PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Muay Thai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darren Escoba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Darren Escoba is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Thai
vs
Escoba

181 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
180 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Londons Best Nutrition

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Muay Thai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Darren Escoba!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Ackerman and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Escoba just misses with a punch to the body.
Thai tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Escoba throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Escoba misses with an uppercut. Thai saw that one coming.
Thai fails with an attempt to clinch.
Escoba lands with a right hand.
Escoba lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Thai circles away quickly and effectively.
Thai looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Thai fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Escoba swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thai is looking to clinch but Escoba is avoiding it.
Escoba tries to bum rush Thai with a series of wild strikes but Thai uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A combination from Escoba does no damage.
Escoba ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thai moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escoba misses with a wild body shot.
Thai shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Escoba as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Muay Thai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Escoba throws a shot from downtown. Thai moves away and avoids it.
Thai tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Escoba misses with a few strikes there.
Thai staying out of range there.
Darren Escoba is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thai fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Thai shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Escoba sprawls well. Escoba wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Thai gets slowly back to his feet.
Escoba swings for the body but Thai moves out of range.
Escoba avoids the head kick by Thai.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thai looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Escoba will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thai is looking to clinch.
Escoba swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Thai throws a sloppy head kick and Escoba moves out of range easily.
Escoba swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Escoba tries to bum rush Thai with a series of wild strikes but Thai uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thai throws a head kick that misses.
Escoba throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Escoba swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Thai shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Escoba but Escoba pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Thai throws a nice head kick!
Thai looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Escoba swats away the attempt to clinch by Thai.
Escoba misses with a double jab
and Thai counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Thai tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Escoba swivels and escapes.
A punch combination from Escoba misses.
Thai shoots for a takedown but Escoba saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Escoba throws a predictable looking body shot
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Escoba just misses with a punch to the body.
Thai tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Escoba paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Thai moves out of range of the strikes.
Escoba fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Escoba throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thai.
Escoba looks gassed!
Left hook, right uppercut from Escoba.
Escoba throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thai lands a head kick. Escoba smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Escoba is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Thai rather than just go for the knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thai looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Escoba is fending him off so far but Thai persists. Nope, Escoba circles away and we're back to standing.
Thai is trying hard to land a takedown here. Escoba sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Thai tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thai will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Escoba misses with a combination
and Thai counters with a big head kick but Escoba shrugs it off.
Thai fails to land the takedown.
Escoba swinging wilding here.
Thai fails with an attempt to clinch.
Escoba throws a left and a right that both miss
and Thai counters with a thumping low kick.
Thai slips a jab and a cross from Escoba.
Escoba throws a right hand that Thai ducks under and follows up with a left that Thai also avoids with ease.
Escoba misses with a wild combination.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Escoba takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Escoba thuds a left hand into Thai's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thai throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Escoba's waist but Escoba gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Thai off to one side.
Escoba swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thai fails with an attempt to clinch.
Escoba throws a nice looking combination but Thai bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Escoba throws a nice looking combination but Thai bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Escoba swinging wilding here.
Escoba scores with a three punch combo!
No joy there for Escoba, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Thai fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Thai is trying hard to land a takedown here. Escoba sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Thai uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Escoba.
Thai wants to clinch up but Escoba keeps it at a distance.
Escoba tries to bum rush Thai with a series of wild strikes but Thai uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Escoba swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thai doesn't manage to clinch there - Escoba circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Escoba avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thai tries to clinch up.
Escoba lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Escoba.

It looks like Muay Thai has been cut.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thai looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A head kick misses from Thai.
Escoba throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Thai stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Escoba misses with a hook to the body
and Thai counters with a thumping low kick.
Escoba throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Thai counters with a head kick. That will keep Escoba thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Escoba stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Escoba wants it to stay on the feet.
Thai turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Thai pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A jab from Escoba does it's job there.
Escoba throws a right and a left that Thai avoids nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thai fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Escoba ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Escoba lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Thai moves out of range of the strikes.
Muay Thai is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escoba looks to land a combination but Thai avoids it well.
Escoba circles away from the clinch attempt.
A right-left combo lands from Escoba.
Escoba swinging wilding here.
Escoba misses with a few strikes there.
Thai dodges the punch combination from Escoba.
Escoba rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thai moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Escoba throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thai.
Thai fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thai tries to clinch up.
Escoba looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Escoba will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thai connects with a high kick.
Escoba connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Thai momentarily.

