PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mike Sorrentino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manny Escobar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sorrentino comes into the arena with Smile Back blaring out of the sound system. Mike Sorrentino has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Sorrentino
vs
Escobar

175 cm
20
166 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mike Sorrentino!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Manny Escobar!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Mauricio Rocha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sorrentino keeps the fight on the outside.
Sorrentino blocks a head kick by Escobar.
Escobar wants to clinch up but Sorrentino keeps it at a distance.
Escobar tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sorrentino fails with a takedown attempt.

Escobar shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Escobar tries to stand but can't do so whilst Sorrentino controls his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sorrentino is on the bottom, trying to hold on to half guard. He's throwing a few small shots here, to keep his opponent honest.
Sorrentino is trying to stand.
Sorrentino is trying to get back to full guard.
Sorrentino is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sorrentino kicks Escobar off and gets back to his feet.
Sorrentino walks forward, straight into a front kick from Escobar.

Sorrentino tries to keep at a distance but Escobar has taken the fight into the clinch.
Escobar misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sorrentino.
Escobar is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Escobar's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Manny Escobar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Escobar tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Escobar doesn't manage to clinch there - Sorrentino circles away.
Sorrentino shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Sorrentino. That's going to take a lot out of him.
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 fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The fight stays on the outside here - Escobar looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sorrentino avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Escobar pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Escobar walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Sorrentino checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Escobar misses with an attempted mid kick.
Escobar looks gassed!

Escobar moves into the clinch successfully.
Sorrentino stalling in the clinch.
Escobar is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Sorrentino is keeping busy.
Sorrentino avoids a wild elbow strike from Escobar.

Sorrentino manages to pull guard.
Escobar really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sorrentino. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Sorrentino wriggles free and stands up.
Escobar tries to clinch but Sorrentino moves away

and Sorrentino decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Escobar's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Escobar is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sorrentino is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sorrentino stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Escobar swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sorrentino forces his way into half guard.
Escobar is trying to stand back up but Sorrentino is controlling him
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sorrentino has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Escobar is in a horrible position here. Sorrentino smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Escobar wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sorrentino looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Escobar is fending him off so far but Sorrentino persists. Nope, Escobar circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice body punch from Escobar.
Mike Sorrentino is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Escobar turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Escobar tries to clinch but Sorrentino is having none of it.
Escobar tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sorrentino swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sorrentino checks a low kick from Escobar.
Escobar stuffs the takedown attempt from Sorrentino. Sorrentino gets slowly back to his feet.
Escobar tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Sorrentino counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Escobar!
Sorrentino throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sorrentino landing strikes from the mount and Escobar is in trouble!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sorrentino looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Sorrentino goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Escobar turns into him and now he's in Sorrentino's guard.
Escobar must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Escobar wants to stand but Sorrentino has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sorrentino wants to stand but Escobar is controlling the position.

Escobar gets to his feet - Sorrentino follows without any prompting.
Escobar throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Escobar tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar tries to clinch up.
Sorrentino changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Escobar tries to avoid it but Sorrentino manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Escobar to the ground. Escobar escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Sorrentino. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sloppy strikes from Escobar. Those never looked like landing.
Escobar misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Escobar looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sorrentino is defended easily by Escobar.
Sorrentino has a takedown stuffed.
Escobar tries to clinch but Sorrentino is having none of it.
Sorrentino tries for a takedown but Escobar sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sorrentino tries to keep at a distance but Escobar has taken the fight into the clinch.
Escobar tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sorrentino's elbow.
Escobar tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sorrentino tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Escobar smiles and moves away.
Sorrentino on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Escobar. Escobar obviously looking to wear him down.
Sorrentino takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Escobar connects with a leg kick. Sorrentino looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

Escobar is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sorrentino's half guard.
Sorrentino wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Escobar stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Escobar throws a right hand that Sorrentino ducks under and follows up with a left that Sorrentino also avoids with ease.
Escobar tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sorrentino paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sorrentino fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Escobar pushes Sorrentino up against the cage in a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Escobar struggles to land a body shot inside as Sorrentino controls his hands.
Sorrentino stalling.
Escobar has had enough of the clinch but Sorrentino keeps him there for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Escobar showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Escobar fails in his attempt to clinch.

Escobar gets caught flat footed, as Sorrentino shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Sorrentino throws a strike but Escobar rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Escobar wanted to stand there but Sorrentino had control of the position.

Sorrentino is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Escobar misses with a knee to the head.
Escobar is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Sorrentino is keeping busy.
Escobar takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Escobar is fighting off a takedown attempt but Sorrentino is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Escobar to the mat. Escobar regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Sorrentino throws a strike but Escobar rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Escobar trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sorrentino's guard.

Escobar decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Escobar, right into the meat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sorrentino stuffs the takedown.

Sorrentino tries to keep at a distance but Escobar has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sorrentino has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Escobar is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Sorrentino breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Escobar looks for the body kick but Sorrentino saw that one coming.
Escobar tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Sorrentino counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Escobar avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sorrentino.

Sorrentino seems to be working for a kimura but Escobar defends the submission attempt.
Sorrentino tries to pass the half guard into mount. Escobar knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sorrentino is trying to work for a kimura but Escobar is defending well.
Sorrentino not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Escobar kicks off Sorrentino and gets to his feet.
Escobar smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Sorrentino fails with the takedown.

Sorrentino gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Escobar to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Sorrentino pulls Escobar in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sorrentino looking to hit a scissor sweep but Escobar is one step ahead there.
Escobar wants to stand but Sorrentino has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Sorrentino showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manny Escobar!
In his post fight interview, Manny Escobar started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.