PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Pablo Escobar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Zagorno (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Escobar
vs
Zagorno

172 cm
30
144 lbs
19 - 11 - 0

165 cm
27
140 lbs
15 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Pablo Escobar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gabriel Zagorno!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Alan Glass and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Escobar scores with a hook to the body. Zagorno takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Sloppy strikes from Escobar. Those never looked like landing.
A big right from Zagorno misses.

Zagorno drives through with a takedown into Escobar's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Zagorno throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zagorno looking to pass the guard.
Escobar avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Escobar wants to get back to his feet but Zagorno is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Zagorno passes Escobar's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zagorno throwing shots but Escobar is blocking nicely.
Escobar keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Zagorno stops Escobar from getting back to his feet.

Zagorno is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Escobar has managed to free his arm - good work.
Escobar is trying to stand back up but Zagorno is controlling him
Zagorno wants to take a breather but Escobar is having none of it.
Zagorno has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Escobar wants to get back to his feet.
Escobar keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Zagorno is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Escobar doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Zagorno.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zagorno is working for a kimura but Escobar is defending it quite comfortably.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Escobar wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Zagorno passes to full mount!

Zagorno is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Escobar is surviving well by controlling Zagorno's body position as best he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You get the feeling that Escobar really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Escobar blocking the ground and pound.
Zagorno throws some wild stikes that Escobar manages to avoid easily.
Escobar is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zagorno sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Zagorno fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Zagorno throwing strikes here but Escobar is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

Zagorno is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Escobar is surviving well by controlling Zagorno's body position as best he can.
Zagorno thowing shots but they're missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zagorno throwing strikes here but Escobar is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Zagorno throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Zagorno misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
You get the feeling that Escobar really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Zagorno working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Escobar wants to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zagorno trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Zagorno sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Zagorno dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A slow jab from Zagorno misses its intended target.
Escobar throws a big shot that misses.
Zagorno misses with a wild body shot.
A swing and a miss from Escobar.
Escobar scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Escobar throws a right and a left that Zagorno avoids nicely.
Pablo Escobar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A combination from Escobar does no damage.
Escobar misses with the combination.

Zagorno shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Escobar manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Escobar can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Zagorno controls the pace.
Escobar keeping full guard, as Zagorno tries to pass.
Zagorno wants to control from the top but Escobar keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zagorno trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Escobar wants to stand up but Zagorno is controlling him.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Zagorno connects with a couple of short punches.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zagorno accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zagorno prevents Escobar from getting back to his feet.
Zagorno is pushing down on Escobar's leg trying to pass to half guard. Escobar is fighting to maintain full guard but Zagorno has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar is staying active underneath Zagorno, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Zagorno thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Escobar's head.
Escobar avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zagorno.

Zagorno is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Escobar is just riding it out for now. Zagorno eventually gives up the hold.
Escobar is trying to stand up here but Zagorno is controlling him well.

Zagorno is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Zagorno not doing much here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar is trying to stand up here but Zagorno is controlling him well.
Escobar is in trouble now - Zagorno has advanced to mount!
Escobar is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

Zagorno goes for an armbar but Escobar turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Escobar.
Zagorno wants to sweep here but Escobar controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zagorno looking for subs off his back but Escobar has passed one foot through into half guard.
Zagorno is looking to improve his position.

Zagorno looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zagorno is looking for a sweep. Escobar is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Zagorno showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Zagorno feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Zagorno trying to control the position from guard on top but Escobar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zagorno is pushing down on Escobar's leg trying to pass to half guard. Escobar is fighting to maintain full guard but Zagorno has managed to sneak the leg through.
Escobar keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Zagorno trying to pass the guard but Escobar defending well.
Escobar wants to get back to his feet.

Escobar is defending against the submission attempts here by Zagorno.
Zagorno throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zagorno is looking for a kimura but Escobar is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Zagorno to get the leverage.
Escobar is trying to stand back up but Zagorno is controlling him

Zagorno is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Zagorno wants to control but Escobar is keeping him busy.
Zagorno prevents Escobar from standing back up.
Zagorno trying to control the action but Escobar is working from the bottom.
Zagorno thows a huge punch but Escobar dodges it nicely.
Zagorno content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zagorno thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Escobar's head.
Escobar wants to get back to his feet.
Zagorno thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Zagorno lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Zagorno trying to pass the guard but Escobar defending well.

Zagorno seems to be looking for submissions.
Zagorno throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zagorno is trying to control. Escobar wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Zagorno seems to be looking for submissions.
Escobar is trying to stand back up but Zagorno is controlling him
Zagorno with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Escobar on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar looks like he's trying to stand up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Zagorno is working for a submission of some sort.
Gabriel Zagorno is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Zagorno keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Zagorno passes to full mount!
Pablo Escobar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Escobar really wants to buck Zagorno off and get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zagorno lands a heavy elbow.
Escobar is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gabriel Zagorno comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zagorno 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabriel Zagorno!
Gabriel Zagorno thanked the fans post fight for their support.