PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pablo Escobarre (ranked 2768 p4p, 2396 weight class) and Steve Cusumano (ranked 374 p4p, 339 weight class). Escobarre comes to the cage accompanied by Xzibit- Alcoholic . Cusumano has chosen Gamefire as his entrance music. Steve Cusumano acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Escobarre
vs
Cusumano

185 cm
45
181
30 - 10 - 0

175 cm
36
180
17 - 11 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

The Dirty Needle Project

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Pablo Escobarre!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve Cusumano!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Paul Aken and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cusumano swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Escobarre counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Cusumano!
Escobarre is working Cusumano over with some ground and pound from side control.
Escobarre throws a strike aimed at the side of Cusumano's head but Cusumano avoids it well.
Cusumano wants to control but Escobarre postures up.
Escobarre trying to control the position but Cusumano is working away.
Escobarre looks up at the clock and then as Cusumano takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Escobarre smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escobarre tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Escobarre throws an elbow but Cusumano slips to the side and avoids it well.
You can see the frustration on Cusumano's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Escobarre working the ground and pound but Cusumano is defending the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Escobarre swings around for an armbar but Cusumano sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Escobarre's guard.
Cusumano is working Escobarre over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Escobarre trying to control the position here.

Escobarre had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cusumano defends it easily.

Escobarre is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Escobarre is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Escobarre is looking for a triangle but Cusumano pushes his legs off easily.

Escobarre has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cusumano can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Escobarre is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Cusumano stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cusumano keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Jab from Escobarre.
Cusumano avoids the body shot from Escobarre.
Escobarre jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cusumano throws out a counter right but Escobarre avoids it with no problem.
Escobarre looks to throw the jab but Cusumano is out of range.
Escobarre misses with a wild combination.
Cusumano swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A little feinted left hand from Escobarre on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Cusumano throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cusumano throws the left hand but Escobarre avoids the punch easily.
Cusumano throws a leg kick
and Escobarre cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cusumano dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cusumano ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Escobarre feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Cusumanos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cusumano ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Good exchange - Escobarre coming out on top.
Escobarre cracks Cusumano with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Cusumano misses with a few strikes there.
Cusumano misses with a series of wild punches.
Steve Cusumano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A combination from Cusumano does no damage.
Cusumano jabs at Escobarre's body.
Escobarre misses with a hook. Cusumano ducked under it nicely.
Escobarre bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A counter left hand to the body from Escobarre misses its target.
Cusumano avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cusumano throws a looping overhand right but Escobarre ducks down to avoid it.
Cusumano throws a nice looking combination but Escobarre bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Pablo Escobarre will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cusumano throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Escobarre cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cusumano stuffs the takedown attempt from Escobarre. Escobarre gets slowly back to his feet.
Cusumano misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Escobarre counters with a nice body shot.
Cusumano displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Escobarre throws an overhand right that lands on Cusumano's shoulder, as Cusumano tries to avoid the shot.
Cusumano catches Escobarre with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Cusumano slips a jab and a cross from Escobarre.
Escobarre ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Escobarre throwing a counter right hand but Cusumano manages to avoid it.
Escobarre changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Left hook, right uppercut from Cusumano.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Escobarre slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Escobarre looks to score with a jab to the body but Cusumano is just out of range.
Cusumano throws a series of punches but Escobarre avoids them all with ease.
Escobarre tries to counter with a takedown but Cusumano is quick to defend against it.
Cusumano bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobarre misses with a jab to the body
and Cusumano counters with a two punch combo.
Escobarre's jab looks to have found its range, popping Cusumano under the eye.
Cusumano fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cusumano takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Cusumano swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A little feinted left hand from Escobarre on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Escobarre instigates a clinch.
Cusumano wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Escobarre has him pressed against the cage.
Escobarre lands with a right to the head.
Escobarre digs a right hand underneath Cusumano's ribcage. Cusumano let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Cusumano blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cusumano tries to break free but Escobarre pushes him back against the cage.
Escobarre lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Cusumano backwards.
Cusumano blocks a body shot from Escobarre.
Escobarre fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Escobarre tries a body shot but Cusumano blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cusumano breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Escobarre tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cusumano paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Steve Cusumano is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A big left from Escobarre misses.
Escobarre ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cusumano moves away.
Good standup being displayed there by Cusumano as he connects with a hook.
Cusumano looks to score with a jab to the body but Escobarre is just out of range.
Jab from Escobarre.
Cusumano misses with a shot to the body

and Escobarre moves into the clinch.
Escobarre lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Cusumano or not.
Cusumano is breathing heavily.
Escobarre makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Escobarre.

