PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nicolas Escobar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Deryck Quist (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Quist has chosen Seven Nation Army Remix-The Glitch Mob as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Escobar
vs
Quist

180 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nicolas Escobar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Deryck Quist!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Quist throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Escobar misses with a wild body shot.

Escobar closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Quist looks like he's trying to stand up.
Escobar could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Quist wants to improve his position but Escobar is controlling well.
Quist is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Escobar's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Escobar's back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Quist wants to control but Escobar is keeping busy.
Escobar is trapped and Quist is scoring with shots to the head and body.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Quist's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Escobar trying to control the action but Quist just sinks the hooks in.
Quist missing with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Quist is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Escobar defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
A lull in the action here.
Quist missing with punches from the back.
Escobar is trying to stand back up.
Quist wants to control but Escobar manages to buck him off and is now in Quist's guard! Nice work there by Escobar!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Quist is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Escobar is aware though and is defending well.
Escobar throws a strike but Quist rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Escobar working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Quist doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Quist manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Quist trying to control but Escobar is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Escobar striking off his back but it's not causing Quist any problems.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Escobar is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Quist wants to stand but Escobar is controlling the position.
Escobar not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Escobar postures up in Quist's guard and throws a big left but Quist blocks it.
Escobar tries to free his leg and advance position but Quist is retaining full guard.
Quist wants to stand but Escobar is controlling the position.

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.
Quist has a closed guard, preventing Escobar from standing up.
Escobar slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Quist takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Quist struggling a bit here.
Escobar is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Quist is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Escobar is controlling him well.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nicolas Escobar will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Escobar looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Quist is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Escobar connects with a nice short shot to Quist's temple.
Escobar controlling the action here.
Escobar seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Quist for as long as he can get away with.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escobar throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar wants to pass the guard but Quist is defending well.
Escobar is trying to control the action in half guard but Quist is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Escobar looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Quist trying to control but Escobar postures up.
Quist tries to roll over but Escobar keeps him under control.
Quist gets back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Quist wants to stand up but Escobar is controlling him.

Quist looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Escobar passes into side control.
Escobar slows the pace down.
Quist stops Escobar from passing to mount.
Quist looks to move to half guard but instead Escobar has passed into mount! Damn!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar prevents Quist from getting the reversal.
Escobar wants to take Quist's back but he can't do it this time.
Escobar controlling the pace for now.
Quist tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Escobar controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Escobar working Quist over with strikes here.
Quist has given up his back here.
Quist is trapped and Escobar is scoring with shots to the head and body.

Quist fending off the submission attempt from Escobar.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Escobar is hanging on to Quist's back as he tries to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicolas Escobar dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Quist stuffs the takedown attempt from Escobar. Escobar gets slowly back to his feet.
Escobar swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Quist counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Escobar is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Quist.
Quist scores with a jab to the body.
Quist pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Escobar back to the cage. Quist follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

Escobar changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Quist looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Escobar wants to stand but Quist is controlling his arm.
You can see the frustration on Quist's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Escobar is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Quist can do to turn this around?
Escobar tries to stand but Quist controls the position and pulls Escobar into his guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Quist controls Escobar momentarily but Escobar frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Escobar drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Quist dives on top into guard.

Quist trying to control but Escobar is working from the bottom.
Escobar is controlling Quist's posture.
Quist stands and throws Escobar's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Quist wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Quist wants to control but Escobar is keeping him busy.
Escobar struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Quist wants to stand but Escobar is controlling his arm.
Escobar takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Quist wants to stand but Escobar has his arm trapped.
Nicolas Escobar overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Escobar can't do much from the bottom here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Quist shoots for a takedown but Escobar saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Quist misses with a takedown attempt - Escobar sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

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 shoots in and gets a takedown into Quist's guard.
Escobar not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Escobar drops back, looking for a kneebar! Quist looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Quist looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Quist!

Deryck Quist has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Quist lands a nice forearm strike.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Escobar is looking for a sweep.
Nicolas Escobar is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Deryck Quist comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Escobar has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Nicolas Escobar!