PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Junichi Sasai (ranked 1935 p4p, 1767 weight class) and Juanito Escobar (ranked 283 p4p, 263 weight class). Sasai comes into the arena with I Love Trash blaring out of the sound system. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sasai
vs
Escobar

188 cm
24
194
11 - 7 - 0

190 cm
24
185
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Carnage Clothing

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Junichi Sasai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Juanito Escobar!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Illya Tyunina and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sasai cracks Escobar with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Sasai catches Escobar with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Sasai wants to clinch.
Escobar walks into a straight right hand from Sasai.
Sasai just misses with a punch to the body.
Sasai tries to clinch there but Escobar circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sasai bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Escobar's head.
Sasai tries to clinch there but Escobar circles away.
Sasai wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Some wild striking there from Sasai.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Sasai throws a shot from downtown. Escobar moves away and avoids it.
Escobar scores with a jab.
Escobar slips a jab from Sasai.
Sasai lunges at Escobar with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Escobar's hand.

Sasai closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sasai is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Sasai blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Escobar lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Escobar prevents Sasai from breaking the clinch.
Escobar tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sasai's elbow.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Escobar working aggressively here.
Escobar working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Escobar lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sasai misses with some punches.
Escobar lands a left hand.
Escobar tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sasai's elbow.
A nice right hand lands inside from Escobar.
Escobar tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sasai's elbow.
Escobar lands a hook that snaps the head of Sasai backwards.
Escobar swings wildly with an uppercut but Sasai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Still in the clinch, Escobar scores with a nice short uppercut.
Escobar misses with a punch on the inside.
Escobar works on Sasai's body with a couple of short punches.
Sasai blocking some punches.

Escobar turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Escobar manages to end up in side control.
Escobar tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Sasai can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Sasai wants to hold on but Escobar pushes him away.
Escobar controlling his opponent.
Escobar can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sasai is looking to escape.
Escobar wants to take his opponent's back but Sasai doesn't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Sasai working to try and regain half guard.
Escobar can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sasai is looking to escape.
Escobar sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Escobar has hold of Sasai's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Sasai manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Juanito Escobar dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sasai ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Escobar moves away.
Escobar replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Sasai blocks it well.
Sasai seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Sasai throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sasai rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Escobar moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Escobar takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Sasai drives through and clinches with Escobar against the cage.
Escobar has Sasai pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sasai manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sasai is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Escobar to keep the fight standing.
Sasai is trying to break the clinch but Escobar is controlling him.
Escobar misses with some punches.

Sasai pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sasai looks to land a right hand but Escobar moved out of range.
Junichi Sasai is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sasai connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Escobar momentarily.
Sasai throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
And Escobar tries to counter it with a takedown but Sasai pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Escobar keeps the fight on the outside.
Escobar is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Sasai with a body shot.
Escobar avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sasai backing away here, and Escobar unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Junichi Sasai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sasai misses with a lunging right hand
and Escobar counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Sasai moves into the clinch.
Escobar softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Sasai prevents a body shot from Escobar.

Escobar gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Escobar takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Escobar is trying to control the action in half guard but Sasai is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Escobar wants to pass to mount but Sasai is defending the position.
Escobar is looking to take a break and control but Sasai is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sasai haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Juanito Escobar has got the better of the ground game so far.
Escobar is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Escobar takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Escobar's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Escobar can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sasai is looking to escape.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Escobar with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sasai is looking to escape.
Escobar prevents Sasai from getting the reversal.
Escobar can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sasai is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Escobar sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Escobar throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Escobar is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Sasai is surviving well by controlling Escobar's body position as best he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Juanito Escobar will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Escobar takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Sasai scores with a jab to the jaw.
Sasai scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Escobar uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sasai.
Escobar is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Sasai with a body shot.
Escobar misses with a leg kick.
Escobar displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sasai throws out the jab.
Escobar loads up on a big right hand but Sasai slips the punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escobar has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Escobar there as he acknowledges the shot.
Escobar throws out a loose jab but Sasai uses good head movement to avoid it.
It looked like Sasai wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Escobar gets a clinch.

Sasai pulls Escobar into guard.
Escobar pushing down on Sasai's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Escobar is pressing down on Sasai's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sasai is holding on for now.
Sasai is staying active underneath Escobar, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sasai is trying to maintain the position but Escobar is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Escobar 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.
Escobar prevents Sasai from improving his position.
Escobar controlling the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Escobar is looking for a kimura here.

Escobar is working for a submission of some sort.
Junichi Sasai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Escobar is trying to work for a kimura but Sasai is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Escobar wants to work for an arm triangle but Sasai is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Escobar uses his free foot to push down on Sasai's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Sasai.
Escobar tries to control but Sasai wriggling away.

Escobar goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Sasai turns into him and now he's in Escobar's guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

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

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Junichi Sasai.
I think Escobar has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight for Juanito Escobar!
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight for Juanito Escobar!
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight for Juanito Escobar!

Juanito Escobar wins by unanimous decision!
After winning the bout, Juanito Escobar thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.