PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alonso Escovedo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and River Tam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Escovedo comes to the cage accompanied by call to prayer. Tam has chosen Dangerous as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Escovedo
vs
Tam

197 cm
30
265 lbs
15 - 5 - 0

198 cm
28
256 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Decent wrestler
World class 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 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alonso Escovedo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, River Tam!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Felipe Paraventi and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Escovedo misses with a straight left.

Tam moves into the clinch.
Escovedo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Escovedo is trying to break the clinch but Tam is controlling him.
Escovedo wants to get back to striking at distance but Tam won't allow it.

Escovedo breaks from the clinch.
Tam fails in his attempt to clinch.

Tam clinches up with Escovedo and pushes him back against the cage.
Tam lands with a light punch inside.
Tam lands a shot to the body.
Tam tries a knee to the head but Escovedo blocks it.
Tam throws a punch but it's blocked by Escovedo.
Escovedo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Tam has him pressed against the cage.
Tam working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Escovedo wants to break free but Tam has control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tam is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Tam keeps control of Escovedo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Escovedo is trying to break the clinch but Tam has him pressed against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Tam creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Escovedo can't break the clinch.
Tam lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Escovedo backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escovedo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Tam has him pressed against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Escovedo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Tam has him pressed against the cage.

Tam drops Escovedo with a big knee straight up the middle! Escovedo is covering up against the cage but manages to escape and gets back to his feet!

It looks like Alonso Escovedo has been cut.
Tam is looking to clinch.

Tam moves into the clinch.
Escovedo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Tam lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Escovedo backwards.
Tam lands a left hand.
Tam is struggling to control the position.

Escovedo manages to break the clinch.
A leg kick checked by Tam.
Tam is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tam misses with a double jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tam moves out of range of the body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tam tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Escovedo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tam wants to clinch.
Tam tries to clinch there but Escovedo circles away.
Escovedo fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Tam.
Escovedo lands a jab to Tam's midsection.
Escovedo keeps the fight on the outside.
Escovedo misses with a series of wild punches.
Tam scores with a jab to the jaw.

Tam clinches.
Escovedo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Tam misses with a punch on the inside.
Tam lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Escovedo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Escovedo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A swing and a miss from Escovedo.
River Tam is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tam uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Escovedo.
Alonso Escovedo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Escovedo looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Escovedo lands with a kick to the ribs.
Tam checks a low kick from Escovedo.
Escovedo lands with a shot to the body.
Tam blocks a jab.
Tam tries to clinch but Escovedo moves out of range.
Tam scores with a hook to the body. Escovedo takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Tam fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tam doesn't manage to clinch there - Escovedo circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tam looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tam misses with a few strikes there.
Tam misses with a series of wild punches.
Tam moves in looking to clinch but Escovedo pushes him off.
Escovedo thumps Tam with a low kick.
Tam throws a big shot that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tam tries to close the distance and clinch but Escovedo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tam is looking to clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Escovedo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tam moves away.
Tam cracks a nice hook into Escovedo's ribs.
Jab from Escovedo.
Escovedo misses with an uppercut
and Tam counters with a left and a right that stings Escovedo.

Escovedo scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Tam is trying to improve his position.
Escovedo in the domination position with Tam hanging on.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Escovedo decides to stand back up. Escovedo steps back and let's Tam get back to his feet.
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.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Escovedo looks to land a left hand but Tam moved out of range nicely.

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!

Escovedo is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tam wants to clinch up but Escovedo keeps it at a distance.
A jab lands there for Escovedo.
Tam is looking to clinch.
Tam tries to clinch up.
Tam takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Escovedo throws a hook but Tam avoids it easily.
Escovedo looks for the body kick but Tam saw that one coming.
Escovedo misses with a wild body shot.
Escovedo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Escovedo punishes Tam's body with a nice straight punch.
Tam walks into a straight right hand from Escovedo.
Escovedo ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Jab, jab by Escovedo - just one landing.
Tam tries to clinch but Escovedo moves out of range.
Tam doesn't manage to clinch there - Escovedo circles away.
Escovedo is looking to slow Tam down with leg kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tam just misses with a punch to the body.
That kick from Escovedo tenderised Tam's leg. Tam is trying to keep his angry face on.
River Tam is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Escovedo throws a leg kick that misses.
Tam misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Escovedo misses with a low kick.
Escovedo misses the jab.

