PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Diego Escobar (ranked 483 p4p, 446 weight class) and Ephram Urani (ranked 59 p4p, 55 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Escobar
vs
Urani

182 cm
32
160
30 - 12 - 0

165 cm
33
158
25 - 15 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Groove Gear

Conviction

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 30 - 12 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Diego Escobar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 15 - 1, fighting out of New York, Ephram Urani!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Daniel Bishop and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Escobar lunges at Urani with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Urani's hand.
Escobar blocks a jab.
Escobar with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Urani to score with a decent uppercut.
Escobar on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Escobar dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Escobar keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Urani.
Escobar tests Urani's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Escobar fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Urani manages to avoid it.
Urani has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Escobar throws a right hand that misses
and Urani connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Urani moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Urani throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Escobar counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Escobar needs to keep his hands up - Urani had a free shot at his head there.
Urani ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Urani scores with a leg kick.
Urani blocks a jab.
Urani needs to keep his hands up - Escobar had a free shot at his head there.
Nice shot lands for Urani.
Escobar throws a leg kick but Urani checks it.
Urani turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar misses with an uppercut. Urani saw that one coming.
Escobar checks the leg kick nicely there.
Escobar plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
A nice inside leg kick there by Urani. That's going to slow Escobar down.
Escobar bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Urani's head.
Urani thows a left - swing and a miss!
Urani throws a body shot but no joy.
The fighters circling - Escobar throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Urani blocks a head kick by Escobar.
Urani lands a really nice looking cross but Escobar seems unphased.
Urani checks a low kick from Escobar.
Urani looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Escobar moves out of range of the body kick.
Escobar displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Urani throws out the jab.
It looked like Escobar wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Urani stuns Escobar with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Urani takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice shot lands for Escobar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Urani lands a jab to Escobar's midsection.
Escobar is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Escobar throws a looping overhand right but Urani ducks down to avoid it.
Escobar on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A head kick misses from Escobar.
Escobar misses with a looping left.
Urani looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Escobar takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Urani is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
A telegraphed right hand from Urani misses the target.
Escobar throws a hook but Urani avoids it easily.
Urani turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Urani thows a left - swing and a miss!
Escobar throws a body punch but Urani moves out of range.
A jab from Escobar misses.
Escobar ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Urani moves away.
Escobar attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Urani throws a looping overhand right but Escobar ducks down to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Urani lands a nice shot to the body.
Urani keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Escobar.
Escobar avoids a kick to the body.
Urani lands a jab.
Urani darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Escobar uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Urani.
Urani walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Escobar throws a nice head kick!
Escobar is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Escobar lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Urani wants to slow Escobar down by chopping away at his legs.
Urani pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Urani is looking to clinch but Escobar is avoiding it.
Urani ducks under a wild hook from Escobar.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A head kick misses from Escobar.
Escobar staying out of range there.
Urani connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Escobar's hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters circling a little - Urani finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
A low kick from Escobar is predictable there
and Urani makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Urani connects with a right hand. Escobar shakes it off.
A shot to the liver by Urani. Beautiful body shot.
Escobar walks into a left hand.
Escobar uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Urani.
Urani misses with a wild body shot.
A jab from Escobar misses.
Urani cracks Escobar with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Escobar misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Urani counters with a right hand to the body.
Urani lands with a good body shot.
Urani throws a right hand that misses
letting Escobar counter with a right hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Escobar throws a solid leg kick but Urani takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Escobar.
Escobar misses with a head kick.
Escobar ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Urani moves away.
Urani's jab looks to have found its range, popping Escobar under the eye.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ephram Urani will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Escobar throws a body shot but no joy.
Urani lands with an overhand left.
Urani blocks a jab.
Urani lands a nice shot to the body.
Escobar lands a nice leg kick that just misses Urani's sensitive parts.
Urani takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
The fighters circling - Urani throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Escobar is looking to counter punch.
Urani avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Escobar defending well as Urani loads up on a big left hand.
A little feinted left hand from Escobar on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Escobar misses with a hook. Urani ducked under it nicely.
Urani is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Good shot there by Urani.
Escobar stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Urani looks to throw the jab but Escobar is out of range.
A quick step to the side and Escobar tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Urani jabs Escobar to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Good work by Urani as he checks the leg kick.

