PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Escobar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shawn McGrady (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McGrady is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Real American. Aaron Escobar has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Escobar
vs
McGrady

183 cm
23
193 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

191 cm
22
213 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aaron Escobar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shawn McGrady!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Stewart Dunkirk and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Escobar works the jab nicely.

Escobar scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Escobar decides to stand up, so the ref orders McGrady to his feet.
Escobar has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Escobar jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
McGrady takes one to the side of the head.
McGrady has his takedown stuffed

and Escobar holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Escobar manages to break the clinch.
McGrady with a poor takedown

and Escobar counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Escobar stands and steps away. McGrady gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

McGrady 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.
Escobar keeping full guard, as McGrady tries to pass.
McGrady passes Escobar's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Escobar is trying to get back to full guard.
Escobar blocking the ground and pound attempt from McGrady.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McGrady wants to work for an arm triangle but Escobar is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Escobar is trying to maintain the position but McGrady is very close to passing his half guard.
McGrady frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
McGrady thowing shots but they're missing.
McGrady has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
McGrady sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Escobar tries to hold on but McGrady postures up.
Escobar knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for McGrady on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
McGrady can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Escobar is looking to escape.
Escobar just holding on.
Escobar tries to hold on but McGrady postures up.
Escobar keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
McGrady trying to control but Escobar is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Escobar is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar tries to reverse the position but McGrady maintains control.

McGrady is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Escobar can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Escobar is desperately trying to improve his position but McGrady has a good base and remains in mount.

Escobar defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from McGrady.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Escobar tries to reverse the position but McGrady maintains control.
Escobar tries to hold on but McGrady postures up.
McGrady throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

McGrady goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Escobar is on top in guard.
Escobar would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McGrady throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

McGrady fails with the takedown

and Escobar counters with a single leg into guard. McGrady didn't expect that.

McGrady is looking for a triangle but Escobar pushes his legs off easily.
McGrady wants to sweep but no luck.
McGrady keeping moving, preventing Escobar from controlling successfully.
Escobar is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Escobar has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

McGrady escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Escobar gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
McGrady is breathing heavily.
Escobar wants to stand but McGrady is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGrady controls Escobar momentarily but Escobar frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Escobar gets to his feet. McGrady looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Left hook, right uppercut from Escobar.
McGrady avoids a punch combination nicely.
Some wild striking there from Escobar.
McGrady with a lazy takedown attempt
and Escobar counters with a nice uppercut.
Escobar lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Escobar changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. McGrady looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Escobar trying to control the position but McGrady is working away.

Escobar decides to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Escobar closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Escobar controls the position.
McGrady manages to get back to half guard.
McGrady wants to improve his position but Escobar is controlling well.
McGrady tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Escobar has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
McGrady tries to reverse the position but Escobar maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar controlling from the full mount.

Escobar with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Escobar here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
McGrady is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
McGrady is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Escobar controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Escobar has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of McGrady's face.
Escobar wants to control the pace but McGrady is squirming around nicely.
McGrady tries to reverse the position but Escobar maintains control.
Escobar tries to control but McGrady wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Escobar dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

McGrady doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Escobar counters with a three punch combo that has McGrady backing up. McGrady nods at Escobar to acknowledge the strikes.
McGrady misses with a takedown
enabling Escobar to counter with a crisp jab.
Escobar clobbers McGrady with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Escobar throws a one two combo.
Escobar lands a hook that stumbles McGrady back into the cage. Escobar follows up with a straight and another hook that land right on the button, dropping McGrady to the canvas! Escobar pounces and lands several unanswered shots - McGrady has had enough and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Aaron Escobar!