PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Phil Willian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Efrain Escalda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Phil Willian could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Efrain Escalda's chin.

Willian
vs
Escalda

225 cm
25
300 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

224 cm
22
281 lbs
0 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Phil Willian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Efrain Escalda!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Alexandre Firmino and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Willian darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Willian looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Escalda trying to hold on to Willian's head to control him but Willian postures up.
Escalda wants to get back to his feet.
Willian controlling the action here.
Escalda is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Escalda trying to control but Willian postures up.
Escalda wants to improve his position but Willian is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escalda keeps trying to improve his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Escalda tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Willian swivels and escapes.
Willian closes this distance looking for a takedown but Escalda circles away.
Escalda looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Willian is fending him off so far but Escalda persists. Nope, Willian circles away and we're back to standing.
Escalda fails to land the takedown.
Phil Willian has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Efrain Escalda.
Escalda shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Willian but Willian pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Willian decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escalda gets back to full guard.

Escalda has his foot on Willian's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Willian works his way back into a safe position though.
Willian looking to pass the guard.
Escalda looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Willian sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Escalda's guard.
Willian looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Escalda is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escalda trying to control here.

Willian stands up from half guard.
A punch combination from Escalda misses.

Willian darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Escalda trying to hold on to Willian's head to control him but Willian postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Willian decides to return to a standing position.

Willian manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Escalda on his heels. He'll look to pass Escalda's guard now, I'm sure.
Our spies down at at Cozad MMA Rio inform us that Escalda has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Escalda throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Willian trying to control but Escalda is working from the bottom.
Willian content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Willian lands a couple of elbows.
Escalda not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Willian dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Escalda doesn't manage to clinch there - Willian circles away.
Escalda shoots for a double leg takedown but Willian sprawls well. He's pushed Escalda's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Willian has a takedown stuffed.
Escalda goes for a double leg but Willian avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Willian continues to drive forward.
Willian is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Escalda gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Escalda manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Willian trying to control the position from guard on top but Escalda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Escalda trying to keep a closed guard but Willian is proving a slippery customer.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Willian wants to stand but Escalda has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Willian wants to control from the top but Escalda keeps moving.
Willian would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Phil Willian wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Willian gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Willian not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Willian pulls Escalda in close to prevent any damage.
Escalda forces his way into half guard.
Willian trying to control but Escalda postures up.
Willian is looking for a sweep. Escalda is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Escalda is looking to take a break and control but Willian is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Willian wants to control but Escalda is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escalda is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Willian manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Willian controlling the position well.
Phil Willian overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Willian looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Willian avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Escalda.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Willian is trying to stand.
Escalda throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Escalda wants to take a breather but Willian is having none of it.
Escalda throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Escalda not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Willian trying to control but Escalda postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Willian is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Escalda is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Efrain Escalda will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Willian shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Escalda but Escalda pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Willian swats away the attempt to clinch by Escalda.
Willian circles away from the clinch attempt.
Escalda shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Willian as he jumps to the side.
Escalda scores with a kick to the midsection.
Willian circles away from the clinch attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Escalda scores with a head kick.

Willian tries to sprawl but Escalda drives through with a takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Willian wants to get back to his feet.
Escalda is keen to just control but Willian is a slippery customer.

Willian looking for submissions off his back.
Escalda passes to side control.
Willian is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Escalda is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escalda tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Willian is not content to let Escalda control the position.

Escalda tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Willian tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Escalda wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escalda looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Willian is avoiding damage well.
Escalda scores with a couple of short elbows.
Willian parries the strikes from Escalda easily there. Escalda is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Willian to escape.
Escalda wants to control but Willian is keeping him busy.
Escalda throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Willian is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Escalda has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Willian is looking to regain half guard here but Escalda keeps moving and retains side control.
Willian is not content to let Escalda control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Escalda are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Willian struggling a bit here.
Escalda trying to control the position but Willian is working away.
Willian is trying to control Escalda's posture but Escalda avoids it.
Willian is looking for a sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
Efrain Escalda comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Escalda has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Efrain Escalda!