PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Miguel Escrima (ranked 1404 p4p, 228 weight class) and Tebato Nakara (ranked 5043 p4p, 643 weight class). Escrima comes to the cage accompanied by Bamboleo. 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.

Escrima
vs
Nakara

177 cm
33
165 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

177 cm
44
169 lbs
22 - 21 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Powerful

Freebok (85% Laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Miguel Escrima!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 21 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tebato Nakara!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Shirou Masuda and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Escrima defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Nakara.

Nakara drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Escrima tries to bench press Nakara off him but Nakara keeps the position.
Escrima is working hard here to advance position.
Nakara creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Escrima tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nakara wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Escrima manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Nakara looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Escrima pushes past his half guard into mount!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Escrima is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Nakara to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Nakara shrugs it off.
Nakara is desperately trying to improve his position but Escrima has a good base and remains in mount.

Escrima jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Nakara manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Nakara is looking to regain half guard here but Escrima keeps moving and retains side control.

Escrima is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nakara is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Escrima is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Nakara knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Escrima is trying to get an arm triangle but Nakara is defending well.
Nakara sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Escrima is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Nakara looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Nakara actively working from the bottom here.

Nakara is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Escrima pulls his head out easily.

That's two 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.

Nakara looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Nakara looking for submissions off his back.

Escrima is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nakara defends it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Escrima is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Escrima is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Nakara sees it coming and defends easily.

Nakara looking for submissions off his back.

Escrima is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Nakara doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Escrima.

Escrima seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakara won't allow Escrima to pass to mount.

Escrima moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Nakara.

Escrima is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Nakara knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Escrima tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Nakara tries to improve position but can't.
Nakara is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Escrima is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Nakara doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Escrima.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Escrima is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Nakara has managed to free his arm - good work.

Nakara looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Nakara actively working from the bottom here.

Escrima is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Escrima is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Nakara doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Escrima.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Nakara looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Escrima dominated that round.
That's time! Escrima's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Escrima throws a hook but Nakara avoids it easily.

Escrima gets caught napping as Nakara dives in and scores a takedown. Escrima manages to retain guard.

Escrima has his foot on Nakara's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nakara works his way back into a safe position though.

Nakara avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Escrima working for a triangle but Nakara defends it easily.
Nakara working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Escrima's head.
Nakara is working Escrima over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Escrima preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Escrima looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Escrima escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nakara gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Escrima looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Nakara stands up over Escrima, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakara distracts Escrima with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Escrima looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nakara with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Nakara working some strikes from top position.
Escrima lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Escrima drops back looking for a leg! Nakara is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nakara manages to kick Escrima off! Escrima jumps back into Nakara's guard.

Nakara is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Escrima tries to free his leg and advance position but Nakara is retaining full guard.

Nakara throws his legs up looking for a submission but Escrima uses it to pass to side control.
Nakara is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Escrima is trying to work for a kimura but Nakara is defending well.

Nakara looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nakara is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Escrima pulls his head out easily.

Escrima seems to be looking for submissions.

Escrima is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Escrima is looking for a kimura but Nakara is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Escrima to get the leverage.

Nakara looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Escrima is working for a submission of some sort.

Escrima is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Escrima is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Nakara has managed to free his arm - good work.

Nakara is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Escrima pulls his head out easily.

Nakara looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Escrima is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Nakara doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Escrima.

Nakara looking for submissions off his back.
Miguel Escrima overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Nakara looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Escrima is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nakara defends it well.

Nakara is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Escrima pulls his head out easily.

Escrima is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Nakara doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Escrima.

Nakara looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Nakara is defending against the submission attempts here by Escrima.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tebato Nakara will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nakara looks for a takedown but Escrima sprawls well.
Escrima throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nakara fails to land the takedown.
Nakara dives in for a single leg takedown but Escrima sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Miguel Escrima has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tebato Nakara.
Nakara shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Escrima counters with a thumping low kick.
Tebato Nakara is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Escrima throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Nakara shoots in for a double leg but Escrima sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nakara goes for a double leg but Escrima avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Escrima continues to drive forward.
Escrima is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big right from Escrima misses.
Nakara ducks right into an uppercut from Escrima.
Nakara fails to land the takedown.
Nakara takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Escrima misses with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escrima swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nakara fails with the takedown
letting Escrima counter with a right hand.
A big left from Escrima misses.
Nakara changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
A slapping leg kick lands for Escrima.
Nakara doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Nakara takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Escrima scores with the left hand. Nakara knows he should have avoided that one.
Nakara staying out of range there.
Nakara goes for a double leg but Escrima avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Escrima continues to drive forward.
Nakara shoots in looking for a takedown. Escrima tries to sprawl out of it but Nakara keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Escrima manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nakara on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escrima throws out a loose jab but Nakara uses good head movement to avoid it.

Nakara shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Escrima's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Escrima is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

Escrima has his feet on Nakara's thighs here. He's pushed Nakara off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Nakara screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Miguel Escrima!
Miguel Escrima retains his welterweight title!
Our winner, Miguel Escrima, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.