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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Donato Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juan Escobar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Escobar has chosen Brujeria by La Coka Nostra as his entrance music. Donato Russo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?
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| 172 cm
24
157 lbs
15 - 8 - 0 |
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175 cm
26
156 lbs
9 - 5 - 1 |
Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin |
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BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful |
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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
15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Donato Russo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
9 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Juan Escobar!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Robert Douchet and Ian Loll.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Escobar misses with a series of wild punches.
Escobar fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Russo manages to avoid it.
Donato Russo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Russo throws a low kick but it's checked well by Escobar.
Escobar takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Escobar avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Russo goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Russo moves away from the strike by Escobar.
Escobar jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Russo shoots in and bounces Escobar off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Russo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Russo postures up in Escobar's guard and throws a big left but Escobar blocks it.
Escobar pulls Russo in close to prevent any damage.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo trying to control but Escobar is working from the bottom.
Escobar wants to get back to his feet but Russo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Escobar wants to sweep but no luck.
Escobar trying to keep a closed guard but Russo is proving a slippery customer.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Russo fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Escobar.
Escobar misses with the combination.
Escobar fails with the takedown.
Russo throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Escobar connects with the punch.
Escobar blocks the body kick.
Russo shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Escobar manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Escobar is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar trying to control from half guard but Russo is working away.
Escobar is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Russo!
Escobar wants to control but Russo has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
Russo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Escobar is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Russo reverses the position - he's now on top in Escobar's guard.
Russo is in close to Escobar's body, working some short punches and elbows.
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.
Russo trying to control the position from guard on top but Escobar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Russo is looking to work some ground and pound but Escobar has wrist control.
Russo postures up in Escobar's guard and throws a big left but Escobar blocks it.
Russo throwing strikes from guard but Escobar blocks nicely.
Russo trying to control but Escobar is working from the bottom.
The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Russo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Escobar throws a series of punches but Russo moves out of range.
Escobar works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Donato Russo dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Russo dodges the punch combination from Escobar.
Russo ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Russo throws a head kick that misses.
Escobar has his takedown stuffed
and Russo decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Escobar's guard.
Russo throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Russo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Russo trying to control the position from guard on top but Escobar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Russo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Escobar has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Russo has managed to get both his arms back between Escobar's legs - danger averted.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar wants to sweep but no luck.
Russo makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Russo preventing the sweep.
Escobar bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Russo's guard.
Escobar is breathing heavily.
Escobar trying to control the position from guard on top but Russo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Russo wants to sweep but no luck.
Russo working a defensive guard here.
Escobar won't allow Russo to sweep him here.
Escobar pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Russo is keeping the position for now.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Escobar trying to control but Russo is working from the bottom.
Russo managing to control the position.
Russo working for a triangle but Escobar defends it easily.
It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Russo pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Russo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Escobar.
It looks like Donato Russo has been cut.
Russo throws a body kick that misses.
Russo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Russo looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Russo slaps away a takedown attempt from Escobar, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Donato Russo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juan Escobar.
Escobar rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Russo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Escobar closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Russo tries to land a front kick but Escobar steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Escobar throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Russo.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russo looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Russo throws a half hearted mid kick.
Russo slips under a jab.
Russo gets caught flat footed, as Escobar shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Escobar won't allow Russo to sweep him here.
Russo working a defensive guard but Escobar passes into half guard.
Escobar is trying to control the action in half guard but Russo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Escobar throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Escobar stalling away here and it's allowed Russo to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Russo is on top in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Russo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close second round but I would say that Donato Russo will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Donato Russo's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!
Russo closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Escobar sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Escobar tries to get to full guard but Russo has control of the leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Escobar avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Russo.
Russo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Escobar does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are battling for position here. Escobar manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Russo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Escobar swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Escobar is trying to control the position but Russo postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Escobar keeping moving, preventing Russo from controlling successfully.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar looking to control.
It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Escobar throws a series of punches but Russo avoids them all with ease.
A nice inside leg kick there by Russo. That's going to slow Escobar down.
Escobar scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Russo misses with a body punch
and Escobar counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Escobar tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Russo swivels and escapes.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Russo - that will leave a mark!
Juan Escobar is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Russo throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Escobar counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Escobar moves out of range of the body kick.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russo throws a front kick that sends Escobar stumbling back into the cage.
Russo cracks a nice hook into Escobar's ribs.
Escobar looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Russo is fending him off so far but Escobar persists. Nope, Russo circles away and we're back to standing.
Escobar avoids a kick to the body.
Escobar takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Russo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Escobar as he jumps to the side.
Russo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Excellent takedown into side control there by Escobar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Escobar wants to lay and pray for a moment but Russo keeps working.
Donato Russo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo being controlled for a moment.
Escobar is trying to get an arm triangle but Russo is defending well.
Escobar wants to stand but Russo is controlling his arm.
The strikes coming from Escobar are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Escobar working the ground and pound but Russo is defending the strikes.
Escobar stands up and we're back to a striking position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Escobar moves out of range of the body kick.
Juan Escobar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Russo moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Escobar blocks the body kick.
Russo moves out of range as Escobar strikes.
Nice jab there from Russo.
Russo throws a body kick that misses.
Escobar throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Russo sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Russo misses with a head kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Escobar misses the target.
Russo has his takedown stuffed
and Escobar counters with a nice uppercut.
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 Donato Russo.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Russo, 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by split decision... Juan Escobar!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
44% |
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