PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Almeida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Escobar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Almeida
vs
Escobar

196 cm
25
238 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

170 cm
21
170 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Experienced

Powerful takedowns
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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ricardo Almeida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ryan Escobar!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Arvi Lind.

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 connects with a body shot that sends Almeida's belly button to the back.
A big left from Escobar misses.
Nice defenses there by Almeida.
A swing and a miss from Escobar.
Escobar takes a swing at Almeida's ribcage but misses.
Nice shot lands for Escobar.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Escobar drives through with a takedown into guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Almeida wants to get back to his feet but Escobar is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Almeida keeping full guard, as Escobar tries to pass.
Almeida keeping moving, preventing Escobar from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Escobar scores with a decent looking hook.
Nice straight punches there by Escobar. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Escobar.
Nice body punch from Escobar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Escobar shoots in and gets a takedown into Almeida's guard.
Almeida keeping moving, preventing Escobar from controlling successfully.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ryan Escobar was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Almeida takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar throws an overhand right that lands on Almeida's shoulder, as Almeida tries to avoid the shot.
Escobar fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Escobar shoots in and bounces Almeida off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Escobar dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Escobar throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escobar fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Escobar moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar catches Almeida with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Escobar looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Almeida is trying to stand up here but Escobar is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar trying to pass the guard but Almeida defending well.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Escobar controlling the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ricardo Almeida wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Good shot there by Escobar.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar jabs at Almeida's body.
Escobar lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Almeida at a distance.
Escobar misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Almeida.

Escobar throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Almeida tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Escobar is in Almeida's guard.
Almeida is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Escobar wants to control from the top but Almeida keeps moving.

Ricardo Almeida has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Escobar wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Escobar showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Almeida avoids the body shot from Escobar.
Escobar tries to score a power double leg takedown but Almeida sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Escobar somewhat.
Escobar clobbers Almeida with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Almeida steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Escobar.
Almeida slips a jab from Escobar.
Escobar throws a body punch but Almeida moves out of range.
Escobar throws the left hand but Almeida avoids the punch easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Escobar lands the left hand.
A swing and a miss from Escobar.
Ryan Escobar is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Escobar throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Almeida tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Escobar is in Almeida's guard.
Escobar trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Escobar controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ricardo Almeida.
Escobar digs a good hook to Almeida's body.
Escobar stuns Almeida with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Escobar has his takedown stuffed
and Almeida counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Ryan Escobar has been cut.
Escobar scores with a body shot.

Escobar closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Almeida quickly recovers to half guard.
Ricardo Almeida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Escobar blocks the strikes from Almeida.

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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Escobar!
Ryan Escobar decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.