sycek stands up over Escobar, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

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.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Escobar not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Escobar wants to sweep but no luck.
Escobar has momentary wrist control but Sycek slips an elbow through the middle.
Sycek landing some decent shots from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sycek is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sycek works over Escobar with some ground and pound from guard.
Sycek is looking to work some ground and pound but Escobar has wrist control.
Sycek throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sycek must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Escobar wants to sweep here but Sycek controlling him for the moment.
Sycek trying to control but Escobar is working from the bottom.
Escobar 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 trying to control but Escobar is working from the bottom.
Sycek chips away with some ground and pound.
Escobar preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sycek makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sycek keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Escobar's head.
Sycek throwing strikes from guard but Escobar blocks nicely.
Escobar has momentary wrist control but Sycek slips an elbow through the middle.
Sycek trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Escobar working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sycek.
Sycek wants to control from the top but Escobar keeps moving.
Sycek stopping the sweep attempt from Escobar.
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!
Sycek scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Escobar working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sycek.
Sycek chips away with some ground and pound.
Samuel Sycek is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sycek avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sycek sitting in guard here, content to control.
Sycek's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Samuel Sycek has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sycek wants to control from the top but Escobar keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sycek controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Samuel Sycek comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sycek winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Samuel Sycek!