PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Raymond Reddington (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thom Epicosuarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Reddington
vs
Epicosuarez

189 cm
24
198 lbs
7 - 9 - 0

188 cm
23
191 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Raymond Reddington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Thom Epicosuarez!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Steve Montenegro and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reddington throws a shot from downtown. Epicosuarez moves away and avoids it.
Epicosuarez misses with a hook.
Reddington jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Epicosuarez closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Reddington quickly recovers to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Reddington manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Reddington rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Epicosuarez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Some wild striking there from Reddington.
Reddington scores with a sloppy right hand. Epicosuarez should have avoided that one.
Reddington misses with a double jab
letting Epicosuarez counter with a right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Reddington looks to score with a jab to the body but Epicosuarez is just out of range.

Epicosuarez drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Reddington tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Epicosuarez wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Epicosuarez working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Reddington knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Epicosuarez on the ground.
Reddington is trying to improve his position.
Reddington is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Epicosuarez working away.
Reddington is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Epicosuarez has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Reddington tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Epicosuarez working away.
Epicosuarez working the head and body with strikes.
Reddington tries to escape but Epicosuarez is in control.

Epicosuarez is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Reddington knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Reddington is looking to get back to his feet here but Epicosuarez is keeping cool and he's managed to take Reddington's back.
Reddington rolls, trying to escape but Epicosuarez keeps control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Epicosuarez has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Reddington.
Reddington is really stuck here.
Epicosuarez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Reddington wants to get back to his feet.
Well, with Epicosuarez on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Reddington is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Reddington breaks Epicosuarez's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Reddington won't allow Epicosuarez to sweep him here.
Reddington has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Epicosuarez is proving hard to escape from.
Reddington looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Epicosuarez is trying to keep Reddington in close.

Epicosuarez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Reddington won't allow Epicosuarez to sweep him here.
Epicosuarez has a closed guard, preventing Reddington from standing up.
Epicosuarez working a defensive guard here.
Epicosuarez looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Reddington controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Epicosuarez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Reddington doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Reddington manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Epicosuarez is working an open guard so Reddington takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Epicosuarez feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Reddington wants to stand but Epicosuarez is controlling the position.
Epicosuarez distracts Reddington with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Reddington controlling Epicosuarez's posture.
Reddington lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Reddington trying to control but Epicosuarez is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Thom Epicosuarez will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Reddington fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Epicosuarez manages to avoid it.

Epicosuarez closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Reddington to the mat! Reddington manages to get full guard.
Reddington trying to keep a closed guard but Epicosuarez is proving a slippery customer.
Reddington wants to get back to his feet but Epicosuarez is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Reddington tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Epicosuarez is looking to work some ground and pound but Reddington has wrist control.
Reddington 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.
Reddington working a defensive guard here.
Epicosuarez is looking to work some ground and pound but Reddington has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Epicosuarez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Reddington is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Epicosuarez is controlling him.
Epicosuarez trying to control the position from guard on top but Reddington is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Reddington loads up on a big right hand but Epicosuarez slips the punch.
Reddington connects with a good right hand that stumbles Epicosuarez. Epicosuarez circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Epicosuarez feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Reddington's calf.
Reddington scores with a body shot.
Reddington connects with a nice looking jab.
Reddington connects with the punch.
Epicosuarez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Reddington throws a right and a left that both miss.
Epicosuarez listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Some wild striking there from Reddington.
Reddington fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Reddington. Epicosuarez does a little dance to reset his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Reddington throws a body shot but no joy.
Epicosuarez dodges the punch combination from Reddington.
Epicosuarez takes a jab right on the kisser.
Raymond Reddington is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Epicosuarez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Raymond Reddington is winning the standup battle so far.
Reddington digs a good hook to Epicosuarez's body.
Reddington misses with a few strikes there.
Raymond Reddington is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Reddington showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Epicosuarez.
Reddington swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Epicosuarez moves into the clinch successfully.

Reddington manages to break the clinch.
Reddington lands a nice shot to the body.
Good shot there by Reddington.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Epicosuarez shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Reddington napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Reddington is looking to get back to his feet here but Epicosuarez is keeping cool and he's managed to take Reddington's back.
Will Epicosuarez go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Thom Epicosuarez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Epicosuarez has the hooks in. Reddington is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Reddington is keeping busy.
Epicosuarez might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Reddington haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Reddington manages to stand up with Epicosuarez still on his back. Eventually Epicosuarez drops to his feet and we're back in the standing position.
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!
Nice shot by Reddington.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reddington rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Epicosuarez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Epicosuarez lands a nice looking body shot.
Reddington is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Epicosuarez throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Reddington was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Epicosuarez throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Reddington sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Epicosuarez thows a left - swing and a miss!
Epicosuarez throws a nice looking combination but Reddington bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Reddington throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Epicosuarez.
Epicosuarez throws a jab but it's blocked by Reddington.
Epicosuarez misses with a hook. Reddington ducked under it nicely.
Reddington shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Epicosuarez eats them both and turns towards Reddington to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Nice shot by Reddington.
Reddington with a body punch. A glancing blow.
No joy there for Reddington, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Reddington throws a sloppy body shot
and Epicosuarez counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Reddington moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raymond Reddington dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Reddington staying out of range there.
Epicosuarez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Epicosuarez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Reddington's guard.
Epicosuarez stopping the sweep attempt from Reddington.
Reddington is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Epicosuarez is controlling him.

Reddington manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Reddington goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Epicosuarez misses with a body punch.

Epicosuarez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Reddington uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Epicosuarez has time to react.
Reddington with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reddington's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Reddington duly obliges.
Reddington dips to his left and cracks Epicosuarez with an uppercut!
Reddington scores with a nice head shot.
Epicosuarez takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Reddington lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Epicosuarez takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Reddington slips a jab and a cross from Epicosuarez.
Reddington bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Reddington avoids the body shot from Epicosuarez.
Epicosuarez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Reddington keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Epicosuarez.
Reddington lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Epicosuarez circles away quickly and effectively.
Epicosuarez looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Reddington works over Epicosuarez's head and body with a nice combination.
Epicosuarez lands with a thumping leg kick.
Sloppy strikes from Reddington. Those never looked like landing.
Reddington uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Epicosuarez.
Reddington scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Epicosuarez tries to clinch but Reddington moves out of range.
Reddington is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Epicosuarez can do to turn this around?

Epicosuarez drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Epicosuarez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Reddington is trying to improve his position.
Reddington taking punishment in the form of punches.
Reddington is holding Epicosuarez down, trying to stall.
You can see the frustration on Reddington's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Reddington is trying to improve his position.
Reddington is not content to let Epicosuarez control the position.
Reddington is trying to control Epicosuarez's posture but Epicosuarez avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reddington is looking to reverse the position.
Epicosuarez cracks Reddington with a big right hand but Reddington just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Reddington can't do much from the bottom here.
Reddington is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Epicosuarez is controlling him well.
Epicosuarez trying to control the position but Reddington is working away.
Reddington is looking to regain half guard here but Epicosuarez keeps moving and retains side control.
Epicosuarez landing a few strikes.
Epicosuarez working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Epicosuarez trying to control the position but Reddington is working away.
Epicosuarez has control of an arm but Reddington manages to advance to Epicosuarez's back!
Reddington struggling to keep hold of the position.
Epicosuarez tries to escape the position.
Will Reddington go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
I would not like to be Epicosuarez right now.
Epicosuarez is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Reddington really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Epicosuarez.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raymond Reddington showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Reddington 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raymond Reddington!
After the fight, Raymond Reddington was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.