PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vicente Escalante (ranked 39 p4p, 501 weight class) and Seppo Maki (ranked 6 p4p, 53 weight class). Seppo Maki has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Escalante
vs
Maki

183 cm
36
192
40 - 6 - 0

182 cm
27
186
13 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 40 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vicente Escalante!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Seppo Maki!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Aafke Stam and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Escalante's jab looks to have found its range, popping Maki under the eye.
Escalante turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Escalante turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Escalante jabs Maki to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Maki steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Escalante.

Escalante drives through and clinches with Maki against the cage.
Maki takes a shot to the head.
Maki presses Escalante against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Maki misses with a body punch.
Escalante lands a hook that snaps the head of Maki backwards.
Maki blocks an uppercut.
Escalante fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Escalante has a couple of punches blocked by Maki.
Escalante has Maki pressed against the cage.
Maki takes an elbow to the temple.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maki doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escalante misses with a hook to the ribs.
Escalante lands a body shot.
Escalante blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Maki blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Escalante lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A short right from Maki.
Escalante throws a head punch that misses.
Maki swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Maki blocking some punches.
Escalante fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Escalante misses with an elbow over the top.
A right handed body shot lands from Maki.
Escalante fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Maki misses with a short punch on the inside.
Escalante softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Maki lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Maki working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Maki.
A nice left hand lands by Maki.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escalante tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Escalante struggles to land a body shot inside as Maki controls his hands.
Maki leaning against his opponent.

Maki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Escalante lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Escalante throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Maki let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Maki blocks a leg kick.
Escalante thows a leg kick but Maki checks it
enabling Maki to counter with a crisp jab.
Escalante jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Maki drops his hands momentarily and Escalante takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Escalante turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Escalante.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maki moves out of range of the strikes.
Escalante backing away here, and Maki unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Maki checks a low kick from Escalante.
Maki looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Escalante fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A big left from Escalante misses.
Maki thinks about the counter body kick.
Vicente Escalante seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Escalante plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Escalante throws a good cross that connects.
Escalante waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Maki.
Maki only half commits to the counter leg kick.

Escalante fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Maki, pushing him back against the cage.
Escalante lands with a light punch inside.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Maki lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Escalante backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escalante lands a hook to the side of the head.
Escalante lands an elbow that stopped Maki in his tracks for a moment.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Escalante lands a body shot.
A short left from Maki.
Escalante misses with a body punch.
Maki misses with a short punch on the inside.
Escalante lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Maki backwards.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Maki.
A short right from Maki on the inside.
Escalante misses with some punches.
A short right from Escalante.
Maki swings wildly with an uppercut but Escalante uses good head movement to avoid it.
Maki misses with a body punch.
Escalante blocking some punches.
Maki pushes Escalante back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Escalante.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maki misses with a punch to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Vicente Escalante dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Escalante swings widly with a right hand
and Maki counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Escalante takes a swing at Maki's ribcage but misses.
Escalante is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Maki can do to turn this around?
Escalante misses with a leg kick
and Maki counters with a stiff right hand.
Escalante throws a head kick but Maki moves out of range.
Maki raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Escalante lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Escalante plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Escalante misses with a low kick.
Escalante backing away here, and Maki unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maki sizes up Escalante with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
A nice leg kick from Escalante, right into the meat of the thigh.
Escalante ducks under a wild hook from Maki.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escalante throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Escalante lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Escalante has closed the distance and engaged Maki in a clinch.
Escalante makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Escalante scores with a hook to the body.
Escalante fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Maki wants to break free but Escalante has control.
Maki swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Maki blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Maki.
Maki throws a punch but it's blocked by Escalante.
Escalante blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Escalante tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Maki struggles to land a body shot inside as Escalante controls his hands.
Maki looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Maki swings wildly with an uppercut but Escalante uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maki is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Maki prevents a body shot from Escalante.
A head punch on the inside from Maki fails to land.
Escalante tries to throw a body punch but Maki avoids it by throwing Escalante back against the cage.
Maki makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Escalante working aggressively here.
Maki is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Maki lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Escalante backwards.
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 prevents a body shot from Maki.
Vicente Escalante has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Maki blocking some punches.
Escalante swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Escalante pushes Maki back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Escalante throws a head punch that misses.
Escalante blocks an uppercut.
Maki softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Escalante misses with the head strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escalante struggles to land a body shot inside as Maki controls his hands.
Maki misses with a punch on the inside.

