PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dan Escarino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shane Ross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Escarino's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, RATM-- Guerrilla Radio. Ross is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Johnny Cash - Ring of Fire. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Escarino
vs
Ross

181 cm
25
173 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
182 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Blitzkrieg Formula 5000
Blitzkrieg Formula 5000

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dan Escarino!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Shane Ross!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Eddie Farnsworth and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Escarino throws and low kick but Ross moves out of range easily.
Escarino scores with a jab to the jaw.

It looks like Shane Ross has been cut.
Escarino blocks a head kick by Ross.
Escarino tries to bum rush Ross with a series of wild strikes but Ross uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ross takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Escarino misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Escarino missing with a left hand there. Ross was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Escarino throws a shot from downtown. Ross moves away and avoids it.
Escarino fails to land with a series of punches.
Escarino fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ross manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escarino uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ross.
A chopping leg kick lands by Escarino.
Ross throws a leg kick that misses.
Ross slips a jab and a cross from Escarino.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ross shoots in and bounces Escarino off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Escarino looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ross trying to control the position from guard on top but Escarino is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ross might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Escarino kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Escarino throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ross working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escarino is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A low kick from Escarino is predictable there
and Ross counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Escarino thinking.
Escarino scores with a jab to the jaw.
Ross displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Escarino throws out the jab.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ross is defended easily by Escarino.
Ross throws a combination that misses
and Escarino counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Ross has a takedown stuffed.

Ross shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Escarino napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Ross working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Escarino is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The strikes coming from Ross are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Escarino on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Escarino tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escarino wants to get back to his feet.
Escarino is looking for a sweep.
Escarino dodges the ground and pound from Ross.

Ross working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

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

and Ross counters with a nice double leg into side control. Escarino won't be happy with that.
Escarino tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ross wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Escarino defending against the ground and pound.
Ross working away.
Ross working the head and body with strikes.
Escarino tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ross is trying to get an arm triangle but Escarino is defending well.
Ross looks gassed!
Escarino is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Ross has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Ross moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Escarino is trying to buck Ross off.
Ross has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
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Escarino struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Ross dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Shane Ross's cut.
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.

Escarino swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

so Ross counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Ross landing some decent shots from guard.
Ross won't allow Escarino to get back to his feet.
Escarino looking for a sweep. Not yet Escarino, not yet.
Escarino knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ross on the ground.
Ross throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ross with a flurry of punches that miss.
Escarino looking for a sweep. Not yet Escarino, not yet.
Escarino is trying to control the position but Ross postures up.
Escarino utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Escarino misses with a looping right.
Escarino throws a lazy right hand but Ross sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Escarino throws a combination that misses
and Ross counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Escarino pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ross looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ross blocks a head kick by Escarino.
Escarino looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Dan Escarino is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Escarino throws a low kick but it's checked well by Ross.
Escarino misses with a combination
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Ross tries for a takedown but Escarino sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Escarino thumps Ross with a low kick.
Ross lands a nice looking body shot.
Escarino tries to work over Ross's front leg with a kick but Ross checks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ross shoots for a double leg takedown but Escarino sprawls well. He's pushed Ross's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Escarino, right into the meat.
Ross is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Escarino misses with a two punch combination.
A thudding body kick lands there by Ross!
Escarino pivots, looking for a leg kick but Ross is out of range and Escarino settles back down.
Escarino misses with a shot to the body

so Ross counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ross wants to control from the top but Escarino keeps moving.
Ross in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ross postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escarino is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Escarino not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ross postures up and lands a big shot to Escarino's brow.
Escarino working a defensive guard but Ross passes into half guard.
Escarino tries to get to full guard but Ross has control of the leg.
The fighters are battling for position here. Escarino manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Ross is standing up over Escarino. Escarino looks to escape but Ross dives into side control.
Ross wants to control but Escarino is keeping him busy.
Escarino can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ross connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Escarino some visible discomfort.
Ross landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Ross lands some shots froms side control.
Escarino is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Ross sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Escarino is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Ross in the domination position with Escarino hanging on.
Ross working away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ross in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Escarino is trying to get back to his feet.
Escarino is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Ross showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Shane Ross's cut.
That's time! Escarino's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A lazy body kick from Escarino

and Ross counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Escarino trying to control here.
Ross stops Escarino from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Escarino is looking for a sweep. Ross is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Escarino is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Ross scores with a couple of nice shots.
Escarino wants to control but Ross is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Escarino is looking to improve his position.
Escarino is trying to stand back up but Ross is controlling him
Escarino keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Shane Ross has got the better of the ground game so far.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ross tries to move into range but Escarino moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Escarino scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Ross with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ross drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Escarino working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ross.
Escarino controlling the position.
Escarino avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ross trying to control the position from guard on top but Escarino is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Escarino trying to control the position.
Escarino is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Ross is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Escarino controlling Ross's posture.
Ross trying to control the position from guard on top but Escarino is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ross connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ross looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
No joy there for Escarino, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Escarino throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Ross cracks Escarino with an open hand slap.
Escarino pivots, looking for a leg kick but Ross is out of range and Escarino settles back down.

