PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between AJ Wilder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Javier Escuela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wilder kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Talkin' Da Hardest. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Wilder
vs
Escuela

190 cm
19
265 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

170 cm
26
264 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Urban Fighter

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, AJ Wilder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Javier Escuela!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Escuela misses with a hook to the body

and Wilder moves into the clinch.
Wilder has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Escuela is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Escuela prevents a takedown attempt there.
Escuela letting Wilder take a breather here.
Escuela goes for a takedown in the clinch but Wilder prevents it.
Escuela tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Wilder smiles and moves away.
Escuela tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Wilder manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escuela throws a leg kick
and Wilder connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Some wild striking there from Escuela.

Wilder moves into range and clinches up with Escuela.

Wilder breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilder shoots in for a takedown but Escuela shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for AJ Wilder. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Escuela misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Escuela misses with a low kick.
Wilder feinted with a counter takedown.
Wilder shoots in but no luck this time.

Wilder fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Escuela, pushing him back against the ropes.
Wilder has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Escuela after a bit of a struggle.
Wilder lands a hook to the side of the head.
Escuela jumps guard but Wilder turns him against the ropes and keeps the fight standing.
Wilder has been working on his balance at LOD-Guts & Glory Gym, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Escuela.

Wilder jumps guard.
Wilder will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Escuela has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Wilder is proving hard to escape from.
Wilder working a defensive guard but Escuela manages to pass into side control anyway.
Wilder tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Escuela is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Wilder knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Wilder regains half guard there - taking advantage of Escuela's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

Wilder manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Escuela keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the ropes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Wilder has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Escuela avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Escuela is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the ropes enables Wilder to keep the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escuela wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Wilder has him pressed against the ropes.

Wilder breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Wilder fails to land the takedown.
Javier Escuela seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Wilder gets a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Wilder's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Escuela misses with a hook
and Wilder makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Escuela tries to clinch up.
Escuela tries to close the distance and clinch but Wilder swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Wilder clinches up against the ropes.
Wilder can't get the takedown.
Escuela can't get the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Wilder avoiding damage as Escuela throws knees to the body.

Escuela breaks the clinch.
Wilder moves out of range of the strikes.

Wilder gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Wilder pulls guard successfully.
Wilder is pulling down on Escuela's head. It's preventing any offense from Escuela, at least for the moment.
Wilder lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Wilder tries to free his leg and advance position but Escuela is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

AJ Wilder dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Escuela tries to clinch up but Wilder circles away and keeps his distance.
Wilder tries to score a power double leg takedown but Escuela sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Wilder somewhat.
Escuela is looking to clinch.
Wilder is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Escuela.
Escuela tries to clinch there but Wilder circles away.
Escuela tries to clinch up.
Escuela misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Escuela tries to clinch but Wilder moves out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Escuela. Those never looked like landing.
Wilder shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Escuela as he avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escuela tries to clinch up but Wilder circles away and keeps his distance.
Wilder moves out of range of the body kick from Escuela.
AJ Wilder is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wilder swats away the attempt to clinch by Escuela.
Escuela misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wilder drives through and clinches with Escuela against the ropes.
Escuela is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for AJ Wilder. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A right hook to the body lands for Wilder.
Wilder dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the ropes.
Wilder is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Escuela is defending well.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.
Escuela jumps guard but Wilder stands there with Escuela around his waist. Escuela gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Wilder slowing the pace effectively.
Escuela taking a breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilder dodges an elbow strike from Escuela.
Wilder throws an elbow but it misses.
Escuela can't get the takedown.
Escuela can't get the takedown.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Wilder unloads a knee to the mid-section. Escuela lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Escuela is breathing heavily.
Wilder goes for a takedown attempt but Escuela pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Wilder swats away the attempt to clinch by Escuela.
Wilder seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Wilder tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Escuela swivels and escapes.
Wilder fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
No joy there for Escuela, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Escuela moves to clinch but Wilder breaks away

and Wilder counters with a crisp one two that drops Escuela! Wilder thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Escuela to his feet! Escuela is in big trouble!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escuela falls off balance throwing a combination

and Wilder counters by clinching up.

Wilder gets control of Escuela's arms and successfully pulls guard. Wilder will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Wilder is on top in guard.

Escuela is trying to control the position but Wilder postures up.
Wilder is looking to work some ground and pound but Escuela has wrist control.
Wilder is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Wilder stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wilder fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Escuela throws a lazy body kick

and Wilder counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Wilder.
Escuela fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Wilder goes for a takedown in the clinch but Escuela prevents it.
Wilder effectively controlling the action here.

Wilder successfully pulls guard.
Wilder looking for a sweep. Not yet Wilder, not yet.
Escuela throwing strikes from guard but Wilder blocks nicely.
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.

Wilder pushes Escuela off and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

AJ Wilder dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Wilder has managed to clinch.
Escuela is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Escuela is trying to break free.
Escuela misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Wilder lands with a left to the head.

Wilder jumps guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escuela wants to control from the top but Wilder keeps moving.
Wilder wants to stand but Escuela is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wilder looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Wilder tries to strike from the bottom.
Escuela stopping the sweep attempt from Wilder.
Escuela throwing strikes but missing.
Wilder keeping full guard, as Escuela tries to pass.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Escuela is looking to clinch but Wilder is avoiding it.

That's two 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.
A head kick by Escuela misses

and Wilder moves into the clinch.

Wilder pulls guard.

Wilder has his foot on Escuela's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Escuela works his way back into a safe position though.
Escuela stopping the sweep attempt from Wilder.
Escuela trying to control the position from guard on top but Wilder is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wilder is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Wilder is looking for a triangle but Escuela pushes his legs off easily.
Wilder trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escuela has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Wilder is proving hard to escape from.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Escuela tries to clinch up but Wilder circles away and keeps his distance.
Escuela throws a body kick that misses.
Javier Escuela is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Escuela misses with a kick to the body.
Wilder scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A low kick from Escuela is predictable there

and Wilder holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
AJ Wilder has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Wilder tries for a takedown but Escuela manages to get underhooks.
Escuela tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Wilder smiles and moves away.
Escuela takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A head kick by Escuela misses

and Wilder counters with a crisp one two that drops Escuela! Wilder thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Escuela to his feet! Escuela is in big trouble!

Escuela is rocked!
Javier Escuela seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Escuela throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Wilder is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Escuela can do to turn this around?
Escuela misses with a hook to the body

and Wilder counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Wilder breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wilder gets in close and instigates a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Escuela is trying to force a seperation but Wilder has the dominant position.

Wilder jumps guard.
Escuela trying to move into half guard but instead Wilder has managed to sweep!

Wilder is stalling in the full guard.
Wilder's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wilder trying to control but Escuela is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
AJ Wilder showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Wilder, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... AJ Wilder!
After winning the bout, AJ Wilder thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.