PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Witaliy Michilov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Escobar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Michilov
vs
Escobar

186 cm
23
222 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

170 cm
19
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Witaliy Michilov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ryan Escobar!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Escobar swings for the body but Michilov moves out of range.
Escobar shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Michilov as he jumps to the side.
Escobar throws a hook but Michilov avoids it easily.
Michilov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Escobar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escobar misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Michilov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar digs a good hook to Michilov's body.
Escobar looks to score with a jab to the body but Michilov is just out of range.
Michilov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Escobar throws out the jab.
Escobar fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Michilov manages to avoid it.
Escobar has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Michilov is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Escobar cracks a nice hook into Michilov's ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Escobar drives through with a takedown into guard.
Escobar is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Michilov wants to stand but Escobar is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Michilov managing to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Michilov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A jab from Escobar misses.
Escobar waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Michilov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Escobar misses with a looping left.

Escobar closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Michilov did well to prevent Escobar getting side control.
Michilov is trying to stand up here but Escobar is controlling him well.
Escobar controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Escobar dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Escobar ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Michilov moves away.
Escobar is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Michilov rather than just go for the knockout.
Escobar fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Michilov manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A swing and a miss from Escobar.
Escobar misses with a right hand
and Michilov counters with a series of strikes. Escobar will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Michilov's waist but Michilov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Escobar off to one side.
Escobar throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice sprawl there from Michilov as Escobar shoots in.
Escobar misses with a wild body shot.

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 swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Escobar shoots for a double leg takedown but Michilov sprawls well. He's pushed Escobar's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Witaliy Michilov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Escobar.
Michilov slips a jab from Escobar.
Escobar shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Michilov counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar lunges at Michilov with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Michilov's hand.

Escobar manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Michilov on his heels. He'll look to pass Michilov's guard now, I'm sure.
Michilov wants to get back to his feet but Escobar is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Escobar content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michilov wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

We're going to have a standup here because Witaliy Michilov wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Escobar closes the distance and clinches up with Michilov, looking for a takedown. Escobar pushes Michilov against the cage but Michilov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ryan Escobar will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Escobar has his takedown stuffed
and Michilov counters with a straight right hand.
Escobar misses with a wild body shot.
Escobar is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escobar looks for a takedown but Michilov sprawls well.

Escobar feints and as Michilov raises his hands in defense, Escobar changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Michilov has his feet on Escobar's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Escobar missing with a left hand there. Michilov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Michilov slips a straight right by Escobar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar shoots and misses
and Michilov counters with a nice low kick that buckles Escobar's knee momentarily.
Witaliy Michilov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Escobar.
Escobar throws the left hand but Michilov avoids the punch easily.
Ryan Escobar is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Escobar jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Escobar swings widly with a right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar misses with a body shot.
Escobar throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A shot to the body from Escobar misses
and Michilov counters with a low kick, right behind Escobar 's knee.
Michilov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Escobar.

That's four 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.
Michilov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Escobar.
Escobar swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Escobar looks for a takedown but Michilov sprawls well.
Escobar fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Michilov manages to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Escobar comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Escobar 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Escobar!
Ryan Escobar was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.