PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vincent Escargesa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Freedman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marcus Freedman has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Escargesa
vs
Freedman

189 cm
27
197 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

190 cm
30
200 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Vincent Escargesa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marcus Freedman!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Saam Ante and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Freedman looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Escargesa misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Escargesa moves into range and connects with a jab.
Freedman slips under a jab.
Escargesa has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Sanitarium in the buildup to the fight.
Freedman looks for a takedown but Escargesa sprawls well.
Freedman shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Escargesa sprawls well. Escargesa wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Freedman gets slowly back to his feet.
Vincent Escargesa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcus Freedman.
Freedman fails with a takedown attempt.
Freedman uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Escargesa.

Freedman shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Escargesa is trying to defend but Freedman finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Freedman is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Escargesa has managed to free his arm - good work.
Freedman trying to mount his opponent but Escargesa defends it.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Escargesa is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Freedman's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Freedman's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freedman tries to break free.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Escargesa. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Escargesa is trying to stick to Freedman's back but Freedman is turning into Escargesa. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Escargesa's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Freedman.

Escargesa working for a triangle but Freedman defends it easily.

Escargesa escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Freedman gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Escargesa looking to control.
Escargesa manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Freedman manages to get himself to full guard.

Escargesa preventing the sweep.

Freedman is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Escargesa is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escargesa tries to free his leg and advance position but Freedman is retaining full guard.
Escargesa won't allow Freedman to sweep him here.

Freedman looking for a guillotine here but Escargesa defends easily.
Escargesa lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Freedman looking for a guillotine here but Escargesa defends easily.
Freedman 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.

Freedman working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Escargesa doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Escargesa manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Freedman bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Escargesa's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freedman tries to free his leg and advance position but Escargesa is retaining full guard.
Freedman is still trying to improve position.
My spies in Muay Thai & Kickboxing inform me that Freedman has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Escargesa looking for a sweep. Not yet Escargesa, not yet.
Escargesa is working hard here to advance position.
Freedman tries to free his leg and advance position but Escargesa is retaining full guard.
Escargesa can't keep his opponent in guard - Freedman advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Freedman is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Escargesa sees it coming and defends easily.
Escargesa trying to control here.
Freedman trying to pass the guard but Escargesa defending well.
Freedman works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freedman trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Freedman cracks Escargesa with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Escargesa tries to hold on but Freedman postures up.
Escargesa is in a horrible position here. Freedman smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Freedman working for a submission but Escargesa is keeping him at bay.
Escargesa has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
Freedman gets his hands free as Escargesa looks to control.

Freedman looking for the choke from the back.
Freedman not allowing Escargesa to control his hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Freedman dominated that round.
That's time! Escargesa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Freedman drives through with a takedown into Escargesa's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Freedman wants to stand but Escargesa has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Escargesa is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Freedman defends well.
Freedman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Escargesa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Freedman throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Escargesa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Escargesa is trying to keep Freedman in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Freedman avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Freedman wants to pass the guard but Escargesa is keeping the position.
Freedman advances to half guard.
Freedman tries to pass to full mount but Escargesa defends it.
Freedman passes to side control.
Escargesa manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Freedman is trying to get back to full guard.
Freedman is pressing down on Escargesa's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Escargesa connects with a couple of short punches.
Marcus Freedman has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Escargesa avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Escargesa stands up over Freedman, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Freedman working for a triangle but Escargesa defends it easily.
Escargesa makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Freedman lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Escargesa has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Freedman can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Freedman forces his way into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Escargesa wants to improve his position but Freedman is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freedman trying to control from half guard but Escargesa is working away.
Freedman tries to pass the half guard into mount. Escargesa knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Freedman is working for a kimura but Escargesa is defending it quite comfortably.
Freedman wants to pass to mount but Escargesa is defending the position.
Freedman prevents Escargesa from improving his position.
Freedman trying to control from half guard but Escargesa is working away.

That's four 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.
Freedman lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Escargesa avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Freedman.
Freedman is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Escargesa!
Escargesa regains half guard.
Freedman moves into full mount! Escargesa won't be happy about that!
Escargesa wants to control but Freedman is having none of it.
Escargesa working to try and regain half guard.

Freedman is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Freedman uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Escargesa.
Marcus Freedman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Escargesa lands a right hook to the body.
Freedman takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Freedman shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Escargesa's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Freedman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Freedman misses with an uppercut
and Escargesa counters with a nice uppercut.
Escargesa with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Freedman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Escargesa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Escargesa uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Freedman shoots for a takedown but Escargesa saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Freedman has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Escargesa finds it's way round the side to connect with Freedman's head.
Freedman gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Freedman closes this distance looking for a takedown but Escargesa circles away.
Vincent Escargesa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcus Freedman.
Nice sprawl there from Escargesa as Freedman shoots in.
Freedman takes one on the button.
Escargesa lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Freedman at a distance.
Freedman dives in for a single leg takedown but Escargesa sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the ropes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Escargesa breaks the clinch.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Escargesa darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Escargesa listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Freedman takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jab, jab by Escargesa - just one landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freedman fails with a takedown attempt.
Freedman tries for a takedown but Escargesa sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A punch lands to the side of Freedman 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Freedman is rocked!
Escargesa missing with a left hand there. Freedman was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Freedman is still on wobbly legs! Can Escargesa finish him?
Escargesa throws an overhand right that has Freedman reeling! Escargesa follows up with more punches and Freedman is out cold! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Vincent Escargesa!
After winning the bout, Vincent Escargesa thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.