PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between River Tam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alonso Escovedo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tam comes to the cage accompanied by Dangerous. Escovedo comes into a darkened arena with his song building. call to prayer kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Alonso Escovedo is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Tam
vs
Escovedo

198 cm
26
256 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

197 cm
28
265 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
World class boxer
KO power

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Lightning Fight Gear
Lightning Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, River Tam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alonso Escovedo!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Seu Braga and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Escovedo avoids the body shot from Tam.
Escovedo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tam moves away.

Tam takes the fight into the clinch.
Tam scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Alonso Escovedo has been cut.
Tam misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Escovedo.
Tam is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Escovedo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Tam lands a nice uppercut.

Escovedo breaks from the clinch.

Escovedo has closed the distance and engaged Tam in a clinch.

Escovedo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Tam throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Escovedos head.
Escovedo is trying to push Tam away but Tam has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
The referee calls for Escovedo to work.
Tam stalling in the clinch.
Tam keeps control of Escovedo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Tam connects with a knee to the head.
Escovedo will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Tam up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tam stalling in the clinch.
Escovedo stalling the fight.
Tam lands a knee to the head.
Tam leaning against his opponent.
Escovedo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Escovedo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Escovedo has had enough of the clinch but Tam keeps him there for the moment.
Escovedo tries to break the clinch but Tam is controlling the position.
Tam lands with a right to the head.
Escovedo working hard to break the clinch.
Escovedo misses with a hook to the ribs.

Escovedo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tam misses with a body punch
and Escovedo counters with a nice leg kick.
River Tam is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Tam moves into the clinch successfully.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Escovedo is trying to break free.
Tam lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Escovedo tries to break free but Tam pushes him back against the cage.
Tam tries to land knees in the clinch but Escovedo avoids the damage to the body.
Tam content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Tam lands a shot to the body.
Escovedo looks gassed!
A quick uppercut on the inside from Tam.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Tam throws a knee to the head but misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Tam creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Tam using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tam lands a hook to the side of the head.
Escovedo is trying to break the clinch but Tam has him pressed against the cage.
Tam lands with a left to the head.
A bit of stalling here from Tam.
Escovedo is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Tam is keeping busy.
Tam avoiding damage.
Tam tries a knee to the head but Escovedo blocks it.
Nice body punch from Tam - that landed with a thud.
Tam using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Escovedo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Tam lands a right hand.
Tam works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Escovedo managing to block the knees to the body from Tam.
Tam pressing his opponent against the cage.
Escovedo's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Tam.
A short right from Tam on the inside.
Tam scores with a nice hook to the head.
Tam misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Escovedo.
Escovedo can't break the clinch.

Escovedo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Tam has Escovedo up against the cage in a clinch.
Escovedo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Tam takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Tam working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Escovedo taking a breather.
Tam makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Escovedo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Tam moves into the clinch.
Escovedo has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Tam digs a right hand into Escovedo's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Escovedo's gas tank.
Tam dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Tam lands a left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tam just leaning against Escovedo, taking a breather.
A left hand lands to the body for Tam.
A right hook to the body lands for Tam.
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!
Tam using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Tam lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A short right from Tam on the inside.
Tam scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Tam manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Escovedo is trying to break free.
Tam lands a nice uppercut.
Escovedo wants to break free but Tam has control.
Tam taking a breather.
Escovedo slows down the pace here.
Tam landing some nice looking knees to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tam works on Escovedo's body with a couple of short punches.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Tam with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

River Tam dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alonso Escovedo's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Escovedo gets tackled into the cage by Tam. Tam maintains the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Tam scores with a nice short uppercut.

Escovedo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Tam clinches up with Escovedo and pushes him back against the cage.
Escovedo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Tam misses with a punch on the inside.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Tam takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Escovedo as Tam tries to tie him up.
Escovedo is trying to push Tam away but Tam has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Escovedo is looking to break free of the clinch but Tam has double underhooks.
Escovedo is trying to push Tam away but Tam has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A short right from Tam.
Tam keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Escovedo's efforts to push away.
Tam with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Tam softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Escovedo is breathing heavily.
Tam lands a body punch in the clinch.
Tam stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tam lands with a light punch inside.
Tam displaying some good clinch control by pressing Escovedo up against the cage.
Tam looking to throw knees to the head but Escovedo is blocking nicely.
Tam prevents Escovedo from breaking the clinch.
Tam lands with a right to the head.
Tam fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tam throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tam with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Tam with a knee to the head.

Escovedo manages to break the clinch.
Escovedo cracks a nice hook into Tam's ribs.
River Tam is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Escovedo doesn't manage to clinch there - Tam circles away.

