PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Braulio Escobar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zico Ali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zico Ali acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Escobar
vs
Ali

187 cm
23
215 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

193 cm
26
220 lbs
8 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Braulio Escobar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zico Ali!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Robert Twigg and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ali gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Escobar pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Escobar instigates a clinch.
Ali changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Escobar fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Escobar stuffs the takedown attempt from Ali. Ali gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice shot lands for Escobar.
A combination from Ali does no damage.
A little feinted left hand from Escobar on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Ali has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Ali misses with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escobar takes a swing at Ali's ribcage but misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ali's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

It looks like Zico Ali has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ali.
Escobar misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Escobar fails to land.
Escobar will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Ali up against the cage.
Escobar working aggressively here.
Ali fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Braulio Escobar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zico Ali.
Ali wants to get back to striking at distance but Escobar won't allow it.
Escobar lands with a light punch inside.
Escobar misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ali has a couple of punches blocked by Escobar.
Ali has had enough of the clinch but Escobar keeps him there for the moment.
Escobar lands a shoulder strike.
I was talking to Escobar's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Escobar lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ali or not.
Escobar is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar has Ali pressed against the cage.
Ali tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Escobar just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ali throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Ali breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ali shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Escobar defends it nicely.
Escobar misses with a body shot.

Ali forces Escobar back against the cage and clinches.
Ali tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Escobar smiles and moves away.

Ali gets a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Escobar tries to work over Ali's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch on the inside from Escobar fails to land.
Ali blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Escobar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zico Ali seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Escobar walks into a jab.

It looks like Braulio Escobar has been cut.

Escobar has Ali up against the cage in a clinch.

Ali breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ali slips a jab from Escobar.
Ali lands a head shot.
Escobar misses with a leg kick
and Ali counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Escobar connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Ali scrambles back to his feet.
Escobar throws a leg kick that is checked

and Ali counters with a takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The ground and pound from Ali seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Ali tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Ali decides to stand back up.
Escobar scores with the left hand. Ali knows he should have avoided that one.
Escobar misses with a hook to the body

and Ali moves into the clinch.

Escobar breaks from the clinch.

Ali closes the distance and clinches.
Escobar stalling the fight.
Escobar tries a body shot but Ali blocks it.
Come on Escobar - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Braulio Escobar dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ali clinches.
Ali tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ali blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Escobar fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Escobar working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Escobar misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ali is trying to break the clinch but Escobar is controlling him.
Ali tries to pull guard but Escobar holds him up against the cage and eventually Ali drops back down to his feet.
A hook to the body from Escobar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escobar doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Escobar leaning against his opponent.
Ali wants a takedown but no success here.
Braulio Escobar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zico Ali.
Ali is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Escobar gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Ali.
Ali is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Escobar gets underhooks to prevent Ali's takedown attempt.

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

Ali fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Escobar, pushing him back against the cage.
Ali tries to break the clinch but Escobar is controlling the position.

Escobar's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A punch combination from Ali misses.
Escobar fires out a quick counter leg kick but Ali just manages to avoid it.

Ali has taken the fight to the clinch.
Escobar has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Ali tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Escobar smiles and moves away.
Escobar looks to land a combination but Ali avoids it well.
Escobar misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Escobar closes the distance and clinches.
Escobar works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Braulio Escobar has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Ali tries to pull guard but Escobar holds him up against the cage and eventually Ali drops back down to his feet.
A nice right hand lands inside from Escobar.
Escobar is stalling here.
Ali wants a takedown.
Escobar will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Ali up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Escobar's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Escobar.

Ali has Escobar up against the cage in a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Escobar fails to land.
Escobar misses with a body punch.
Ali takes a shot to the head.
A nice left hand lands by Escobar.
Escobar tries to work over Ali's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Escobar throws a head punch that misses.
Ali tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Escobar.
Ali tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Escobar makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Escobar lands a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar lands an uppercut.
Ali is trying to force a seperation but Escobar has the dominant position.
Escobar struggles to land a body shot inside as Ali controls his hands.

Escobar's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ali is defended easily by Escobar.
Escobar is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ali can do to turn this around?

Ali clinches up with Escobar and pushes him back against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ali blocking some punches.
Ali drops down looking for an ankle pick but Escobar pulls his leg out and moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Braulio Escobar dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Escobar moves in looking to clinch but Ali pushes him off.

Ali moves into the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Escobar.
Ali is trying to break the clinch but Escobar is controlling him.
Ali is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Escobar is keeping busy.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Escobar.

Ali breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Escobar misses with a series of wild punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ali with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Escobar to score with a decent uppercut.
Escobar misses with a double jab.
And Ali tries to counter it with a takedown but Escobar pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Braulio Escobar is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Escobar counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Ali shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Escobar is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Ali is trying to maintain the position but Escobar is very close to passing his half guard.
Ali wants to get back to his feet.

Escobar decides to stand up.

Ali shoots in and bounces Escobar off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Escobar wriggles free and stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Braulio Escobar is winning the standup battle so far.
Escobar is looking to clinch but Ali is avoiding it.

Ali gets a clinch.
Ali stalls.
Braulio Escobar is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ali tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Escobar misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ali trying to stall but Escobar improves his position.
Ali is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Escobar gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A short right from Escobar.
Escobar lands a hook to the side of the head.

Escobar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Ali rushes Escobar and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ali is trying to break free.
Zico Ali has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Escobar lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ali backwards.
Escobar swings wildly with an uppercut but Ali uses good head movement to avoid it.
Escobar just leaning against Ali, taking a breather.
Ali's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali is trying to break the clinch but Escobar has him pressed against the cage.
Escobar scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Ali struggles to land a body shot inside as Escobar controls his hands.
Ali has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Escobar is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Still in the clinch, Escobar scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ali misses with an elbow over the top.

Escobar breaks the clinch.
Braulio Escobar is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ali throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Escobar.
Escobar was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
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!
Ali pushes Escobar away with a front kick.
Escobar's jab looks to have found its range, popping Ali under the eye.

And that's the end of the fight!
Braulio Escobar showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Escobar has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Braulio Escobar!