That's two 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.
Escoba circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thai throws a series of punches but Escoba moves out of range.
Thai takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Escoba throws a right hand that Thai ducks under and follows up with a left that Thai also avoids with ease.
Thai slips a jab and a cross from Escoba.
Horrible takedown by Thai or perhaps it was just good defense by Escoba which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Muay Thai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thai throws a head kick but Escoba moves out of range.
Thai staying out of range there.
Thai ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Escoba misses with a wild body shot.
Escoba swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Thai counters with a big head kick but Escoba shrugs it off.
Thai throws a quick inside leg kick.
Escoba scores with a shot to the body.
Thai tries to close the distance and clinch up but Escoba swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Escoba throws a combination that misses
and Thai counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Thai tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thai throws a body kick that misses.
Escoba looks to score with a jab to the body but Thai is just out of range.
Escoba throws a one two combo.
Thai throws a nice outside leg kick.
Thai will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Escoba misses with a wild combination.
Thai shoots in for a double leg but Escoba sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Thai slips a jab and a cross from Escoba.
Escoba swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Thai makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Escoba really felt that one!
Thai fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thai lands a head kick!
Escoba tries to bum rush Thai with a series of wild strikes but Thai uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thai wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Escoba scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Jab, jab by Escoba - just one landing.
Escoba swinging wilding here.
Thai moves away from the strike by Escoba.
Thai tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Escoba paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Escoba looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Thai. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Thai tries to clinch up but Escoba circles away and keeps his distance.
Escoba keeps the fight on the outside.
Thai dodges the punch combination from Escoba.
Thai scores with a kick to the body.
Escoba misses with a jab, cross combination.
Thai lands a head kick. Escoba smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Escoba circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darren Escoba showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Muay Thai's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Escoba misses with a double jab
and Thai counters with a head kick. That will keep Escoba thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Thai shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Escoba as he jumps to the side.
Thai wants to clinch up but Escoba keeps it at a distance.
Escoba swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Thai moves in looking to clinch but Escoba pushes him off.
Thai pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thai tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Escoba circles away from the clinch attempt.
Escoba scores with a three punch combo!
Thai tries to clinch there but Escoba circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escoba fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Escoba misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thai.
Escoba lands with a nice combination. Thai backs away looking to recover.
Thai shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Escoba as he avoids it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Escoba throws a right and a left that Thai avoids nicely.
Escoba's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Escoba duly obliges.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thai uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Escoba.
Thai lands a head kick!
Thai tries to clinch but Escoba moves out of range.
Thai avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Escoba misses with a series of wild punches.
Thai tries to close the distance and clinch up but Escoba swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Escoba stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Muay Thai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Escoba throws a series of strikes that have Thai backpedaling.
Thai tries to clinch but Escoba is having none of it.
Escoba misses with a series of wild punches.
Escoba digs a good hook to Thai's body.
Thai tries to close the distance and clinch but Escoba swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Escoba lands a jab to Thai's midsection.

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.
Escoba swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Escoba swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Escoba falls off balance throwing a combination

and Thai counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Escoba's guard now.

Escoba pushes Thai off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Escoba throws a hook but Thai avoids it easily.
Thai misses with a takedown attempt - Escoba sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Escoba wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Escoba scores with a hook.
Thai throws a sloppy head kick and Escoba moves out of range easily.
Thai is looking to score with low kicks.
Thai dodges the punch combination from Escoba.
Escoba avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escoba fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
An inside leg kick lands from Thai.
No joy there for Escoba, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Thai closes this distance looking for a takedown but Escoba circles away.
Escoba misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Escoba lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Thai circles away quickly and effectively.
Thai tries to clinch there but Escoba circles away.
Thai uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Escoba.
Thai lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Horrible takedown by Thai or perhaps it was just good defense by Escoba which made him look bad.
Escoba swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thai fails with an attempt to clinch.
Escoba misses with a body shot
and Thai counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Escoba is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Escoba lands a right hook to the body.
Thai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thai lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Escoba circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A nice combination there by Escoba.
Escoba misses with a wild body shot.
A punch combination from Escoba misses.
A head kick misses from Thai.
A nice leg kick lands there from Thai.
Escoba misses the shot to the body.
Thai staying out of range there.
Escoba misses with a two punch combination.
Escoba swats away the attempt to clinch by Thai.
Escoba stuffs the takedown attempt from Thai. Thai gets slowly back to his feet.
Escoba takes a swing at Thai's ribcage but misses.
Darren Escoba is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Escoba sizes up Thai with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Thai is looking to slow Escoba down with leg kicks.
Muay Thai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Escoba throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darren Escoba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Escoba 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darren Escoba!