PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paulio Escobar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paulio Escobar has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Escobar
vs
Ibrahimovic

175 cm
25
239 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

195 cm
21
236 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Good chin

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Paulio Escobar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Zlatan Ibrahimovic!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Gregory Folan and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Escobar shoots in for a double leg but Ibrahimovic sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Escobar walks into a stiff left hand from Ibrahimovic.

Ibrahimovic gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Escobar tries to free his leg and advance position but Ibrahimovic is retaining full guard.
Escobar trying to control the position from guard on top but Ibrahimovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Escobar is fighting to break Ibrahimovic's control of his arms but Ibrahimovic is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escobar pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ibrahimovic is keeping the position for now.
Escobar has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Escobar trying to control the position from guard on top but Ibrahimovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibrahimovic wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Ibrahimovic keeping full guard, as Escobar tries to pass.
Escobar is working hard here to advance position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Escobar shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ibrahimovic as he jumps to the side.
Escobar fails with the takedown
enabling Ibrahimovic to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paulio Escobar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Escobar tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ibrahimovic defends well and Escobar ends up having to push Ibrahimovic into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
A little jabbing left from Ibrahimovic on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Escobar misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ibrahimovic.
Ibrahimovic lands a nice shot to the body.
Paulio Escobar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Escobar gets a takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar wants to advance to full mount but Ibrahimovic doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Ibrahimovic wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Escobar stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ibrahimovic swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Escobar wants to pass the guard but Ibrahimovic is keeping the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Escobar looking to sit in guard and control but Ibrahimovic gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Escobar lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Ibrahimovic 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.
Escobar trying to control the position from guard on top but Ibrahimovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Escobar tries to free his leg and advance position but Ibrahimovic is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ibrahimovic 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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Escobar forces his way into half guard.
Escobar trying to control from half guard but Ibrahimovic is working away.
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 Paulio Escobar will probably get the nod.
That's time! Escobar's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ibrahimovic swings for the body but Escobar moves out of range.
Ibrahimovic just misses with a punch to the body.
Escobar closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ibrahimovic circles away.
Ibrahimovic appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Ibrahimovic defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Escobar.
Ibrahimovic throws out a counter right but Escobar avoids it with no problem.
Ibrahimovic slaps away a takedown attempt from Escobar, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paulio Escobar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Escobar shoots for a takedown but Ibrahimovic saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Escobar swings away with a body shot that misses
and Ibrahimovic counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Paulio Escobar has been cut.

Ibrahimovic gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ibrahimovic prevents the takedown attempt.
Ibrahimovic lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Escobar backwards.
Escobar jumps guard but Ibrahimovic turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ibrahimovic prevents the takedown attempt.
Ibrahimovic lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Escobar tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ibrahimovic smiles and moves away.
Escobar misses with a takedown attempt - Ibrahimovic sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ibrahimovic is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Escobar fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar shoots for a takedown but Ibrahimovic saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ibrahimovic lands a nice shot to the body.
Ibrahimovic has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A shot to the liver by Ibrahimovic. Beautiful body shot.
Escobar has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Escobar is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Paulio Escobar's cut is getting worse.
Ibrahimovic comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Escobar on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Ibrahimovic cracks Escobar with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Escobar looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Ibrahimovic finish him?

Escobar is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ibrahimovic ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Oh Escobar is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Ibrahimovic pounces like a tiger and cracks Escobar with a vicious hook! Escobar is down but not out! Ibrahimovic follows up with more strikes forcing the ref to jump in and stop it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Zlatan Ibrahimovic!
After winning the bout, Zlatan Ibrahimovic thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.