Tam has managed to clinch.
Escovedo is trying to break free.
Tam throws a head punch that misses.
Escovedo tries to break the clinch but Tam is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Escovedo's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Tam lands a shoulder strike.
Escovedo wants to break the clinch but can't.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Escovedo as Tam tries to tie him up.
Escovedo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tam lands with a right to the head.
Tam lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Escovedo wants to get back to striking at distance but Tam won't allow it.
River Tam has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Tam pressing his opponent against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Tam fails to land.
Escovedo working hard to break the clinch.
Tam looking to throw knees to the head but Escovedo is blocking nicely.
Escovedo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Escovedo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Tam has taken the fight to the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Tam fails to land.
Escovedo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Tam throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Escovedo blocks it with crossed arms.
Tam misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tam stalling.
Escovedo tries to circle away but Tam has him pinned against the cage.
Escovedo has had enough of the clinch but Tam keeps him there for the moment.
Tam looking to throw knees to the head but Escovedo is blocking nicely.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Escovedo is trying to break the clinch but Tam is controlling him.
Tam misses with a knee to the head.
Tam tries to stall but Escovedo uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Escovedo is trying to break the clinch but Tam has him pressed against the cage.

Escovedo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tam misses with an uppercut.
Escovedo throws a front kick that sends Tam stumbling back into the cage.

Tam closes the distance and clinches.
Tam looking to throw knees to the head but Escovedo is blocking nicely.
A head punch on the inside from Tam fails to land.

Escovedo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Escovedo feints and then cracks Tam's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Tam down.
Escovedo throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Escovedo moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escovedo is trying to push Tam away but Tam has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Tam trying to land knees to the body.
Tam tries a body shot but Escovedo blocks it.
Escovedo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Escovedo blocking some punches.

Escovedo manages to break the clinch.
Escovedo walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Tam checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Escovedo shoots in for a double leg but Tam sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Tam moves into the clinch successfully.

Escovedo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
River Tam seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Horrible takedown by Escovedo or perhaps it was just good defense by Tam which made him look bad.

Tam darts in and clinches Escovedo up against the cage.
Escovedo tries to break free but Tam pushes him back against the cage.
Tam lands a shoulder strike.
Tam stalling.
Tam pushes Escovedo back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tam stalling in the clinch but Escovedo improves position.
Tam is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

River Tam dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Alonso Escovedo's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Escovedo drives through and clinches with Tam against the cage.

Escovedo breaks from the clinch.

Oooooh!!! Tam has knocked Escovedo down with a huge combo! Tam steps away and waves a wobbly Escovedo back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Tam pushes Escovedo up against the cage in a clinch.
Tam works on Escovedo's body with a couple of short punches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tam wants to stall.
Come on Tam - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Tam misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tam misses with a hook from the clinch.
Tam's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Tam is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Escovedo can do to turn this around?
A short right hand to the side of the head by Tam.
Escovedo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Tam lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Escovedo looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Tam lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Escovedo is trying to push Tam away but Tam has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Escovedo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Tam clinches up against the cage.
Escovedo's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A head punch on the inside from Tam fails to land.
Escovedo wants to break the clinch but can't.
Tam works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Tam is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Tam displaying some good clinch control by pressing Escovedo up against the cage.
Tam tries to land a knee to the head but Escovedo blocks with his arms.
Tam trying to control the position but instead, Escovedo has worked for underhooks and has pushed Tam into the cage.
Escovedo tries a body shot but Tam blocks it.
Escovedo working hard to break the clinch.

Escovedo breaks from the clinch.

Tam rushes Escovedo and presses him up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tam misses with a punch to the body.
Tam pressing his opponent against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Escovedo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Alonso Escovedo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Escovedo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Tam scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Tam connects with a nasty looking knee right to Escovedo's face.
Tam landing knees to the body.
Tam stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
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!
Tam works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Knees in the clinch landing for Tam.
Tam scores with a hook to the body.
Escovedo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Escovedo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Escovedo as Tam tries to tie him up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escovedo working hard to break the clinch.
Tam is trying to maintain a safe position but Escovedo gets an underhook and turns Tam into the cage.
Tam lands a body punch.
Tam lands a left hand that snaps the head of Escovedo backwards.
A left hand lands to the body for Tam.
Tam lands a shoulder strike.
Tam lands an uppercut.
Tam working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A shot in the inside from Tam.
Tam landing knees to the head.
Tam working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Tam throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tam slowing the pace effectively.
Tam trying to control the position but instead, Escovedo has worked for underhooks and has pushed Tam into the cage.
Escovedo has had enough of the clinch but Tam keeps him there for the moment.
Escovedo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Escovedo avoiding damage as Tam throws knees to the body.
Escovedo is trying to push Tam away but Tam has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escovedo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Escovedo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Tam creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Tam has Escovedo pressed against the cage, preventing Escovedo from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Nice body punch from Tam.
Tam slowing the pace effectively.
Tam lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Escovedo or not.
A shot in the inside from Tam.
Tam lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Tam tries to land a knee to the head but Escovedo blocks with his arms.
Tam digs a right hand into Escovedo's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Escovedo's gas tank.
Tam lands a knee to the body.
Tam gets through Escovedo's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Still in the clinch, Tam scores with a nice short uppercut.
River Tam is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tam scores with a shoulder strike.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Tam.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tam tries to land a knee to the head but Escovedo blocks with his arms.
Tam working Escovedo over with knees to the body.
Tam lands a left hand that snaps the head of Escovedo backwards.
Tam is pushing Escovedo up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

And that's the end of the fight!
River Tam showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tam 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:26
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:26
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... River Tam!