Urani fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Escobar, pushing him back against the cage.
Urani blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar has a couple of punches blocked by Urani.
Urani swings wildly with an uppercut but Escobar uses good head movement to avoid it.
Urani lands a left hand.
Escobar lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Escobar misses with a hook from the clinch.
Escobar lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Urani lands with a left to the head.
Escobar misses with a hook to the ribs.
Urani stalling.
Urani tries a body shot but Escobar blocks it.
Escobar fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Escobar has a couple of punches blocked by Urani.
Escobar throws a punch but it's blocked by Urani.
Escobar scores with a shot to the side of Urani's head.
Escobar blocking some punches.
Escobar lands a shoulder strike.
A short right from Urani.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Escobar blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Urani effectively controlling the action here.
Escobar tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Urani lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Urani prevents a body shot from Escobar.
A shot in the inside from Urani.
A right handed body shot lands from Urani.
Escobar misses with a short punch on the inside.
Escobar can't find room to land a body shot as Urani controls the action.
Ephram Urani seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Escobar blocking some punches.
Urani's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Escobar blocking some punches.
Escobar tries to throw a body punch but Urani avoids it by throwing Escobar back against the cage.
Escobar lands with a short shot to the head.
Urani misses with a punch on the inside.

Urani pulls Escobar into guard.
Escobar advances position into side control!
Escobar tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Urani stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Urani tries to buck Escobar off but Escobar is having none of it.
You can see the frustration on Urani's face as Escobar controls the position.
Urani tries to bench press Escobar off him but Escobar keeps the position.
Escobar trying to control the action but Urani is working from the bottom.
Escobar tries to move into full mount but can't pass Urani's legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Urani is looking to reverse the position.
Escobar working away.
Escobar is staying tight to Urani's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Escobar working away.
Urani is trying to work for a sweep but Escobar has mounted him!
Urani is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Escobar tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Escobar tries to control but Urani wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ephram Urani will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Escobar connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A head kick from Escobar lands but Urani takes it in his stride.
Urani goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Urani checks a low kick from Escobar.
Escobar plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Urani scores with a nice head shot.
Escobar takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Urani clinches up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Still in the clinch, Urani scores with a nice short uppercut.
Urani blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Urani throws a head punch that misses.
Urani fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Escobar struggles to land a body shot inside as Urani controls his hands.
Escobar misses with a punch to the body.
Urani is stalling here.
Escobar misses with a hook to the ribs.
Diego Escobar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Urani works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Escobar gets through Urani's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Still in the clinch, Escobar scores with a nice short uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Escobar creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Urani blocks a body shot from Escobar.
Urani pressing his opponent against the cage.
Escobar swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Escobar is leaning against Urani and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Escobar lands a left hand that snaps the head of Urani backwards.
Escobar lands with a short shot to the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Urani.
Escobar tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Urani's elbow.
A hook to the body from Escobar.
Escobar struggles to land a body shot inside as Urani controls his hands.
A shot in the inside from Urani.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Urani scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Urani tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Escobar's elbow.
Urani lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Escobar backwards.
Urani leaning against his opponent.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Urani.
Urani tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Urani lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Urani jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Escobar walks away with a smile on his face. Urani gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Urani connects with a solid leg kick.
Escobar wants to clinch
and Urani counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Escobar shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Urani lands a front kick.
Urani misses with a hook.
A low kick lands for Escobar.
Urani is looking to land body kicks.
Escobar pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Urani will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Escobar throws a solid leg kick but Urani takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Escobar.
Urani slips a straight right by Escobar.
Urani tries to bum rush Escobar with a series of wild strikes but Escobar uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ephram Urani seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Urani throws a wild body kick that Escobar sees coming a mile off.
Nice body punch from Urani.
Urani throws a right and a left that both miss.
Urani gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Urani throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Escobar throws a hook but Urani blocks it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Urani.
Urani uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Escobar.
Urani lands a front kick.
Escobar throws a jab when Urani was well out of range.
Urani works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Urani moves away.
Escobar fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Urani manages to avoid it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Urani goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Urani throws a hook but Escobar blocks it.
Escobar listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Urani throws a head kick but Escobar moves out of range.
Urani thuds his right hand into Escobar's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Urani slips a straight right by Escobar.
Urani checks a leg kick nicely.
Escobar looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Escobar takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Escobar fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Urani manages to avoid it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Urani connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Escobar throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Urani connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Escobar moves into range and connects with a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ephram Urani comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Urani 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 James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ephram Urani!