Maki's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Maki gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Escalante moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Escalante fails in his attempt to clinch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Maki! But no joy.
Escalante lands with a cross.
Escalante throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Maki on the side of the head.
Maki blocks a head kick by Escalante.
Maki swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Maki takes one on the button.
Escalante jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Maki flicks out a counter leg kick but Escalante steps away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escalante throws a hook to the side of Maki's head but Maki sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Maki swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Escalante connects with a crisp jab.
Maki takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Escalante clinches up with Maki and pushes him back against the cage.
Maki takes an elbow to the temple.
Maki blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Maki fails to land.
Escalante stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Escalante lands an elbow just above Maki 's eye.
Escalante lands a right hand that snaps the head of Maki backwards.
Escalante misses with a short punch on the inside.
Maki throws a head punch that misses.
Maki tries to work over Escalante's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Vicente Escalante dominated that second round.
That's time! Escalante's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Maki goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Escalante misses with a hook to the ribs.
Maki lands a shot to the body.
Escalante misses with a punch to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Maki.
Escalante has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Escalante working aggressively here.
Maki lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Maki breaks from the clinch.
Escalante misses with a looping left.
Maki swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Escalante's Muay Thai looks sharper than normal. He has obviously been working on it in the gym.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maki checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Escalante lands a nice shot that snaps Maki's head back.
Escalante scores with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maki checks a low kick from Escalante.
Escalante tries to clinch but Maki moves out of range.
The crowd cheers as Escalante lands an impressive looking overhand right. Maki doesn't seem phased though.
Escalante misses with a low kick.
Maki shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Maki tries to keep at a distance but Escalante has taken the fight into the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Maki.
Escalante tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Escalante creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Escalante swings wildly with an uppercut but Maki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Maki tries a body shot but Escalante blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escalante lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Escalante working aggressively here.
Nice elbow from Escalante.
Escalante goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Escalante.
Maki misses with some punches.
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 lands a body punch in the clinch.
Maki working aggressively here.
Maki misses with a hook from the clinch.
Escalante misses with an elbow strike.
Maki tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Escalante's elbow.
Escalante tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Maki tries to throw a body punch but Escalante avoids it by throwing Maki back against the cage.
A short uppercut from Maki.
Maki misses with a short punch on the inside.
Maki blocking some punches.
Escalante lands with a short shot to the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Escalante throws an elbow but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escalante dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Escalante throws a punch but it's blocked by Maki.
Maki working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Escalante taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Escalante tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Escalante.

