PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Juan Escobar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Christian Slaughter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Escobar comes into the arena with Brujeria by La Coka Nostra blaring out of the sound system. Slaughter has chosen The Crown - World Below as his entrance music. Christian Slaughter has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Escobar
vs
Slaughter

175 cm
31
159 lbs
19 - 10 - 1

175 cm
28
160 lbs
19 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

White Gorilla Nutrition
White Gorilla Nutrition

Malicious Intent Fight Gear
Convicted Trap House

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Juan Escobar!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Christian Slaughter!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Steve Smith and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Escobar looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Escobar forces Slaughter back against the cage and clinches.
A frustrated look appears on Escobar's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Slaughter lands a left hand.
Slaughter stalling the fight.
Escobar misses with a shot to the kidneys.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Slaughter creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Escobar wants to get back to striking at distance but Slaughter won't allow it.
Still in the clinch, Slaughter scores with a nice short uppercut.
Escobar lands a right hand that snaps the head of Slaughter backwards.
Escobar pushes Slaughter back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Escobar tries to pull guard but Slaughter won't allow it.

Slaughter breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Escobar.
Slaughter ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Escobar has Slaughter up against the cage in a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Escobar fails to land.
Escobar tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juan Escobar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Escobar is trying to drag Slaughter to the mat but Slaughter just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A left hand lands to the body for Slaughter.
Escobar wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Slaughter has him pressed against the cage.
Slaughter lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Slaughter breaks from the clinch.
Escobar connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A jab lands there for Slaughter.
Slaughter circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Christian Slaughter is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
That kick from Slaughter tenderised Escobar's leg. Escobar is trying to keep his angry face on.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Slaughter lands a jab to the nose.
Escobar tries for a takedown but Slaughter sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Slaughter slips under a jab from Escobar.
Slaughter scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Escobar waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Slaughter.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Slaughter.
Slaughter is looking to score with low kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar is looking to clinch.
Slaughter buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Slaughter scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Escobar dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Escobar misses with a low kick.
Slaughter connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Good work by Slaughter as he checks the leg kick.
Escobar tries to close the distance and clinch up but Slaughter swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Slaughter lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Escobar at a distance.
Slaughter thuds his right hand into Escobar's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slaughter tried to score with a low kick but Escobar checks it.
Good shot there by Slaughter.
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!
Escobar misses with a wild combination.

Escobar scores with a takedown into Slaughter's guard.
Slaughter keeping moving, preventing Escobar from controlling successfully.
Escobar tries to free his leg and advance position but Slaughter is retaining full guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Slaughter working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Escobar doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Escobar manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Slaughter is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Escobar is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Christian Slaughter will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nice takedown defense from Slaughter. No joy for Escobar on that attempt.
Slaughter swings widly with a right hand
and Escobar counters with a three punch combo that has Slaughter backing up. Slaughter nods at Escobar to acknowledge the strikes.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Escobar, as that shot connected.
Escobar uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Slaughter.

Slaughter gets caught flat footed, as Escobar shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Escobar thows a big elbow that misses.
Slaughter looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
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!
Escobar throws and elbow that misses. Slaughter uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Escobar's guard. Nice move by Slaughter!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Slaughter trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Escobar is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Slaughter stopping the sweep attempt from Escobar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slaughter stays in close to Escobar's body and controls the position.
Slaughter working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Escobar's head.
Slaughter engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Slaughter postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Escobar manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Slaughter manages to get himself to full guard.
Slaughter looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Escobar stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Slaughter swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar is working hard here to advance position.
Slaughter is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Slaughter wants to take a breather but Escobar is having none of it.
Escobar regains full guard. Nicely done.

Slaughter got a little sloppy there for a moment and Escobar has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Slaughter has managed to get both his arms back between Escobar's legs - danger averted.

Escobar looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Slaughter advances position into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slaughter controls the position.

Slaughter tries for a kimura but Escobar is defending well.
Escobar is not content to let Slaughter control the position.
Escobar tries to bench press Slaughter off him but Slaughter keeps the position.
Escobar is not content to let Slaughter control the position.
Escobar can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar tries to bench press Slaughter off him but Slaughter keeps the position.
Escobar regains half guard.
Escobar works his way to full guard. Good work.
Escobar manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Escobar wants to control the action but instead Slaughter gets a body lock and reverses into Escobar's guard! Nice work!

