PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ademola Cisse (ranked 2447 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juan Carlos Escobar (ranked 5020 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Cisse
vs
Carlos Escobar

187 cm
25
155 lbs
6 - 8 - 0

183 cm
27
159 lbs
11 - 12 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ademola Cisse!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Juan Carlos Escobar!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Eddie Farnsworth and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Escobar throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Escobar throws a right and a left that Cisse avoids nicely.
Escobar misses with a wild combination.
Escobar throws a right hand that Cisse ducks under and follows up with a left that Cisse also avoids with ease.
Cisse is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Escobar.
Escobar throws a series of punches but Cisse avoids them all with ease.
Cisse really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Escobar keeps the fight on the outside.
Cisse tries to clinch but Escobar moves out of range.
Cisse looks for a takedown but Escobar sprawls well.
Escobar is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Escobar throws a right and a left that both miss.
A combination from Escobar does no damage.
Cisse shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Escobar as he jumps to the side.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Escobar throws a jab when Cisse was well out of range.
Cisse showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Escobar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cisse tries to clinch but Escobar moves out of range.
Escobar tries to bum rush Cisse with a series of wild strikes but Cisse uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Escobar looks winded!
A shot to the liver by Cisse. Beautiful body shot.
Escobar rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cisse moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cisse tries for a takedown but Escobar sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ademola Cisse. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cisse is looking to clinch.
Escobar misses with the combination.

Cisse gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Cisse tries a body shot but Escobar blocks it.

Cisse pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Escobar defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cisse.
Cisse fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cisse half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Juan Carlos Escobar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Escobar avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Escobar throws a series of punches but Cisse moves out of range.
Cisse throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Escobar lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cisse circles away quickly and effectively.
Cisse half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Escobar scores with a nice head shot.
Cisse cracks Escobar with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Escobar fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cisse lands with a nice body kick.
Cisse dodges the punch combination from Escobar.
Cisse tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cisse lands with a kick to the temple. Escobar shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Escobar scores with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Cisse is looking to clinch but Escobar is avoiding it.
Escobar lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Cisse wants to clinch.

Cisse clinches up with Escobar and pushes him back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Escobar's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Escobar tries to break free but Cisse pushes him back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Escobar's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Cisse jumps guard and drags Escobar to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Cisse is working an open guard so Escobar takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Cisse tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Escobar paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Escobar tries to bum rush Cisse with a series of wild strikes but Cisse uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cisse jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Escobar goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Escobar uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Cisse has time to react.
Cisse defending well as Escobar loads up on a big left hand.

Cisse closes the distance and clinches.
Cisse is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Escobar is defending well.
Escobar has had enough of the clinch but Cisse keeps him there for the moment.
Escobar tries to break free but Cisse pushes him back against the cage.
Cisse keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Escobar's efforts to push away.

Cisse breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Escobar lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cisse circles away quickly and effectively.
Cisse went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Cisse throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Escobar's waist but Escobar gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cisse off to one side.
Escobar keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Carlos Escobar dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cisse tries to clinch up but Escobar circles away and keeps his distance.
Danga de danga de dang - Escobar scores with a four punch combination!
Cisse is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Escobar throws out a loose jab but Cisse uses good head movement to avoid it.
Escobar throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cisse.
Escobar slaps away a takedown attempt from Cisse, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Cisse shoots in looking for a takedown. Escobar tries to sprawl out of it but Cisse keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Escobar manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escobar keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ademola Cisse. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A punch combination from Escobar misses.
It looked like Cisse was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Escobar.
Escobar has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Escobar misses with a double jab.
Cisse shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Escobar but Escobar pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar throws a one two combo.
Ademola Cisse is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cisse takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Escobar throws a series of punches but Cisse avoids them all with ease.
Escobar misses with a hook. Cisse ducked under it nicely.
Cisse fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Escobar feints a jab promting Cisse to slip. Escobar then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Cisse slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Escobar misses with the combination.
Cisse seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Cisse wants to clinch up but Escobar keeps it at a distance.
Escobar is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Cisse closes this distance looking for a takedown but Escobar circles away.
Escobar connects with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Escobar misses with a jab, cross combination.
Escobar throws a right and a left that both miss.
Juan Carlos Escobar is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A punch combination from Escobar misses.
Juan Carlos Escobar seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cisse lands with a good body shot.
Cisse showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Escobar.
Cisse tries to close the distance and clinch but Escobar swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cisse slips a jab and a cross from Escobar.
Cisse swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Cisse fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Escobar looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Cisse is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cisse tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Escobar swivels and escapes.
Escobar fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Cisse on the side of the head.
Escobar scores with a jab. Cisse acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A combination from Escobar does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cisse looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Escobar is fending him off so far but Cisse persists. Nope, Escobar circles away and we're back to standing.
Escobar tries to bum rush Cisse with a series of wild strikes but Cisse uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Escobar throws a poor cross that misses
and Cisse counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Cisse fails in his attempt to clinch.
Escobar throws a right and a left that Cisse avoids nicely.
Cisse wants to clinch.
Escobar takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Cisse shoots in and drives through. Escobar sprawls well.
Escobar throws a nice looking combination but Cisse bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Escobar throws a series of punches but Cisse avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cisse cracks a nice hook into Escobar's ribs.
Escobar throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cisse sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cisse tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Escobar paws at him with a jab and circles away.
It seemed like Escobar was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Escobar connects with the punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Escobar looks to land a right hand but Cisse moved out of range.
Escobar throws a right and a left that Cisse avoids nicely.
Cisse half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Escobar avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Cisse gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Escobar gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cisse.
Escobar tries to circle away but Cisse has him pinned against the cage.

