PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jose Luis Escobar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fatman Hatton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Luis Escobar
vs
Hatton

155 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

155 cm
20
124 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jose Luis Escobar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fatman Hatton!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Seu Braga and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hatton tries to keep at a distance but Escobar has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hatton is trying to drag Escobar to the mat but Escobar just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
Hatton has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Escobar avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hatton taking a breather.
Hatton taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Hatton is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Fatman Hatton.
Hatton will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jose Luis Escobar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fatman Hatton.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hatton shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Escobar as he avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Escobar scores with a takedown into Hatton's guard.
Hatton is trying to keep Escobar in close.
Escobar throwing strikes but missing.
Hatton working a defensive guard here.

Escobar drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Hatton dives on top into guard.

Escobar had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Hatton is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Escobar Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Hatton's back instead.
Hatton is really stuck here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar is throwing strikes by Hatton counters by rolling into a better position. After a scramble, Hatton regains half guard.

Escobar is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Hatton has managed to free his arm - good work.

Escobar is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Hatton still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Hatton has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Hatton trying to control the position but Escobar is working away.
Escobar is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Escobar pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Escobar closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Escobar lands in his opponent's guard.
Hatton looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Escobar accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hatton seems keen to control Escobar's posture.
Hatton trying to keep a closed guard but Escobar is proving a slippery customer.
Escobar missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hatton keeping full guard, as Escobar tries to pass.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Hatton trying to keep a closed guard but Escobar is proving a slippery customer.
Escobar stopping the sweep attempt from Hatton.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Escobar rushes Hatton and presses him up against the ropes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Luis Escobar dominated that round.
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.

Hatton misses with a takedown

and Escobar counters with a takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Hatton's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Escobar thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Escobar is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hatton is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Escobar tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Escobar has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Escobar looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Escobar swings around for an armbar but Hatton sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Escobar's guard.
Hatton trying to control but Escobar is working from the bottom.

Escobar has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hatton wants to control his opponent's hands but Escobar gets his hands free.
Escobar doesn't have the hooks in and Hatton manages to turn into his guard.

Escobar working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Hatton has passed into half guard!
Hatton is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Hatton can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Escobar is looking to escape.

Despite being in the dominant position, Fatman Hatton just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hatton tries for a takedown but Escobar circles away easily

and Escobar counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hatton won't be happy with that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Hatton is trying to control Escobar's posture but Escobar avoids it.
Escobar tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Escobar is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hatton is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Hatton is trying to get back to half guard.

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.
Hatton manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Escobar is trying to work for a kimura but Hatton is defending well.

Escobar is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hatton doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Escobar counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hatton's guard now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Luis Escobar dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Hatton tries for a takedown but Escobar circles away easily

and Escobar moves into the clinch.
Escobar trying to land knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hatton is trying to maintain a safe position but Escobar gets an underhook and turns Hatton into the ropes.

Escobar is working on a single leg takedown against the ropes. Hatton can't fight it off and eventually Escobar manages to take the fight to the floor. Hatton looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hatton looking to control.

Escobar drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hatton manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Escobar has Hatton in his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar keeping moving, preventing Hatton from controlling successfully.
Hatton controlling from the top position.
Escobar will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Jose Luis Escobar overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Escobar throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hatton wants to pass the guard but Escobar is keeping the position.

Escobar throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Escobar keeping moving, preventing Hatton from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Escobar has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hatton can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hatton stopping the sweep attempt from Escobar.
Hatton wants to control from the top but Escobar keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Escobar is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Escobar fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hatton sprawls well initially but Escobar persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Escobar is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Hatton is trying to control but can't.

Escobar is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Hatton has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Escobar is working away from the top position though.
Hatton gets full guard.
Hatton is trying to keep Escobar in close.
Hatton looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hatton misses with a takedown attempt

and Escobar counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Escobar.
Hatton trying to keep a closed guard but Escobar is proving a slippery customer.
Fatman Hatton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Escobar throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hatton works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hatton is trying to control the position but Escobar postures up.
Hatton keeping full guard, as Escobar tries to pass.

Hatton is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Escobar defends well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jose Luis Escobar showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Escobar has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight for Jose Luis Escobar!
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight for Jose Luis Escobar!
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight for Jose Luis Escobar!

Jose Luis Escobar wins by unanimous decision!