Maki breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Escalante lands a jab.
Escalante misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Maki looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Maki checks the leg kick nicely there.
Maki tries a quick counter leg kick but Escalante is wise to it.
Escalante swings and misses with a hook to the body.
It seemed like Maki was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Escalante throws a looping overhand right but Maki ducks down to avoid it.
Maki only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Maki takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escalante throws a wild body kick that Maki sees coming a mile off.
A little jabbing left from Maki on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Maki takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
An inside leg kick from Escalante misses.
Maki feints a counter leg kick.
Escalante tries to clinch there but Maki circles away.
Maki appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Escalante looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Maki throws out a counter right but Escalante avoids it with no problem.
Escalante throws a wild body kick that Maki sees coming a mile off.
Escalante with the inside leg kick.
Escalante throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Vicente Escalante clearly takes that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Escalante with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Escalante lands with an overhand left.
Escalante cracks Maki with a right hand to the side of the head.
Escalante lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Escalante pulls out of a head kick attempt.
As Escalante backs off Maki throws a huge counter combo but Escalante manages to avoid it all.
Escalante throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Maki tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escalante looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A little jabbing left from Maki on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Escalante lands with a hook. Maki tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Escalante thuds his right hand into Maki's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maki scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Escalante swings for the body but Maki moves out of range.
Escalante cracks Maki with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Escalante misses with a looping right.
Maki appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Escalante thuds his shin into the meat of Maki's side.
The crowd cheers as Escalante lands an impressive looking overhand right. Maki doesn't seem phased though.
Escalante lands a jab.
Escalante looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Maki flicks out a counter leg kick but Escalante steps away.
Escalante misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maki takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
It seemed like Maki was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Escalante moves into range and connects with a jab.
Escalante looks to land a left hand but Maki moved out of range nicely.
Maki only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Escalante throws a lazy uppercut
and Maki counters with an outside leg kick.
Escalante misses with a leg kick
and Maki counters with a thumping low kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Escalante moves forwards but Maki connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Maki slips a jab from Escalante.
Escalante swings widly with a right hand
and Maki counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Maki's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Escalante missing with a left hand there. Maki was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Maki appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escalante looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Maki slips a jab from Escalante.
Escalante fails with an attempt to clinch.
Escalante pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Escalante misses with a looping left.
A little jabbing left from Maki on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Escalante jabs Maki right on the nose. Maki blinks but takes it well.
Maki has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Escalante is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Maki checks a low kick from Escalante.
Maki looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escalante tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Maki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Maki is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Escalante moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Escalante gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Maki can't find room to land a body shot as Escalante controls the action.
Maki lands with a light punch inside.
Escalante pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Maki scores with a nice short uppercut.
Maki blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Escalante prevents a body shot from Maki.
Escalante working aggressively here.
Escalante blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Escalante fails to land.
Maki lands an uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Escalante has a couple of punches blocked by Maki.
Maki prevents a body shot from Escalante.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Vicente Escalante had his way with Seppo Maki in that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Escalante tries to clinch up
and Maki counters with a straight right hand.
A big left from Escalante misses.
It seemed like Maki was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Escalante turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Escalante is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escalante misses with a kick to the body
enabling Maki to counter with a crisp jab.
Escalante tries to land a front kick but Maki steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Maki tries a quick counter leg kick but Escalante is wise to it.
Escalante swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Maki flicks out a counter leg kick but Escalante steps away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Escalante. That's going to slow Maki down.
Escalante closes the distance looking to clinch
and Maki counters with a thumping low kick.
Maki avoids the head kick by Escalante.
Maki appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Escalante is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Escalante throws a body shot but no joy.
Escalante throws a solid leg kick but Maki takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Escalante.
Escalante throws a hook but Maki avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escalante swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Escalante tries to clinch but Maki moves out of range.
It seemed like Maki was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A jab lands there for Escalante.
Maki connects with a single shot there.
Maki has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Escalante finds it's way round the side to connect with Maki's head.
Maki takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Escalante connects with a nice looking jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Escalante throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Escalante misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
It seemed like Maki was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escalante wants to clinch
letting Maki counter with a right hand.
Escalante fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Escalante pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Vicente Escalante is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Escalante turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Escalante clinches up against the cage.
Maki avoids the elbow strike from Escalante, against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Escalante throws an elbow but misses.
Maki lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Escalante misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Maki is leaning against Escalante and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escalante fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Maki tries a body shot but Escalante blocks it.
Escalante is trying to maintain a safe position but Maki gets an underhook and turns Escalante into the cage.
Escalante swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Maki fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Maki struggles to land a body shot inside as Escalante controls his hands.
A right hand to the body from Maki.
Escalante misses with a punch to the body.
Maki blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Escalante misses with a hook from the clinch.

Maki escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Escalante scores with a punch to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Escalante is looking to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vicente Escalante showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Escalante 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 50:45
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 50:45
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vicente Escalante!
Vicente Escalante retains his middleweight title!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Vicente Escalante made sure he mentioned Brooklyn Apothecary, along with how happy he was to win his fight.