Escobar manages to break the clinch.
Cisse takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Escobar misses with the combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Carlos Escobar 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. This is the final round!

Cisse tries to close the distance and clinch but Escobar swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cisse slips a jab and a cross from Escobar.
Cisse tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Escobar manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cisse tries to clinch but Escobar moves out of range.
Escobar tries to bum rush Cisse with a series of wild strikes but Cisse uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Escobar misses with a combination
and Cisse counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Escobar slaps away a takedown attempt from Cisse, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Cisse looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Escobar is fending him off so far but Cisse persists. Nope, Escobar circles away and we're back to standing.
No joy there for Escobar, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escobar fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Escobar throws a combination that misses
enabling Cisse to counter with a crisp jab.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cisse throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Escobar.
Cisse shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ademola Cisse. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cisse throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Escobar's waist but Escobar gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cisse off to one side.
Escobar misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Cisse closes the distance and clinches.
Escobar is trying to push Cisse away but Cisse has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Escobar working hard to break the clinch.
Cisse taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Cisse fails to pull guard.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Escobar is looking to break free of the clinch but Cisse has double underhooks.
Cisse fails to pull guard.
Escobar is looking to break free of the clinch but Cisse has double underhooks.
Escobar stops a takedown attempt from Cisse.
Cisse keeps control of Escobar as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Escobar's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cisse throws a leg kick which misses Escobar's front leg but catches the back leg as Escobar tries to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Cisse shoots for a takedown but Escobar saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nice straight punches there by Escobar. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Escobar.
Escobar displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Escobar pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cisse fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cisse shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Escobar as he jumps to the side.
Nice jab there from Escobar.
Escobar misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cisse changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Cisse shoots for a takedown but Escobar saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Escobar misses with a combination
letting Cisse counter with a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cisse staying out of range there.
Cisse bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Escobar stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Escobar wants it to stay on the feet.
Escobar scores with a jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Escobar misses the target.
As Escobar tries to get set, Cisse tries to push him back and clinch up but Escobar manages to avoid the attempt.
Cisse fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Escobar throws a nice looking combination but Cisse bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Escobar rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cisse moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cisse looks to land a combination. Escobar sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Escobar throws a nice looking combination but Cisse bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cisse appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Nice takedown defense from Escobar. No joy for Cisse on that attempt.
Escobar lands a jab to the nose.
Cisse tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Escobar defends well and Cisse ends up having to push Escobar into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Escobar misses with a few strikes there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cisse wants to clinch up but Escobar keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Cisse instigates a clinch.

Cisse escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Escobar throws a nice looking combination but Cisse bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cisse fails with a takedown attempt.
Escobar might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Escobar throws a good cross that connects.
Cisse wants to clinch up but Escobar keeps it at a distance.
Escobar lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Escobar misses with a few strikes there.
No joy there for Escobar, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ademola Cisse has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Juan Carlos Escobar is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Cisse goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juan Carlos Escobar comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Escobar 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juan Carlos Escobar!