PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vicente Escalante (ranked 64 p4p, 327 weight class) and Ricardo Cruz (ranked 11 p4p, 46 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Escalante
vs
Cruz

183 cm
35
192
36 - 6 - 0

190 cm
39
198
22 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

NARCOS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 36 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vicente Escalante!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ricardo Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Patrick Alders and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Escalante closes the distance and clinches.
Cruz tries for a takedown but Escalante manages to get underhooks.
Our sources have told us that Escalante has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Escalante gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cruz.
Escalante misses with a punch on the inside.
Escalante swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cruz is trying to drag Escalante to the mat but Escalante just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Vicente Escalante has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Cruz.

Cruz works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Escalante is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz trying to control but Escalante is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz advances position into side control!
Cruz tries to score with some ground and pound. Escalante controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Cruz looks up at the clock and then as Escalante takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Cruz smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Sloppy strikes there by Cruz.

Cruz goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Escalante has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Cruz but great work by Escalante.
Cruz is looking to regain half guard here but Escalante keeps moving and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on Cruz's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Cruz is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Escalante's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to get back to full guard.

Escalante stands up and beckons Cruz to join him on the feet.
Escalante throws a quick inside leg kick.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Cruz has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

Escalante moves into range and clinches up with Cruz.
Escalante is pressed up against the cage. Cruz has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Escalante down to the mat. Escalante avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
A head kick misses from Escalante.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Escalante uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Cruz has time to react.
Escalante with a nice cross.

It looks like Ricardo Cruz has been cut.
Cruz dives in and grabs Escalante's left leg, looking for a takedown. Escalante pushes down on Cruz's head and hops out.
Escalante scores with a hook to the body. Cruz takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Escalante misses with a looping left.
No luck for Cruz with that takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escalante throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Cruz looks winded!
Escalante lands a nice leg kick that just misses Cruz's sensitive parts.
Cruz shoots in looking for a takedown. Escalante tries to sprawl out of it but Cruz keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Escalante manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Escalante as he jumps to the side.
Escalante throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cruz has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Escalante.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cruz gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Escalante makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Escalante has taken the fight to the clinch.
Cruz looking for a takedown.
Escalante gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cruz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Escalante.
Cruz is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Escalante is defending well.
Escalante lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Cruz goes for a takedown attempt but Escalante pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Nice uppercut lands for Escalante. That snapped Cruz's head back.
Cruz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Escalante is fending him off so far but Cruz persists. Nope, Escalante circles away and we're back to standing.
Escalante stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A jab lands there for Escalante.
Ricardo Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Escalante fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Cruz switches off momentarily and Escalante cracks him with a monster right hand! Cruz topples backwards and makes a semi conscious attempt to cover up, as Escalante dives in to land one more shot, before the referee has time to call the fight. What a finish by Escalante!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Vicente Escalante!
Vicente Escalante retains his middleweight title!
Vicente Escalante really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Brooklyn Apothecary logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.