PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pablo Escobar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Musashi Kato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kato has chosen 神風 as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Escobar
vs
Kato

187 cm
26
195 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

188 cm
27
190 lbs
15 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $140
The Big Kabosh

Conviction
Convicted Trap House

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pablo Escobar!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Musashi Kato!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Viktor Lagutenko and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big right from Kato misses.
Kato moves into range and connects with a jab.
Kato connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Escobar momentarily.
Escobar fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

It looks like Musashi Kato has been cut.
Escobar thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kato scores with a hook to the body. Escobar takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Escobar blocks the body kick.
Kato throws a leg kick but Escobar checks it.
Kato tries to bum rush Escobar with a series of wild strikes but Escobar uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kato throws a series of punches but Escobar moves out of range.
Kato scores with a hook to the body. Escobar takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kato tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Escobar was well out of range. Poor timing from Kato.
Kato throws the kick towards the body but Escobar avoids it.
Escobar swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kato looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Escobar pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Escobar bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kato's head backwards.
A jab lands there for Escobar.
Kato throws a push kick but Escobar slaps the foot to one side.
Kato falls off balance throwing a combination
and Kato takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Escobar misses with a body shot.
Kato throws a head kick that misses
and Escobar counters with a straight right hand.
Kato misses with a body shot.
Escobar on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kato. Kato obviously looking to wear him down.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kato tries to clinch but Escobar is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar blocks a leg kick.
Kato throws a wild body kick that Escobar sees coming a mile off.
Kato lands a jab to the head.
Kato thows a leg kick but Escobar checks it
and Escobar counters with a thumping low kick.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Kato has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Escobar throws a looping overhand right but Kato ducks down to avoid it.
Escobar connects with a good right hand that stumbles Kato. Kato circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Escobar connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Escobar tries a head kick but it misses.
Donk. Kato catches Escobar right on the button with a cross.
Kato uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Escobar.
Escobar connects with a nice looking jab.
Escobar pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Musashi Kato seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kato throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Escobar on the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kato.
Kato bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Escobar is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Kato thumps Escobar with a low kick.
It looks like Escobar has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Escobar avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Escobar misses with a wild combination.
Escobar throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Escobar avoids a kick to the body.
Kato misses with a wild combination.
Escobar displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kato throws out the jab.
Kato shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Escobar as he avoids it easily.
Kato bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Escobar cracks the inside of Kato's front leg.
Escobar lands with a thumping leg kick.
Escobar looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kato misses with an uppercut
and Escobar counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kato throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kato throws a head kick but Escobar moves out of range.
Kato thows a body shot but no joy.
Escobar throws a body punch but Kato moves out of range.
Kato throws a poor cross that misses
and Escobar counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kato thinking.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kato looks to throw the jab but Escobar is out of range.
Some wild striking there from Kato.
Kato walks forward, straight into a front kick from Escobar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Musashi Kato will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Musashi Kato's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Escobar slips a straight right by Kato.
Kato with a jab.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kato.
A big left from Kato misses.
Kato looks for the body kick but Escobar saw that one coming.
Kato checks a leg kick.
A good leg kick by Escobar.
Kato swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Escobar.
Kato walks into a jab.
Escobar takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Escobar misses with a wild body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kato throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Escobar on the side of the head.
Escobar showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kato.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kato drives through and clinches with Escobar against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Kato fails to land.
Kato has a couple of punches blocked by Escobar.
Kato stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Escobar breaks from the clinch.
Kato misses the shot to the body.
Kato misses with a head kick.
A slow jab from Kato misses its intended target.
Kato lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Escobar circles away quickly and effectively.
Kato takes one to the side of the head.
Escobar takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Escobar defending well as Kato loads up on a big left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Escobar throws a wild body kick that Kato sees coming a mile off.
Kato throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kato's jab looks to have found its range, popping Escobar under the eye.
That kick from Kato tenderised Escobar's leg. Escobar is trying to keep his angry face on.
Kato works Escobar's body with a nice hook.
Kato misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Escobar misses the shot to the body.
Escobar lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Escobar takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Escobar walks forward, straight into a front kick from Kato.
Escobar moves away from the strike by Kato.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kato jabs Escobar right on the nose. Escobar blinks but takes it well.
A shot to the liver by Escobar. Beautiful body shot.
A thudding body kick lands there by Escobar!
Escobar takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Escobar feints and then cracks Kato's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kato down.
Kato pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kato throws a head kick that misses
letting Escobar counter with a right hand.
Kato misses the shot to the body.
Kato throws a one two combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kato showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Escobar.
Escobar slips a straight right by Kato.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kato lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Escobar connects with a single shot there.
Kato ducks under a wild hook from Escobar.
Kato throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Kato.
Escobar cracks Kato with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Kato scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kato staying out of range there.
Escobar rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Kato counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kato.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Escobar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kato avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Decent striking displayed by Kato there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Musashi Kato showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Musashi Kato's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Escobar takes one on the button.
Escobar ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kato moves away.
Escobar works the jab nicely.
Escobar catches Kato with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Kato feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Escobar's calf.
Kato dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Escobar. That did some damage!
Kato misses with a body shot
and Escobar counters with a nice uppercut.
Escobar throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kato keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kato looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kato misses with a body shot
and Escobar counters with a nice uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kato dodges the punch combination from Escobar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kato moves away.
Kato looks to land a body kick but Escobar moved away.
Kato moves out of range of the leg kick from Escobar.
Donk. Escobar catches Kato right on the button with a cross.
Escobar clobbers Kato with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Musashi Kato seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Some wild striking there from Escobar.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kato. Escobar does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kato on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Escobar looks to land a right hand but Kato moved out of range.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Escobar, as that shot connected.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kato takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Escobar. Kato does a little dance to reset his feet.
Escobar has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Escobar there as he acknowledges the shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Escobar on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Some bone on bone action there as Escobar checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Kato slips a jab from Escobar.
Kato scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Kato misses with a low kick.
Kato has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Escobar.
Nice straight punches there by Kato. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Kato.
Escobar slips a straight right by Kato.
Escobar lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar misses with a hook.
Kato pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kato keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Escobar.
Kato fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Escobar has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Escobar throws an off balance right hand

