PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Juan Escobar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pavel Katasonov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Escobar comes to the cage accompanied by Warning by The Notrious BIG. Katasonov has chosen In Extremo - Wind as his entrance music. On his way into the cage it seems that Juan Escobar has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Juan Escobar seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Escobar
vs
Katasonov

175 cm
23
155 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

175 cm
24
164 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

White Gorilla Nutrition

Blueprint Clothing
Tesla Apparel [Everything $15!]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Juan Escobar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pavel Katasonov!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Steve Smith and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Escobar dodges the punch combination from Katasonov.
Escobar misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Escobar looks for a takedown but Katasonov sprawls well.
Escobar tries for a takedown but Katasonov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juan Escobar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Katasonov just misses with a punch to the body.
Pavel Katasonov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Escobar shoots in and drives through. Katasonov sprawls well.
Katasonov throws a right hand that Escobar ducks under and follows up with a left that Escobar also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar shoots for a double leg takedown but Katasonov sprawls well. He's pushed Escobar's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Katasonov misses the target.
Escobar tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Katasonov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Escobar walks into a stiff left hand from Katasonov.
Decent striking displayed by Katasonov there.
Escobar will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A swing and a miss from Katasonov.
Escobar shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Escobar shoots in but Katasonov avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar ducks under a wild hook from Katasonov.
Escobar ducks under a wild hook from Katasonov.
Katasonov throws a hook but Escobar avoids it easily.
Katasonov just misses with a punch to the body.
Katasonov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Escobar throws a lazy right hand but Katasonov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Escobar avoids the head kick by Katasonov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Katasonov missing with a left hand there. Escobar was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Katasonov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Escobar was well out of range. Poor timing from Katasonov.
Katasonov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Escobar shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Katasonov pinned against the cage. Katasonov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Escobar fails in his attempt to clinch.
Escobar misses with a takedown attempt - Katasonov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Escobar slips a jab from Katasonov.
Escobar showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Katasonov.
Katasonov connects with a single shot there.
Escobar will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Katasonov swings for the body but Escobar moves out of range.
Escobar looks to land a left hand but Katasonov moved out of range nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pavel Katasonov dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Escobar shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Escobar fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Escobar will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juan Escobar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Katasonov throws out a loose jab but Escobar uses good head movement to avoid it.
Katasonov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Escobar closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Katasonov is trying to maintain the position but Escobar is very close to passing his half guard.
Katasonov wants to improve his position but Escobar is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katasonov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Escobar is working away from the top position though.

Escobar is trying to work for a kimura but Katasonov is defending well.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Katasonov trying to control but Escobar postures up.
Katasonov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Escobar.
Katasonov is in trouble now - Escobar has advanced to mount!

Escobar working for a submission but Katasonov is keeping him at bay.
Katasonov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The referee warns Katasonov that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Katasonov is trying desperately to improve position.
Escobar avoids the attempt from Katasonov to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar wants to control the pace but Katasonov is squirming around nicely.

Escobar looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Katasonov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Escobar with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Escobar has hold of Katasonov's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Katasonov manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Katasonov tries to lock up and control but Escobar gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Escobar looking to control but Katasonov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Escobar looking to secure an arm triangle but Katasonov defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Katasonov is in all sorts of trouble here.
Escobar is trying to take his opponent's back.
Katasonov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Katasonov tries to reverse the position but Escobar maintains control.

Escobar with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Katasonov sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Katasonov kicks off Escobar and gets to his feet.
Escobar tries to clinch up but Katasonov circles away and keeps his distance.
Katasonov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Escobar sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Katasonov scores with a jab to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar checks a low kick from Katasonov.
A telegraphed right hand from Katasonov misses the target.
Juan Escobar is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Katasonov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Pavel Katasonov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A jab from Katasonov does it's job there.
Katasonov throws a lazy right hand but Escobar sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Katasonov lands a glancing blow to the side of Escobar's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Katasonov throws a jab but it's blocked by Escobar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pavel Katasonov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Escobar shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Katasonov but Katasonov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Escobar shoots in for a takedown but Katasonov shows good takedown defense.
Escobar moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Katasonov tries to bum rush Escobar with a series of wild strikes but Escobar uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Katasonov tries to bum rush Escobar with a series of wild strikes but Escobar uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Escobar throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Katasonov's waist but Katasonov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Escobar off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juan Escobar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Katasonov swinging wilding here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katasonov misses with a looping right.
Katasonov scores with a body shot.
Katasonov waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Escobar.
Katasonov tries to score with a low kick but Escobar moves his leg out of the way.
Escobar uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Katasonov.
Escobar showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Katasonov.
Katasonov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Escobar is looking to clinch but Katasonov is avoiding it.
Escobar dodges the punch combination from Katasonov.
Escobar ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Escobar shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Escobar gets a takedown into half guard.
Katasonov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Katasonov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Katasonov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Katasonov 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 is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Escobar is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Escobar is stalling in the full guard.
Escobar won't allow Katasonov to sweep him here.
Juan Escobar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Katasonov controlling the position.
Pavel Katasonov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Escobar throwing strikes from guard but Katasonov blocks nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Katasonov throws a right hand that Escobar ducks under and follows up with a left that Escobar also avoids with ease.
Katasonov looks to land a combination but Escobar avoids it well.
Escobar on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Escobar closes the distance and clinches up with Katasonov, looking for a takedown. Escobar pushes Katasonov against the cage but Katasonov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
No luck for Escobar with that takedown attempt.
Katasonov misses with a body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pavel Katasonov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Katasonov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pavel Katasonov!