PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Todd Gunther (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pablo Escobar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gunther kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Common - Make My Day. Escobar is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Dr. Kitch. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gunther
vs
Escobar

179 cm
25
162 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

175 cm
22
163 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Todd Gunther!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pablo Escobar!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Cecil Peabody and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice body kick there by Escobar.
Gunther connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Gunther tries to clinch up but Escobar circles away and keeps his distance.
Gunther throws a sloppy head kick and Escobar moves out of range easily.
Gunther throws a head kick but Escobar moves out of range.
Escobar feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Gunther's calf.

Gunther tries to keep at a distance but Escobar has taken the fight into the clinch.
Gunther with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Escobar fails to land.
Escobar tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Escobar dodges an elbow strike from Gunther.
Gunther missing with knees to the body.
Gunther lands a knee to the head.
Gunther lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Gunther connects with a nasty looking knee right to Escobar's face.
Escobar lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gunther backwards.
The referee calls for Gunther to work.
Gunther tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Escobar avoids it.
Gunther missing with knees to the body.
Gunther misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Escobar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar avoiding damage as Gunther throws knees to the body.
Escobar tries to break the clinch but Gunther is controlling the position.
Gunther tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Escobar avoids it.
Escobar is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Gunther being controlled against the cage.
Escobar is trying to break the clinch but Gunther has him pressed against the cage.
Gunther lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Gunther throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gunther misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Escobar.
Gunther misses with a knee to the head.
Escobar will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Gunther up against the cage.
Escobar wants to break free but Gunther has control.
Gunther prevents Escobar from breaking the clinch.
Gunther landing knees to the head.
Escobar fails to pull guard.
Escobar prevents a body shot from Gunther.
Gunther missing with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gunther tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Escobar content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Gunther misses with an elbow strike.
Gunther pushes Escobar back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Gunther stops a takedown attempt from Escobar.
Todd Gunther has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pablo Escobar.
Gunther lands an elbow inside.
A knee to the head by Gunther.
Escobar avoiding damage as Gunther throws knees to the body.
Escobar blocks an uppercut.
Gunther working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Escobar is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gunther is keeping busy.
Gunther lands a knee to the head.
Gunther is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Escobar is keeping busy.
Gunther keeps control of Escobar as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Escobar is looking to control Gunther's arms but Gunther gets an underhook and turns him. Now Escobar has his back to the cage.
Escobar avoids the elbow strike from Gunther, against the cage.
Escobar managing to block the knees to the body from Gunther.

Escobar pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gunther digs a good hook to Escobar's body.
Gunther looks for the body kick but Escobar saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Todd Gunther is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Escobar looks gassed!
Escobar shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gunther defends it nicely.
A combination from Gunther does no damage.

Escobar closes the distance and pushes Gunther back into the cage.
Gunther lands a left hand.
Gunther lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Gunther scores a nice knee to the body.
Gunther tries to land a knee to the head but Escobar blocks with his arms.
Escobar wants to break free but Gunther has control.
Gunther crunches a lovely knee into Escobar's ribcage.
Gunther will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Escobar up against the cage.
Gunther using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gunther with an attempt at a knee that misses.
The referee calls for Escobar to work.
Gunther stalling.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Gunther pressing his opponent against the cage.
Gunther lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Gunther connects with a nasty looking knee right to Escobar's face.

Escobar pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Escobar.
A slapping leg kick lands for Gunther.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gunther tries to close the distance and clinch but Escobar swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gunther doesn't manage to clinch there - Escobar circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Todd Gunther dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gunther rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Escobar moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Gunther gets a clinch.
Gunther lands a body punch in the clinch.
Escobar is trying to break the clinch but Gunther has him pressed against the cage.
Escobar lands with a right to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Gunther.
Escobar looking to stall.
Escobar managing to block the knees to the body from Gunther.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Gunther unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Gunther creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Escobar's defenses.
Gunther with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Escobar looking to throw knees to the head but Gunther is blocking nicely.
Gunther tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gunther misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Escobar.
A head punch on the inside from Escobar fails to land.
Escobar blocks an elbow strike.
Knees in the clinch landing for Gunther.
Gunther lands a knee to the head.
Gunther prevents a takedown attempt there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gunther misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Escobar.
Escobar has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Gunther tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gunther is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Escobar is defending well for now.
Gunther presses Escobar against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A knee to the head by Gunther.
Escobar dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Nice body punch from Gunther - that landed with a thud.

Escobar breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Escobar misses with a jab to the body
and Gunther counters with a head kick.
Gunther throws a low kick, looking for Escobar's leg but Escobar calmly moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Gunther.
Escobar lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gunther circles away quickly and effectively.
Escobar fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gunther tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Escobar paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gunther tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Escobar counters with a takedown into side control.
Gunther gets back to half guard.
Gunther is trying to control but can't.
Gunther is holding on to half guard well.

Gunther pushes Escobar off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gunther counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A slapping body kick lands there for Gunther.
A head kick by Gunther misses

and Escobar holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Gunther misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Escobar.
Escobar effectively controlling the action here.
Gunther working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Gunther trying to control the position but instead, Escobar has worked for underhooks and has pushed Gunther into the cage.
Gunther lands a knee to the head.

Escobar gets control of Gunther's arms and successfully pulls guard. Escobar will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Gunther is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Gunther advances to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar trying to control here.
Escobar moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Gunther trying to control but Escobar is working from the bottom.
Gunther is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Escobar is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gunther's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Escobar is looking for a triangle but Gunther pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Todd Gunther dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Escobar lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
A head kick by Gunther misses
and Escobar counters with a nice leg kick.
Escobar scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Escobar shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Gunther napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Escobar cracks Gunther with a big right hand but Gunther just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Gunther struggling a bit here.
Gunther wants to get back to his feet but Escobar drags him back down.
Escobar is looking to take a break and control but Gunther is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
An elbow from Escobar crashes against the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gunther has one of Escobar's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Escobar wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gunther keeps working.
The strikes coming from Escobar are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Escobar is looking to take a break and control but Gunther is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gunther tries to clinch there but Escobar circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gunther looks to land a body kick but Escobar moved away.
Escobar ducks right into an uppercut from Gunther.
Gunther lands with a thumping leg kick.
Gunther lands a head kick!
A head kick misses from Escobar.
Gunther misses with a body punch
and Escobar counters with a nice low kick that buckles Gunther's knee momentarily.
Todd Gunther is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Escobar shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gunther as he avoids it easily.
Escobar avoids the head kick by Gunther.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Gunther. That snapped Escobar's head back.

Escobar gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Escobar is trying to break the clinch but Gunther is controlling him.
Gunther lands an uppercut.
Gunther with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Escobar takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Escobar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gunther tries to clinch up but Escobar circles away and keeps his distance.
A low kick from Escobar is predictable there
and Gunther counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Escobar is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Gunther falls off balance throwing a combination

and Escobar counters with a single leg into guard. Gunther didn't expect that.
Gunther has Escobar pulled in close to control his posture.
Todd Gunther is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gunther keeping full guard, as Escobar tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gunther is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Escobar postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Escobar throwing strikes from guard but Gunther blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gunther wants to get back to his feet but Escobar is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Pablo Escobar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gunther wants to sweep but no luck.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Todd Gunther.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gunther, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Todd Gunther!