and Kato moves into the clinch.
Kato lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Kato working aggressively here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Escobar creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Escobar slowing the pace effectively.
Kato tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Escobar breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Escobar misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar checks the leg kick nicely there.
Kato ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Escobar moves away.
Escobar steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kato.
Good shot there by Kato.

Kato closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kato lands in his opponent's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kato keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Escobar's head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kato pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Escobar is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Musashi Kato just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Musashi Kato's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kato scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Escobar throws a leg kick that is checked

and Kato moves into the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Kato misses with some punches.
Escobar blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A nice left hand lands by Kato.
A right handed body shot lands from Kato.
Kato throws a head punch that misses.
Kato swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Escobar lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kato backwards.
Escobar makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kato swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kato tries to work over Escobar's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kato lands a body punch in the clinch.
Kato swings wildly with an uppercut but Escobar uses good head movement to avoid it.
Escobar trying to stall but Kato improves his position.
Kato has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Kato letting Escobar take a breather here.
Kato has a couple of punches blocked by Escobar.
Escobar letting Kato take a breather here.
Kato throws a punch but it's blocked by Escobar.
Kato fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Escobar is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kato lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar misses with some punches.
Escobar blocks an uppercut.
Kato leaning his opponent against the cage.
Kato prevents Escobar from breaking the clinch.

Escobar breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kato jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Escobar ducks under a wild hook from Kato.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Escobar keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Escobar looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Escobar with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kato to score with a decent uppercut.
Kato throws a hook but Escobar avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Escobar wants to slow Kato down by chopping away at his legs.
Kato moves out of range as Escobar strikes.
Kato connects with a body shot.
Kato ducks under a wild hook from Escobar.
Kato moves away from the strike by Escobar.
Kato looks to land a right hand but Escobar moved out of range.
Some wild striking there from Kato.
Kato scores with a jab.
A slapping leg kick lands for Escobar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Kato ducks under a wild hook from Escobar.
Kato misses with a low kick.
Kato throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Escobar counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kato tries to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
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!
Kato takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Kato buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kato wants to clinch up but Escobar keeps it at a distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Escobar showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kato.
Kato throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Escobar counters with a body kick that stops Kato in his tracks momentarily.
A jab lands there for Escobar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Musashi Kato dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Musashi Kato's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kato throws an overhand right that lands on Escobar's shoulder, as Escobar tries to avoid the shot.
Escobar uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Kato has time to react.
Escobar tries a head kick but it misses.
Kato ducks under a wild hook from Escobar.
Kato takes a jab right on the kisser.
Kato misses with a looping left.
Kato bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
A jab lands there for Kato.
Kato on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Escobar scores with a jab.
Kato takes a swing at Escobar's ribcage but misses.
Kato swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kato tries to land a leg kick but Escobar saw it coming and moves away.
A big right from Kato misses.
Escobar connects with a right hand. Kato shakes it off.
Kato defending well as Escobar loads up on a big left hand.
Kato tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Escobar manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kato lands with a kick to the temple. Escobar shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Kato swings away with a body shot that misses
and Escobar counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kato thows a leg kick but Escobar checks it
and Escobar counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kato moves into range and connects with a jab.
Kato misses the shot to the body.
Escobar lands a nice leg kick that just misses Kato's sensitive parts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar misses the shot to the body.
Kato has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Escobar finds it's way round the side to connect with Kato's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kato misses with a lunging right hand
and Escobar connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kato avoids a kick to the body.
Escobar throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kato sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kato loads up on a big right hand but Escobar slips the punch.
Escobar connects with the punch.
Kato connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Escobar checks a low kick from Kato.

Kato gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kato scores with a shot to the side of Escobar's head.
Kato misses with a hook to the ribs.
Pablo Escobar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar digs a right hand underneath Kato's ribcage. Kato let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Kato struggles to land a body shot inside as Escobar controls his hands.
Kato throws a head punch that misses.
A right handed body shot lands from Kato.
Kato prevents Escobar from breaking the clinch.
Escobar wants to break free but Kato has control.

Escobar pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Escobar's jab looks to have found its range, popping Kato under the eye.
Kato misses with a combination
and Escobar counters with a nice leg kick.
Kato misses the shot to the body.
Some wild striking there from Kato.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar digs a good body shot into Kato's ribs.
Kato swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Escobar throws a lazy head kick

and Kato holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Escobar throws a punch but it's blocked by Kato.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Escobar blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Escobar blocks a body shot from Kato.
Escobar's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Escobar tries to break the clinch but Kato is controlling the position.
Kato working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kato blocks a body shot from Escobar.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Escobar is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kato misses with a punch to the body.
Escobar softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Kato blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

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 Pablo Escobar.
Well Kato has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 47:49
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 47:48
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Musashi Kato! Musashi Kato retains his middleweight title!
A relieved looking Musashi Kato thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.