PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Muhammad Al Saidi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daryl Escarpe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Escarpe has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Daryl Escarpe is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Al Saidi
vs
Escarpe

178 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
18
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Decent elbows
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

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 St Petersburg, Muhammad Al Saidi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Daryl Escarpe!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Aleksandr Martynov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Al Saidi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Escarpe is trying to drag Al Saidi to the mat but Al Saidi just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Al Saidi pressing his opponent against the cage.

Al Saidi jumps into guard, dragging Escarpe to the mat.
Al Saidi wants to get back to his feet but Escarpe is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Al Saidi looking for a sweep. Not yet Al Saidi, not yet.
Al Saidi is working hard here to advance position.
Al Saidi working a defensive guard here.
Al Saidi striking off his back but it's not causing Escarpe any problems.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Escarpe thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Escarpe looks gassed!
Escarpe pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Al Saidi is keeping the position for now.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Escarpe shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Al Saidi as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Al Saidi shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Al Saidi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Escarpe on the ground.
Escarpe keeping moving, preventing Al Saidi from controlling successfully.
Al Saidi tries to stand but Escarpe is controlling from the bottom.
Al Saidi trying to control the position from guard on top but Escarpe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Saidi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Al Saidi stands up over Escarpe, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Escarpe keeping moving, preventing Al Saidi from controlling successfully.
Al Saidi trying to move into half guard but instead Escarpe has managed to sweep!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Saidi trying to keep a closed guard but Escarpe is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Muhammad Al Saidi.
Escarpe displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Al Saidi.

Al Saidi clinches with his opponent.

Al Saidi breaks from the clinch.
Al Saidi misses with a takedown

and Escarpe counters with a nice double leg into side control. Al Saidi won't be happy with that.
Al Saidi struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Saidi tries to improve position but can't.

Escarpe is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Al Saidi knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Escarpe tries for a kimura but Al Saidi is defending well.

Escarpe working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Al Saidi is looking to regain half guard here but Escarpe keeps moving and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daryl Escarpe dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Escarpe tries to score a body lock takedown but Al Saidi shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Escarpe is trying to drag Al Saidi to the mat but Al Saidi just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Al Saidi turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Al Saidi is staying tight to Escarpe's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Al Saidi throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Escarpe is breathing heavily.

Al Saidi stands up and beckons Escarpe to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Saidi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Escarpe is fending him off so far but Al Saidi persists. Nope, Escarpe circles away and we're back to standing.

Al Saidi gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Al Saidi jumps guard.

Escarpe is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Escarpe stops Al Saidi from standing up.

Escarpe drops back looking for a leg! Al Saidi is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Al Saidi manages to kick Escarpe off! Escarpe jumps back into Al Saidi's guard.

Al Saidi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Escarpe doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Escarpe manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Escarpe slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Escarpe is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Al Saidi defends it well.

Escarpe is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Al Saidi is just riding it out for now. Escarpe eventually gives up the hold.
Al Saidi wants to get back to his feet.

Escarpe is trying for a kimura here. Al Saidi looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Escarpe wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:04 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Daryl Escarpe!