PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pablo Escobar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sami Sykloni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sykloni is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Within Temptation - Whole World Is Watching. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Escobar
vs
Sykloni

187 cm
29
187 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

188 cm
30
184 lbs
24 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pablo Escobar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sami Sykloni!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Sam Margolis and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sykloni bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Escobar's head backwards.
Sykloni jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Escobar. Sykloni shrugs it off though.
Sykloni misses with an uppercut.
Sykloni connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Escobar's hands.
Escobar wants to slow Sykloni down by chopping away at his legs.
Escobar moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Sykloni is looking to score with low kicks.
Escobar works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

It looks like Sami Sykloni has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Escobar thumps Sykloni with a low kick.
Escobar lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Nice shot lands for Escobar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar lands a jab to Sykloni's midsection.
Escobar checks the leg kick.
Escobar tries to work over Sykloni's front leg with a kick but Sykloni checks it.
Some bone on bone action there as Sykloni checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Escobar scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Sykloni doesn't seem bothered though.
Escobar throws out a leg kick but Sykloni moves out of range and Escobar only half commits.
Escobar tries to land a front kick but Sykloni steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Sykloni has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Escobar.
Escobar lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar throws a head kick but Sykloni moves out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Sykloni.
Escobar seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Escobar with a jab.
Escobar throws a shot from downtown. Sykloni moves away and avoids it.
Escobar looks to land a right hand but Sykloni moved out of range.
Sykloni smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sykloni.
Sykloni walks into a straight right hand from Escobar.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Escobar, right into the meat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sykloni's calf.
Sykloni looks to land a left hand but Escobar moved out of range nicely.
Escobar misses the shot to the body.
Escobar turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Sykloni needs to keep his hands up - Escobar had a free shot at his head there.
Escobar throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Sykloni looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sykloni throws a strike but Escobar rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Sykloni working for a triangle but Escobar defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sykloni working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Escobar dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sami Sykloni's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Escobar connects with an inside leg kick.
Sykloni's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Nice defenses there by Sykloni.
Sami Sykloni is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sykloni checks a low kick from Escobar.
Sykloni throws a sloppy head kick and Escobar moves out of range easily.
Sykloni fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Escobar.
Sykloni fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Escobar on the side of the head.
Escobar throws a leg kick but Sykloni moved away.
Escobar just misses with a punch to the body.
Sykloni pivots, looking for a leg kick but Escobar is out of range and Sykloni settles back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Sykloni checks a low kick from Escobar.
Pablo Escobar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sykloni shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Escobar napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Escobar defending against the ground and pound.
Escobar keeps Sykloni under control for a moment.
Escobar gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Escobar wants to improve his position but Sykloni is controlling well.
Sykloni trying to mount his opponent but Escobar defends it.
Sykloni throwing shots but Escobar is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sykloni throwing shots but Escobar is blocking nicely.
Escobar slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Sykloni throws an elbow that misses. Escobar uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sykloni's guard. Nice move by Escobar!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Escobar is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Sykloni has his foot on Escobar's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Escobar works his way back into a safe position though.

Escobar stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Sykloni takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Escobar on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Sykloni. Sykloni obviously looking to wear him down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Escobar.
A lazy left from Escobar finds it's target.
Escobar misses with a low kick.
Escobar throws a body kick that misses

and Sykloni counters with a single leg into guard. Escobar didn't expect that.
Sykloni distracts Escobar with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sykloni loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sami Sykloni has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sykloni in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sykloni trying to control the position from guard on top but Escobar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Escobar utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sykloni throws a strike but Escobar rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sykloni can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Escobar controls the pace.
Sykloni keeping moving, preventing Escobar from controlling successfully.
Escobar wants to stand but Sykloni is controlling his posture from full guard.
Sykloni trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sami Sykloni will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Sami Sykloni's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Nice shot lands for Escobar.
Escobar displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sykloni throws out the jab.
Escobar misses with a leg kick

and Sykloni counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Escobar is refusing to be controlled, as Sykloni sits in half guard.
Escobar is trying to stand back up but Sykloni is controlling him
Sykloni misses with a head shot. Escobar uses the momentum to regain guard.
Sykloni is fighting to break Escobar's control of his arms but Escobar is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
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!
Sykloni throws an elbow that misses. Escobar uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sykloni's guard. Nice move by Escobar!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykloni is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Sykloni not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Escobar won't allow Sykloni to sweep him here.
Sykloni seems keen to control Escobar's posture.

Sykloni is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sykloni working a defensive guard but Escobar passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sykloni is trying to get back to full guard.
Escobar is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Escobar content to control rather than advance.
Escobar prevents Sykloni from improving his position.
Escobar wants to pass the guard but Sykloni is defending well.
Sykloni works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Sykloni looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Escobar looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Pablo Escobar.
A big left from Escobar misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar throws a leg kick

and Sykloni counters with a nice double leg into side control. Escobar won't be happy with that.
Escobar sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sykloni wants to lay and pray for a moment but Escobar keeps working.
Sykloni missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sykloni tries to pass the half guard into mount. Escobar knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Escobar is trying to maintain the position but Sykloni is very close to passing his half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sykloni performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Sykloni thows a huge punch but Escobar dodges it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sami Sykloni comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sykloni 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sami Sykloni!
Sami Sykloni 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.