PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Francisco Escobar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Panther (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Escobar
vs
Panther

185 cm
25
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

191 cm
33
205 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Knockout power

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Francisco Escobar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Panther!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, David Schapiro and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Left hook, right uppercut from Escobar.

It looks like James Panther has been cut.
Escobar is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Escobar tries to close the distance and clinch but Panther swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Panther manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Escobar on his heels. He'll look to pass Escobar's guard now, I'm sure.
Panther lands a couple of elbows.
Escobar working a defensive guard here.
Panther scoring with punches to the head and body.
Panther postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Escobar is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Panther is aware though and is defending well.
Panther connects with a couple of short punches.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Panther's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Panther postures up and lands a big shot to Escobar's brow.
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!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Panther's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Panther must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Panther is working Escobar over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Panther lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Escobar is rocked!
Panther is working Escobar over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Oh Escobar is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Panther postures up.
Escobar seems to have got his legs back now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Panther trying to control but Escobar is working from the bottom.

Panther is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Escobar is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Escobar has escaped and now he's on top!

Escobar missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Panther wants to stand and escape but Escobar is having none of it.
Escobar throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Panther works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Escobar has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

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

Escobar bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Panther's guard.

Escobar trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar trying to control the position from guard on top but Panther is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Panther can do anything to dispel that myth.
Escobar stops Panther from standing up.
Panther keeping full guard, as Escobar tries to pass.

Panther pushes Escobar off and gets back to his feet.
Escobar lands with a cross.
Francisco Escobar is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Escobar throws a nice looking combination but Panther bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice defenses there by Panther.
Escobar swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Panther tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Escobar was well out of range. Poor timing from Panther.
Escobar works the jab nicely.
Escobar wants to clinch

and Panther counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Panther with a nice head shot there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Panther scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Escobar has momentary wrist control but Panther slips an elbow through the middle.
Escobar has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

Panther content to sit in guard, stalling... Great. Oh but he could get punished here because Escobar has locked up a guillotine! Escobar's face is contorted as he sqeezes tight on the submission attempt - will he finish? Panther is holding on here and Escobar must be using up a lot of energy. Panther has gone limp! He's out! He's out cold! Escobar gets to his feet, tossing aside his stricken foe. Arms raised, he milks the applause from the crowd. Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:51 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Francisco Escobar!