Ross shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ross sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Escarino's guard.
Ross trying to control the action but Escarino is working from the bottom.
Ross passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Escarino!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escarino is working to get back to half guard.
Ross with the ground and pound from mount.
Escarino can't escape the position.
Ross lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Ross prevents Escarino from getting the reversal.
Ross unloads with some shots from mount but Escarino bucks and avoids them well.
Escarino is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Escarino tries to reverse the position but Ross maintains control.
A nice elbow there by Ross.
Escarino wants to control but Ross is having none of it.
Ross looking to finish Escarino with some ground and pound. This is bad for Escarino!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ross lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Escarino is looking to improve his position but Ross isn't that keen on the idea.
Escarino's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Ross landing punches.
The referee warns Escarino that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Ross raining down shots from the mount!
Escarino is working to get back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ross lands a heavy elbow.
Escarino working to try and regain half guard.
Ross working away from the top, dropping strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Ross really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Shane Ross's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Escarino misses with a low kick.
Ross moves out of range as Escarino strikes.
Ross fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A lazy body kick from Escarino
and Ross counters with a low kick, right behind Escarino 's knee.
Escarino misses with a looping right.
Escarino scores with a one two! Ross had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Escarino misses with a head kick.
Dan Escarino is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ross throws a chopping leg kick but Escarino manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Escarino thows a body shot but no joy.
Ross misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Escarino misses with a leg kick

and Ross counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ross loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ross wants to control from the top but Escarino keeps moving.
Escarino is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Ross postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Ross drops back looking for a leg! Escarino is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Escarino manages to kick Ross off! Ross jumps back into Escarino's guard.
Escarino looking to control.
Escarino is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Escarino is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ross is controlling him.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ross scores with a sloppy right hand. Escarino should have avoided that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
A punch combination from Escarino misses.
Escarino throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ross shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Escarino defends it nicely.
Escarino scores with a jab to the body.
Ross showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Escarino.
Escarino misses with a looping left.
Ross is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Escarino rather than just go for the knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ross checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

Ross gets a takedown into half guard.
Escarino pushes Ross off looking to stand but Ross dives back in and keeps control.
Ross not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ross missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Escarino taking some punishment here, with Ross in his half guard.
Ross is trying to control. Escarino wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Escarino wants to control but Ross is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Escarino tries to get to full guard but Ross has control of the leg.
Escarino trying to control from the bottom.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Escarino is predictable there
and Ross counters with a nice low kick that buckles Escarino's knee momentarily.
Escarino swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Ross counters by clinching up.
Escarino tries to break the clinch but Ross is controlling the position.

Ross pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ross throws a quick inside leg kick.
Escarino waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ross.
Ross slips under a jab from Escarino.
Ross throws a low kick, looking for Escarino's leg but Escarino calmly moves out of range.
Escarino with a jab.
A jab from Escarino misses.
Escarino misses with a leg kick
and Ross counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Ross dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Shane Ross's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Escarino swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Escarino checks a leg kick nicely.
Escarino scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Ross is rocked!
Escarino throws a combination that misses

and Ross counters with a nice double leg into side control. Escarino won't be happy with that.
Ross is still in real trouble! Can Escarino finish him?
Escarino is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Ross is controlling him well.
Ross seems to have recovered his senses.
Ross creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Ross lands a few punches from side control.
Escarino is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Escarino wants to get back to his feet but Ross drags him back down.
Escarino takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Ross scoring with punches from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escarino struggling a bit here.
Ross trying to control the action but Escarino is working from the bottom.
Escarino is looking to reverse the position.
Escarino is working hard here to advance position.
Escarino defending against the ground and pound.

Ross working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Escarino is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Dan Escarino has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Escarino takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Ross stuns Escarino with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Ross bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ross takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Escarino fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ross.
Escarino lands a high kick!
Ross avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A shot to the body from Escarino misses
and Ross counters with a nice uppercut.
Escarino lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Escarino.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escarino thows a leg kick but Ross checks it

and Ross counters with a nice double leg into side control. Escarino won't be happy with that.
Ross is working Escarino over with some ground and pound from side control.
Ross working the head with strikes.
Ross in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Ross wants to control but Escarino is keeping him busy.
Escarino struggling a bit here.
Ross lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Escarino down.
Escarino is looking to regain half guard here but Ross keeps moving and retains side control.
Escarino wants to get back to his feet.
Shane Ross is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escarino tries to bench press Ross off him but Ross keeps the position.
Ross happy to just control the position for now.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Escarino throws a sloppy head kick
and Ross counters with a low kick, right behind Escarino 's knee.
Ross defending well as Escarino loads up on a big left hand.
A clash of legs there as Ross blocks the low kick.
A swing and a miss from Escarino.
Ross shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Escarino throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Escarino misses with an uppercut.
Escarino throws a sloppy head kick

and Ross counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Escarino's guard now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shane Ross comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ross 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 45:50
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 45:50
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shane Ross!
Shane Ross is the new welterweight champion!