Escobar is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Slaughter is aware though and is defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Escobar throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Slaughter sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Escobar's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Escobar dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A chopping leg kick lands by Slaughter.
Slaughter stuffs the takedown.
Escobar throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Slaughter does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Slaughter circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nice body punch from Slaughter.
Escobar pivots, looking for a leg kick but Slaughter is out of range and Escobar settles back down.
Escobar swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Slaughter scores with a hook.
Some bone on bone action there as Escobar checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slaughter scores with a jab to the jaw.
Slaughter lands a jab to Escobar's midsection.
A clash of legs there as Slaughter blocks the low kick.
Slaughter avoids the body shot from Escobar.
Slaughter connects with a nice looking jab.
Escobar bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Slaughter tries a low kick but Escobar avoids it.
Escobar throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Escobar cracks Slaughter with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Escobar fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Slaughter, pushing him back against the cage.
Slaughter struggles to land a body shot inside as Escobar controls his hands.
Escobar prevents a body shot from Slaughter.
Escobar jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Slaughter walks away with a smile on his face. Escobar gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A chopping leg kick lands by Slaughter.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Slaughter, right into the meat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Escobar scores with a sloppy right hand. Slaughter should have avoided that one.
Slaughter is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Slaughter fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Slaughter pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Escobar shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Slaughter napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slaughter on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Escobar tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Escobar has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Slaughter manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Slaughter connects with a nice short shot to Escobar's temple.
Slaughter is nestled in close to Escobar, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Escobar tries to roll over but Slaughter keeps him under control.
Slaughter is looking to advance position but Escobar won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Escobar looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Slaughter is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Escobar looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Slaughter trying to control from Escobar's half guard. Escobar has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Slaughter slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Slaughter wants to control from the top but Escobar keeps moving.
Slaughter slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christian Slaughter really dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Escobar fails in his attempt to clinch.
Escobar misses with an uppercut. Slaughter saw that one coming.
Sloppy strikes from Escobar. Those never looked like landing.
Slaughter with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Slaughter clobbers Escobar with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Slaughter connects with a nice looking jab.
Sloppy strikes from Slaughter. Those never looked like landing.
Slaughter ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Slaughter throws a hook but Escobar blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slaughter looks to score with a jab to the body but Escobar is just out of range.
Escobar bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Slaughter's head backwards.
Escobar takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Escobar chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Slaughter can pounce on him.
Escobar misses with a takedown
and Slaughter counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Escobar throws a looping overhand right but Slaughter ducks down to avoid it.
Slaughter lands a jab.
Slaughter throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Escobar on the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slaughter lands a nice leg kick that just misses Escobar's sensitive parts.
Slaughter throws a big shot that misses.
Escobar tries to clinch up.
Slaughter works the jab nicely.
Slaughter ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Slaughter throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Escobar misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Slaughter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slaughter avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Escobar moves into range and clinches up with Slaughter.
Escobar misses with a hook to the ribs.
Slaughter throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Escobar tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Slaughter's elbow.
Escobar jumps guard but Slaughter stands there with Escobar around his waist. Escobar gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Escobar tries to work over Slaughter's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Slaughter blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Escobar digs a right hand underneath Slaughter's ribcage. Slaughter let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Slaughter tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Escobar looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Slaughter lands a right hand that snaps the head of Escobar backwards.
Slaughter can't find room to land a body shot as Escobar controls the action.
Slaughter blocks a body shot from Escobar.
Escobar is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar working aggressively here.
Slaughter scores with an uppercut up the middle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Escobar throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Slaughter.

Slaughter breaks from the clinch.
Slaughter buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Slaughter.
Slaughter lands with a cross.
Escobar misses with a looping right.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Slaughter lands with a thumping leg kick.
Slaughter scores with the left hand. Escobar knows he should have avoided that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christian Slaughter dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Slaughter scores with a nice strike.
Slaughter connects with a body shot that sends Escobar's belly button to the back.
Escobar tries to clinch there but Slaughter circles away.
Slaughter lands with a shot to the body.
Slaughter throws a solid leg kick but Escobar takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Slaughter.
Slaughter circles away from the clinch attempt
and Slaughter counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Escobar misses with a takedown attempt
and Slaughter counters with an outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Slaughter throws a low kick but Escobar avoids it.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Slaughter.
Slaughter moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Escobar scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Escobar looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Escobar takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Christian Slaughter seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Good leg kick by Slaughter there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
A big left from Slaughter misses.
Escobar tries to close the distance and clinch but Slaughter swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Slaughter looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A slapping leg kick lands for Slaughter.
Escobar misses the jab.
Slaughter lands with a cross.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Slaughter uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Escobar.
Slaughter scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Escobar checks a low kick from Slaughter.
Slaughter throws a leg kick but Escobar sees it coming and moves out of range.
Slaughter wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Slaughter fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Escobar has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Slaughter avoids a kick to the body.
Escobar chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Slaughter can pounce on him.
Juan Escobar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Slaughter looks to score with a jab to the body but Escobar is just out of range.
Slaughter lands with an uppercut that bounces Escobar off the cage and back into range.
Slaughter wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Slaughter scores with a jab. Escobar acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slaughter throws a leg kick that misses.
Slaughter throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Escobar on the side of the head.
Slaughter throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Slaughter connects with a body shot.
Escobar stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Slaughter.
A left lands for Slaughter.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Slaughter lands with a thumping leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Donk. Slaughter catches Escobar right on the button with a cross.
Slaughter throws a leg kick but Escobar checks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Christian Slaughter comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Slaughter 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 46:49
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 46:49
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Christian Slaughter! Christian Slaughter retains his lightweight title!