PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Juan Escobar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gregori Vladivostok (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Escobar comes into the arena with Brujeria by La Coka Nostra blaring out of the sound system. Vladivostok comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Goodbye Sober Day - Mr Bungle kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Escobar
vs
Vladivostok

175 cm
29
156 lbs
15 - 10 - 1

168 cm
25
153 lbs
14 - 9 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

White Gorilla Nutrition
5th Round Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Juan Escobar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Gregori Vladivostok!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Steve Smith and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vladivostok with a jab.
Vladivostok connects with a good right hand that stumbles Escobar. Escobar circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Vladivostok misses with a leg kick

and Escobar counters with a shoot takedown. Vladivostok fights it but they end up in guard.
Vladivostok keeping full guard, as Escobar tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vladivostok wants to stand but Escobar is controlling the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Vladivostok can do anything to dispel that myth.
Vladivostok is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Escobar tries to free his leg and advance position but Vladivostok is retaining full guard.
Vladivostok working a defensive guard but Escobar passes into half guard.
Vladivostok won't allow Escobar to pass to mount.
Vladivostok is trying to stand up here but Escobar is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Escobar keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Escobar's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Escobar trying to control from half guard but Vladivostok is working away.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Vladivostok is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Escobar missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Escobar is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Vladivostok as he works his way to full guard.

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.
Escobar passes Vladivostok's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Escobar wants to free his trapped foot but Vladivostok is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Escobar is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Vladivostok!
Vladivostok is desperately trying to improve his position but Escobar has a good base and remains in mount.
Vladivostok holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Escobar tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Escobar is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Vladivostok has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Vladivostok!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Vladivostok accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Vladivostok must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Vladivostok gets to his feet. Escobar looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Vladivostok swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Vladivostok connects with a body shot that sends Escobar's belly button to the back.
Vladivostok throws the left hand but Escobar avoids the punch easily.
Sloppy strikes from Vladivostok. Those never looked like landing.
Vladivostok fails to land with a series of punches.
Gregori Vladivostok is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vladivostok lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Escobar tries to close the distance and clinch but Vladivostok swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Escobar fails in his attempt to clinch.
Vladivostok throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Escobar darts in trying to clinch
and Escobar takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Escobar feints and as Vladivostok raises his hands in defense, Escobar changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Escobar dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Vladivostok misses with an uppercut
and Escobar counters with a series of strikes. Vladivostok will be more careful next time no doubt.
A shot to the body from Vladivostok misses

and Escobar counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Escobar.
A nice left hand lands by Vladivostok.
Escobar doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Escobar ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Escobar no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Escobar has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Escobar trying to control the position.

Vladivostok got a little sloppy there for a moment and Escobar has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Vladivostok has managed to get both his arms back between Escobar's legs - danger averted.

Escobar looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Escobar has his foot on Vladivostok's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Vladivostok works his way back into a safe position though.
Vladivostok throws and elbow that misses. Escobar uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Vladivostok's guard. Nice move by Escobar!
Vladivostok being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar advances position into side control!
Escobar wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vladivostok keeps working.
Escobar advances nicely into full mount.
Escobar tries to control but Vladivostok wriggling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Vladivostok working to try and regain half guard.
Escobar trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Escobar takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
Escobar throwing wild punches that miss their target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
What can Vladivostok do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
A lull in the action here.
Vladivostok trying to control the hands but Escobar won't let him.
Vladivostok staying busy and making it hard for Escobar to control.
Vladivostok tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's four 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.
Escobar misses with a head shot.
Escobar landing strikes from the mount and Vladivostok is in trouble!

Escobar has control of Vladivostok's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Vladivostok regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Vladivostok sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Vladivostok won't allow Escobar to pass to mount.
Escobar wants to take a breather but Vladivostok is having none of it.
Escobar tries to pass to full mount but Vladivostok defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Escobar dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Vladivostok throws an off balance right hand

and Escobar counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Vladivostok's guard now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Escobar drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Escobar jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Escobar not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Juan Escobar overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Escobar throwing strikes but missing.

Vladivostok uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Vladivostok falls off balance throwing a combination

and Escobar counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar looking to pass the guard.
Escobar slips nicely into half guard.
Vladivostok is refusing to be controlled, as Escobar sits in half guard.
Escobar tries to pass to full mount but Vladivostok defends it.
Escobar missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Vladivostok wants to improve his position but Escobar is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Escobar sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Vladivostok defending well though.
Vladivostok really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Escobar. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Escobar wants to pass the guard but Vladivostok is defending well.
Vladivostok wants to control but Escobar is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Gregori Vladivostok has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Escobar wants to pass the guard but Vladivostok is defending well.
Escobar is looking to pass Vladivostok's guard but actually Vladivostok recovers to full guard.
Escobar trying to control the position from guard on top but Vladivostok is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The strikes coming from Escobar are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Vladivostok is not content to let Escobar control the position.

Escobar goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Vladivostok has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Escobar but great work by Vladivostok.
Escobar is looking to reverse the position.
Juan Escobar is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four 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.
Escobar parries the strikes from Vladivostok easily there. Vladivostok is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Escobar to escape.
Escobar is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Vladivostok tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Escobar is trying to get back to half guard.
Vladivostok working the ground and pound.
Escobar is trying to control Vladivostok's posture but Vladivostok avoids it.
Escobar defending against the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juan Escobar showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Escobar, 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juan Escobar!