It looks like Steve Cusumano has been cut.
Escobarre misses with a punch to the body.
Escobarre misses with a punch to the body.
Escobarre lands a left hand that snaps the head of Cusumano backwards.
Escobarre misses with some punches.
Cusumano can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobarre tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Escobarre is leaning against Cusumano and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Cusumano blocks an uppercut.

Escobarre is trying to trip Cusumano. He has hold of a leg but Cusumano is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Escobarre persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Escobarre works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Escobarre is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Cusumano!
Cusumano is squirming around, avoiding Escobarre's attempts to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Escobarre controlling the position easily from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Escobarre pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cusumano holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Escobarre tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Escobarre lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Cusumano hang on?
Escobarre looking to control but Cusumano is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cusumano holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Escobarre tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Cusumano is trying to escape the mount.
Escobarre scores with a couple of good head shots there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Escobarre dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Steve Cusumano's cut.
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 hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Cusumano steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Escobarre.
Escobarre ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cusumano moves away.
Cusumano misses with a looping left.
Escobarre showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cusumano.
Escobarre tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cusumano was well out of range. Poor timing from Escobarre.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Cusumano! But no joy.
Escobarre is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Escobarre misses with a straight right.
Escobarre misses with a wild body shot.
Escobarre ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Escobarre throws a shot from downtown. Cusumano moves away and avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cusumano takes a swing at Escobarre's ribcage but misses.
Escobarre tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cusumano was well out of range. Poor timing from Escobarre.
Cusumano throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Jab by Escobarre.
Cusumano on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for Escobarre.
The crowd cheers as Escobarre lands an impressive looking overhand right. Cusumano doesn't seem phased though.
Cusumano thuds a left hand into Escobarre's body.
Escobarre checks the leg kick.
Escobarre uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cusumano.
Cusumano blocks a jab.
Escobarre throws a right and a left that both miss.
Escobarre looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Escobarre throws a shot from downtown. Cusumano moves away and avoids it.
Cusumano connects with a body shot that sends Escobarre's belly button to the back.
Cusumano connects with a leg kick.
Escobarre looks to score with a jab to the body but Cusumano is just out of range.
Cusumano ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Steve Cusumano seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cusumano lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Escobarre circles away quickly and effectively.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Escobarre misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cusumano looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cusumano throws a combination. Escobarre tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
A big right from Escobarre misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Cusumano! But no joy.
Nice defenses there by Cusumano.
Cusumano misses with a body shot.
Cusumano misses the body punch
and Escobarre counters with a stiff right hand.

Escobarre fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cusumano, pushing him back against the cage.
Escobarre lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Cusumano.
Stalling in the clinch from Escobarre.
Escobarre tries a body shot but Cusumano blocks it.
Escobarre scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobarre makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Escobarre misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Escobarre is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Cusumano gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Escobarre keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cusumano's efforts to push away.
Escobarre misses with the head strike.
Cusumano's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Cusumano wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Escobarre is working Cusumano over against the cage.
Escobarre lands a body punch in the clinch.
A short right from Escobarre.
Escobarre lands a left hand that snaps the head of Cusumano backwards.
Cusumano is trying to break free.
Good body shot from Escobarre.
Come on Escobarre - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Pablo Escobarre is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cusumano wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Escobarre tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cusumano's elbow.
Escobarre lands a body punch in the clinch.
Cusumano is trying to force a seperation but Escobarre has the dominant position.
Escobarre throws a head punch that misses.
Escobarre has Cusumano pressed against the cage, preventing Cusumano from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Steve Cusumano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cusumano doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Escobarre keeps control of Cusumano as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pablo Escobarre showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Escobarre, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pablo Escobarre!
A very excited looking Pablo Escobarre made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.