Escovedo fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Tam to the ground. Escovedo is now in Tam's guard.
Tam looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Tam has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Escovedo off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Tam tries to clinch there but Escovedo circles away.
Tam swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tam tries to close the distance and clinch but Escovedo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tam is looking to clinch but Escovedo is avoiding it.
Tam bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Escovedo shoots in looking for a takedown. Tam tries to sprawl out of it but Escovedo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tam manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Tam forces Escovedo back against the cage and clinches.
River Tam seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Escovedo is trying to push Tam away but Tam has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Escovedo is trying to force a seperation but Tam has the dominant position.
Escovedo lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like River Tam has been cut.
Tam avoiding damage.
Escovedo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Escovedo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Escovedo.

Escovedo manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escovedo does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Escovedo misses with a hook. Tam ducked under it nicely.
Escovedo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tam moves in looking to clinch but Escovedo pushes him off.
Tam tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Escovedo swings for the body but Tam moves out of range.
Tam tries to clinch up.
Tam is looking to clinch.
Escovedo misses with a hook
and Tam counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Escovedo punishes Tam's body with a nice straight punch.
Escovedo thows a body shot but no joy.
Escovedo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tam.
No joy there for Tam, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nice uppercut there from Tam.
Tam takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Horrible takedown by Escovedo or perhaps it was just good defense by Tam which made him look bad.
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!
Escovedo circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tam ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Escovedo decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Tam wants to get back to his feet.

Escovedo escapes and gets back to his feet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Escovedo loads up on a big right hand but Tam slips the punch.
Tam lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Both fighters circling a little - Escovedo finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but River Tam will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Tam lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Escovedo backs up against the cage.
Escovedo fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Tam on the side of the head.
Tam ducks under a wild hook from Escovedo.
Escovedo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
River Tam seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Escovedo slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Escovedo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Escovedo with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Tam blocks the body kick.
Escovedo scores with a shot to the body.

Tam closes the distance and pushes Escovedo back into the cage.
Tam dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Escovedo lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Escovedo manages to break the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Tam. Those never looked like landing.
Tam avoids the head kick by Escovedo.
Escovedo throws an overhand right that lands on Tam's shoulder, as Tam tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Escovedo fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Tam sprawls well initially but Escovedo persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Tam tries to kick Escovedo off but Escovedo keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Tam is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Tam wants to improve his position but Escovedo is controlling well.
Escovedo prevents Tam from standing back up.
Tam tries to get to full guard but Escovedo has control of the leg.

Escovedo stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Tam to get to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tam throws a one two combo.
Tam is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Escovedo closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Tam throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Escovedo lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Escovedo's jab looks to have found its range, popping Tam under the eye.
Escovedo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tam is looking to clinch.
Tam lands a two punch combo.
A slapping leg kick lands for Escovedo.
A low kick from Escovedo is predictable there
and Tam cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tam takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Tam takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nice defenses there by Tam.
Tam tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Escovedo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Escovedo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Tam thuds a left hand into Escovedo's body.
Tam is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tam wants to clinch up but Escovedo keeps it at a distance.
Tam doesn't manage to clinch there - Escovedo circles away.
Tam rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Escovedo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Tam tries to clinch up but Escovedo circles away and keeps his distance.
Tam is looking to clinch.

Tam takes the fight into the clinch.
Escovedo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Tam scores with a shot to the side of Escovedo's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tam slows down the pace here.
Escovedo can't break the clinch.
Tam lands an uppercut.
Tam softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Escovedo is trying to break the clinch but Tam is controlling him.
Escovedo is looking to break free of the clinch but Tam has double underhooks.
River Tam is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Escovedo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tam shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Escovedo eats them both and turns towards Tam to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tam takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Escovedo looks to score with a jab to the body but Tam is just out of range.
Alonso Escovedo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tam works Escovedo's body with a nice hook.
Escovedo throws a chopping leg kick but Tam manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to River Tam.
I've got Tam 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30

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