PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight kickboxing rules bout between Juan Escobar (ranked 6381 p4p, 6133 weight class) and Charlie River (ranked 493 p4p, 476 weight class). River has chosen Waylon Jennings - I've Always Been Crazy as his entrance music. The key to victory for Juan Escobar has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Escobar
vs
River

165 cm
19
145
4 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
145
4 - 0 - 0

Excellent MT
Very quick

Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Dr Zoidberg Office

Dr Zoidberg Office
Conviction

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Juan Escobar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Charlie River!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Sosuke Kotani and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
River throws a body shot but no joy.
Escobar throws a hook to the side of River's head but River sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
River looks like he wants to counter punch here.
River has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Escobar finds it's way round the side to connect with River's head.
Escobar lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Escobar misses with an uppercut
and River counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Escobar. River does a little dance to reset his feet.
River thows a left - swing and a miss!
Escobar uses good head movement to avoid the hook from River.
Escobar scores with a punch to the head.
Escobar seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Escobar throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent River stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Escobar misses with the combination.
A shot to the liver by Escobar. Beautiful body shot.
River closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
This has been an exciting period of action!
River misses with an uppercut. Escobar saw that one coming.
River on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Escobar looks to throw the jab but River is out of range.
River swings and misses with a hook to the body.

River clinches up against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River stalling against the ropes.
Escobar fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
River lands a hook that snaps the head of Escobar backwards.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as River takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Escobar misses with some punches.
A frustrated look appears on Escobar's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Escobar swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A right hook to the body lands for Escobar.
Escobar lands with a short shot to the head.
River pushes Escobar back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
River lands a body shot.
Escobar pushes River back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
Escobar can't break the clinch.
River lands a shoulder strike.
River slowing the pace effectively.
River lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A hook to the body from River.
River lands a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Escobar softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Escobar tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Escobar cracks River with a nice body shot.
A short uppercut from River.
Escobar misses with a punch on the inside.
Escobar throws a head punch that misses.
River lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Escobar's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Escobar swings away with an uppercut that misses.
River lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Escobar backwards.
River tries to throw a body punch but Escobar avoids it by throwing River back against the ropes.
River lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A short right from River.
River has Escobar pressed against the ropes, preventing Escobar from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Escobar wants to get back to striking at distance but River won't allow it.
River stalling in the clinch.
River lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
River looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
River lands a hook that snaps the head of Escobar backwards.
River lands with a short head shot on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Charlie River dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

River thuds his right hand into Escobar's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
River avoids the body shot from Escobar.
Escobar loads up on a big right hand but River slips the punch.
A big left from River misses.
Escobar comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Escobar moves away from the strike by River.
Escobar is looking to counter punch.
A punch combination from River misses.
Escobar lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Escobar throws a combination. River tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
River moves away from the strike by Escobar.
River throws out a counter right but Escobar avoids it with no problem.
River throws a right and a left that Escobar avoids nicely.
Escobar uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by River.

River gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Escobar wants to get back to striking at distance but River won't allow it.
River prevents Escobar from breaking the clinch.
River lands a body shot in the clinch.
River is pushing Escobar up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Escobar misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Escobar up against the ropes.
Escobar fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Escobar pushes River back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
River prevents Escobar from breaking the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Escobar.
A body shot lands from River.
River blocking some punches.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from River.
River lands a nice shot to the body.
River works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Escobar wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
River lands a body shot in the clinch.
River lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Escobar tries to work over River's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A right hook to the body lands for River.
Escobar lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
River presses Escobar against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
River lands with a short shot to the head.
Escobar swings wildly with an uppercut but River uses good head movement to avoid it.
Escobar tries to break free but River pushes him back against the ropes.
Escobar throws a punch but it's blocked by River.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Escobar working aggressively here.
A short right from River.
A short uppercut from River.
Escobar tried to land a shot to the body but connects with River's elbow.
River lands with a left to the head.
River blocking some punches.
River scores with a shoulder strike.
Escobar wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but River has him pressed against the ropes.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from River.
River dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the ropes.
Escobar misses with a punch on the inside.
A left hand lands to the body for River.
River scores with an uppercut up the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Charlie River 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

River digs a good body shot into Escobar's ribs.
A slow jab from River misses its intended target.
An attempted straight right counter from Escobar misses the target.
Escobar looks to land a right hand but River moved out of range.
River avoids the body shot from Escobar.
River misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Escobar.
River ducks under a wild hook from Escobar.
Juan Escobar is winning the standup battle so far.
River avoids the body shot from Escobar.
River looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Escobar has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from River finds it's way round the side to connect with Escobar's head.
Escobar slips a jab from River.
A combination from River does no damage.
River lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Escobar backs up against the ropes.
River takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Escobar throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Decent striking displayed by River there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
River throws out a loose jab but Escobar uses good head movement to avoid it.
River has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Escobar takes a swing at River's ribcage but misses.
Escobar connects with a looping right hand.
Escobar keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from River.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River misses with the combination.
Escobar lands a nice shot that snaps River's head back.
River ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Escobar moves away.
Escobar is looking for a counter combo.
River walks into a left hand.
River thows a left - swing and a miss!
River on the wrong end of a nice hook.
River scores with a shot to the body.
Escobar will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
River ducks under a wild hook from Escobar.
Escobar on the wrong end of a nice jab.
River swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Escobar connects with a jab.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
River connects with a right hand. Escobar shakes it off.
Escobar swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
River works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar throws the left hand but River avoids the punch easily.
River bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Juan Escobar is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
River waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Escobar.
Escobar lands with a right hand.
Escobar connects with a body shot that sends River's belly button to the back.
Escobar looks to throw the jab but River is out of range.
River swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Escobar avoids the body shot from River.
River swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Escobar is looking for a counter combo.
River fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Escobar manages to avoid it.
Escobar lands a two punch combo.
Escobar connects with a single shot there.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A big right from Escobar misses.
A telegraphed right hand from River misses the target.
A slow jab from Escobar misses its intended target.
Juan Escobar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Escobar throws a series of punches but River avoids them all with ease.
A little jabbing left from River on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
River waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Escobar.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Charlie River.
I've got River 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Charlie River!
Charlie River was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.