PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Efrain Escudero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Rogan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Escudero
vs
Rogan

178 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
150 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Efrain Escudero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Rogan!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Escudero throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Rogan prevents the takedown attempt.
Escudero is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Rogan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rogan tries to clinch up

and Escudero counters with a single leg into guard. Rogan didn't expect that.

Escudero has gone for a leg lock! Rogan slips out almost immediately though and dives into Escudero's guard.

Escudero has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rogan can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rogan would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Escudero throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogan is looking to work some ground and pound but Escudero has wrist control.
Rogan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rogan scoring with some ground and pound.
Rogan postures up and lands a big shot to Escudero's brow.
Rogan is in close to Escudero's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rogan wants to stand but Escudero is controlling his posture from full guard.

Escudero had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Rogan is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Escudero Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Rogan's back instead.
Rogan turns into Escudero and is now in his guard.

Escudero working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Rogan has passed into half guard!
Escudero is breathing heavily.
Nice strikes from Rogan there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rogan wants to take a breather but Escudero is having none of it.
Rogan is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Rogan not doing much here.
Rogan prevents Escudero from improving his position.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rogan is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rogan wants to take a breather but Escudero is having none of it.
Ground and pound from Rogan.
Escudero wants to stand back up but Rogan manages to pass into side control.
The referee asks Rogan politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Rogan prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogan grinds an elbow into Escudero's temple.
Escudero tries to buck Rogan off but Rogan is having none of it.
Escudero is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Rogan's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Rogan is tying to control. Escudero wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Escudero on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Escudero tries to get out of the position.
Escudero has hold of Rogan's hands but Rogan slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Nice strikes from Rogan there.
Rogan passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Escudero!
Escudero working to try and regain half guard.

Rogan looking to secure an arm triangle but Escudero defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escudero taking shots to the head.
Rogan unloads with some shots from mount but Escudero bucks and avoids them well.
Rogan lands with some strikes.
Rogan prevents Escudero from getting the reversal.
Rogan lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Rogan avoids the attempt from Escudero to control.
Escudero takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Rogan working Escudero over with strikes here.

Rogan looking for a guillotine from mount but Escudero is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Escudero is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Joe Rogan will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A jab lands there for Rogan.

Escudero looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Escudero throws a strike but Rogan rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Rogan tries to free his leg and advance position but Escudero is retaining full guard.
Escudero controls Rogan momentarily but Rogan frees himself.

Rogan stands and steps away. Escudero gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Rogan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Escudero manages to avoid it.
Joe Rogan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Escudero shoots in and drives through. Rogan sprawls well.
Rogan thows a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Escudero gets caught flat footed, as Rogan shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Escudero will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Rogan trying to control but Escudero is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rogan might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Escudero kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Escudero will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Escudero looking for subs off his back but Rogan has passed one foot through into half guard.
Rogan is tying to control. Escudero wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Escudero throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rogan works his foot free and advances to mount.
Rogan can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Escudero is looking to escape.
Escudero really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rogan landing strikes from the mount and Escudero is in trouble!

Rogan working for a submission but Escudero is keeping him at bay.
Rogan avoids the attempt from Escudero to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogan lands a heavy elbow.
Rogan wants to control the pace but Escudero is squirming around nicely.
Rogan lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Escudero hang on?
Rogan has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Escudero throwing hammer fists to the chest of Rogan. What's that going to do exactly?
Escudero is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Rogan putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Rogan connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Rogan controlling the pace for now.
Escudero knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rogan on the ground.
Escudero tries to reverse the position but Rogan maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rogan avoids the attempt from Escudero to control.
Escudero is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Rogan scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Rogan scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Escudero is desperately trying to improve his position but Rogan has a good base and remains in mount.
Escudero taking shots to the head.
Escudero gets back to half guard.
Escudero manages to get to full guard.

Rogan gets to his feet - Escudero follows without any prompting.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Rogan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Rogan with a poor takedown

and Escudero counters with a shoot takedown. Rogan fights it but they end up in guard.
Escudero advances to half guard.
Rogan is trying to maintain the position but Escudero is very close to passing his half guard.
Escudero not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Escudero trying to control the pace.
Escudero working over Rogan with some ground and pound. Rogan looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Escudero throws a strike but Rogan avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Escudero lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rogan is trying to keep Escudero in close.
Escudero cracks Rogan with a solid left hand.
Escudero has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogan manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Escudero manages to get himself to full guard.
Rogan is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Rogan wants to control from the top but Escudero keeps moving.
Rogan cracks Escudero with a solid left hand.
Escudero keeping full guard, as Rogan tries to pass.
Escudero tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rogan scoring with punches to the head and body.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Escudero misses with a takedown

so Rogan counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Escudero tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Escudero throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Rogan trying to control but Escudero is working from the bottom.
Escudero thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Rogan passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Rogan is looking to take a break and control but Escudero is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Escudero wants to control but Rogan postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rogan stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Escudero shoots and misses

and Rogan counters with a single leg into guard. Escudero didn't expect that.
Rogan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rogan showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Efrain Escudero has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Escudero keeping moving, preventing Rogan from controlling successfully.
Rogan is in close to Escudero's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rogan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Escudero looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Rogan passes into side control.
Escudero is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Rogan off and has taken his back!

Escudero has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Rogan has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Rogan defends a prolonged rear naked choke attempt and turns nicely into his opponent's guard.
Joe Rogan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rogan passes Escudero's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Rogan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rogan 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Rogan!