PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kfier Asher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juan Escobar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Escobar is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Warning by The Notrious BIG. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Asher
vs
Escobar

168 cm
23
152 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

175 cm
23
155 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

White Gorilla Nutrition
Convicted

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kfier Asher!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Juan Escobar!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Escobar shoots in looking for a takedown. Asher tries to sprawl out of it but Escobar keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Asher manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Asher throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Escobar throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Escobar displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Asher throws out the jab.
Escobar with a hook.

Escobar tries to keep at a distance but Asher has taken the fight into the clinch.

Escobar jumps guard.
Escobar doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Escobar has control of Asher's left arm, preventing Asher from doing any damage.
Asher won't allow Escobar to sweep him here.
Escobar is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Escobar trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Escobar escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Asher gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Asher has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Asher shoots in but no luck this time.
Escobar lands a lovely overhand right.
Escobar looks to land a combination but Asher avoids it well.

Asher gets the takedown into side control.
Asher knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Escobar on the ground.
Asher lands a nice forearm strike.

Escobar throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Escobar misses with a body shot.
Escobar looks gassed!
Escobar uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Asher has time to react.

Asher shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Asher lands with some strikes.
Asher scoring with strikes but Escobar is staying in there.
Escobar has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Escobar is looking to improve his position but Asher isn't that keen on the idea.
Asher looking to control but Escobar is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Asher working Escobar over with strikes here.
Escobar tries to hold on but Asher pushes him away.
Escobar is in all sorts of trouble here.
Asher dominating with strikes here.
Asher postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Escobar looks a forlorn figure.
Asher lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Asher looking to finish Escobar with some ground and pound. This is bad for Escobar!
A nice elbow there by Asher.
Escobar tries to reverse the position but Asher maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Escobar tries to hold on but Asher pushes him away.
Asher blocks Escobar's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Asher cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Escobar really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Asher is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Asher putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Escobar is in a horrible position here. Asher smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Escobar can't escape the position.

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.
Asher lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Asher working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Asher lands a big shot there that rocks Escobar but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Escobar is in all sorts of trouble here.
Asher landing strikes, looking to finish!
Asher punishing his opponent with strikes.
Asher scoring with strikes but Escobar is staying in there.
Asher lands a nice shot to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Escobar is working to get back to half guard.
Escobar throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kfier Asher dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Escobar scores with a hook.
Escobar with a poor takedown

and Asher counters with a shoot takedown. Escobar fights it but they end up in guard.
Asher stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Escobar swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Escobar wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Asher tries to free his leg and advance position but Escobar is retaining full guard.

Escobar is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Escobar is on top in guard.
Escobar trying to control but Asher is working from the bottom.
Escobar stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Asher swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Asher on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Asher tries to get out of the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asher is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Escobar wants to pass the guard but Asher is keeping the position.
Escobar wants to control from the top but Asher keeps moving.
Escobar looking to pass the guard.
Asher working a defensive guard here.
Escobar thows a big elbow that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Escobar gets caught flat footed, as Asher shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Asher looking to sit in guard and control but Escobar gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Escobar stands and throws Asher's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Escobar tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
An elbow from Escobar crashes against the mat.

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!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asher regains half guard.
Escobar uses his free foot to push down on Asher's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Asher.

Escobar stands up from mount. Strange move.
Escobar misses with a body shot.
Nice takedown defense from Escobar. No joy for Asher on that attempt.
Asher is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Escobar swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Asher takes one to the side of the head.
Juan Escobar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Escobar dodges the punch combination from Asher.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar lands a with a good body shot.
Escobar fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Escobar lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Escobar jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Asher misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Escobar connects with the punch.
Escobar throws a right hand that Asher ducks under and follows up with a left that Asher also avoids with ease.
Escobar tries for a takedown but Asher circles away easily

