PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Freddie Shepherd (ranked 22368 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rob Escamilla (ranked 4764 p4p, 0 weight class). Escamilla has chosen Slayer: Bloodline as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Shepherd
vs
Escamilla

159 cm
18
177 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

185 cm
21
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Freddie Shepherd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rob Escamilla!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shepherd misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Shepherd tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Escamilla defends well and Shepherd ends up having to push Escamilla into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Escamilla fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Shepherd sprawls well initially but Escamilla persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Escamilla missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Shepherd keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Escamilla trying to advance position but Shepherd counters by regaining guard.
Shepherd might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Escamilla postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Escamilla seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escamilla is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shepherd is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Escamilla is aware though and is defending well.
Escamilla passes into half guard.

Escamilla is working for a kimura but Shepherd is defending it quite comfortably.
Shepherd could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Escamilla content to control rather than advance.

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.
Escamilla prevents Shepherd from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Escamilla is nestled in close to Shepherd, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Shepherd wants to stand back up but Escamilla manages to pass into side control.
Escamilla wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shepherd keeps working.
Escamilla connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Shepherd some visible discomfort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Escamilla stands up.

Escamilla scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Shepherd is breathing heavily.
Shepherd is looking to reverse the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Escamilla decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Shepherd shoots in looking for a takedown but Escamilla manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Shepherd's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Escamilla is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Escamilla stalks Shepherd and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Shepherd's face. Shepherd staggers backwards, shaken.

It looks like Freddie Shepherd has been cut.

Escamilla drives through with a takedown into Shepherd's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Escamilla lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Escamilla is in close to Shepherd's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd is wriggling around but Escamilla manages to pass to half guard.
Escamilla is nestled in close to Shepherd, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Escamilla seems to be working for a kimura but Shepherd defends the submission attempt.
Escamilla with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Escamilla looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Escamilla wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shepherd keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Escamilla dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Freddie Shepherd's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Shepherd has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Escamilla.
Shepherd checks the leg kick nicely there.
Escamilla wants to clinch.

Shepherd gets in close and instigates a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Escamilla has picked Shepherd up - he's going for a ride! Escamilla dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Shepherd is looking to escape.

Escamilla is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Shepherd is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escamilla working the head and body with strikes.
Shepherd is trying to stand back up but Escamilla is controlling him

Escamilla decides to return to a standing position.
The fighters circle, before Escamilla throws a beautiful high kick that crashes into Shepherd's neck, sending him stumbling to the floor! Escamilla lands more strikes and forces a referee stoppage! That one ended in an instant!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:46 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Kick & Punches). Rob Escamilla!
After the fight, Rob Escamilla 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.