and Asher counters with a nice double leg into side control. Escobar won't be happy with that.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Escobar is looking for a sweep.
Asher looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Escobar is avoiding damage well.
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 Kfier Asher will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Escobar pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Asher feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Asher won't allow Escobar to sweep him here.
Asher is in close to Escobar's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Escobar manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Asher manages to get himself to full guard.
Escobar trying to control the position from guard on top but Asher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Escobar stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Asher swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Escobar would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Escobar trying to control but Asher is working from the bottom.
Asher is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Asher looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Asher closes the distance and clinches up with Escobar, looking for a takedown. Asher pushes Escobar against the cage but Escobar circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Escobar connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Escobar misses with a wild body shot.
Kfier Asher is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Escobar looks to score with a jab to the body but Asher is just out of range.
A jab from Escobar does it's job there.
Left hook, right uppercut from Escobar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asher tries to clinch but Escobar moves out of range.
Escobar falls off balance throwing a combination

and Asher counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Asher.
Asher not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Escobar pulls Asher in close to prevent any damage.
Escobar keeping moving, preventing Asher from controlling successfully.

Escobar scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar misses with a wild combination.
Escobar misses with the combination.
Escobar ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Asher moves away.
Asher tries to bum rush Escobar with a series of wild strikes but Escobar uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Escobar misses with a combination

and Asher counters with a shoot takedown. Escobar fights it but they end up in guard.
Asher stays in close to Escobar's body and controls the position.
Asher trying to control the position from guard on top but Escobar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Escobar escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Asher gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Asher stopping the sweep attempt from Escobar.
Escobar keeping moving, preventing Asher from controlling successfully.
Escobar is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kfier Asher clearly takes that round.
That's time! Asher's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Escobar looks to score with a jab to the body but Asher is just out of range.
Asher misses with a takedown attempt - Escobar sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A jab from Escobar misses.
A slow jab from Escobar misses its intended target.
Asher takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Escobar tries for a takedown but Asher circles away easily
and Asher counters with a right hand to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Asher.
Escobar is trying to improve his position.
Asher wants to control but Escobar is keeping him busy.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar manages to get back to half guard.
Escobar wants to get back to his feet.
Escobar is pressing down on Asher's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Asher working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Escobar's head.

Escobar had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Asher is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Escobar Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Asher's back instead.
Escobar wants to control but Asher is keeping busy.
Escobar is riding his opponent, not letting Asher buck him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asher turns into Escobar and is now in his guard.
Escobar keeping moving, preventing Asher from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Escobar is on top in guard.
Escobar trying to control the position from guard on top but Asher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Escobar passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Asher is looking to regain half guard here but Escobar keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar trying to control the position but Asher is working away.

Escobar is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Asher knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Asher sneaks back into half guard.

Escobar is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Asher defends it well.
Escobar is tying to control. Asher wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asher works his way to full guard. Good work.
Escobar postures up.
Escobar sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Asher's guard.
Kfier Asher overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Escobar wants to work for an arm triangle but Asher is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Escobar working over Asher with some ground and pound. Asher looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Nice strikes from Escobar there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Escobar dominated that fourth 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Asher looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Escobar!
Asher tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Asher punishing his opponent with strikes.
Escobar manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Escobar is pressing down on Asher's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Asher stopping the sweep attempt from Escobar.
Asher trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Escobar keeping moving, preventing Asher from controlling successfully.
Escobar trying to strike off his back.
Escobar preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Escobar cracks a nice hook into Asher's ribs.
A combination from Escobar does no damage.
Escobar misses with a double jab.
Escobar looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Asher is fending him off so far but Escobar persists. Nope, Asher circles away and we're back to standing.
No luck for Asher with that takedown attempt.
A shot to de liver by Escobar. Beautiful body shot.

That's two 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.

Escobar decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Asher is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Escobar's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Escobar's back!
Escobar trying to control the action but Asher just sinks the hooks in.
Asher is trying to stick to Escobar's back but Escobar is turning into Asher. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Asher's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Escobar.
Escobar preventing the sweep.
Escobar passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Asher wants to control but Escobar is keeping busy.

Escobar decides to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Asher slips a jab and a cross from Escobar.

Asher drives through with a takedown into guard.
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.
Escobar wants to pass to mount but Asher is defending the position.
Asher gets back to full guard.
Escobar with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Juan Escobar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Escobar in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asher wants to control the position but Escobar says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Escobar takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Asher trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Escobar controlling the pace for now.
Escobar lands a heavy elbow.
Asher keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Escobar looking to control but Asher is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Escobar is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Asher can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juan Escobar comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Asher has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 48:47
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 48:47
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kfier Asher!
Kfier Asher retains his featherweight title!