PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Diego Escobar (ranked 25 p4p, 4 weight class) and Pa‘Akea Built (ranked 39 p4p, 7 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Built's choice of entrance music: Hawaiian War Chant. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Escobar
vs
Built

182 cm
27
160 lbs
22 - 3 - 0

172 cm
31
160 lbs
23 - 6 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Groove Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Diego Escobar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 6 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pa‘Akea Built!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Escobar cracks the inside of Built's front leg.
The fighters circling - Built throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Escobar swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Built drops his hands momentarily and Escobar takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Escobar misses with a series of wild punches.
Built wants to counter with a clinch but Escobar pushes him away.
Escobar lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Escobar tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Escobar uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Sloppy strikes from Escobar. Those never looked like landing.
Escobar throws a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escobar throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Escobar throws a leg kick but Built sees it coming and moves out of range.
Built throws a poor cross that misses
and Escobar counters with a straight right hand.
Built displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Escobar throws out the jab.
Built throws a counter combo.
A big right from Escobar misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar throws a one two combo.
Escobar needs to keep his hands up - Built had a free shot at his head there.
Escobar pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Built back to the cage. Escobar follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Built drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Built moves into the clinch.
Escobar misses with the head strike.

Escobar's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Built takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Escobar scores with a jab to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Escobar takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Escobar lands a jab to Built's midsection.
Escobar scores with a leg kick.
Escobar is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Built walks into a jab.
Built throws a predictable looking body shot
and Escobar counters with a straight right hand.
Jab from Escobar.
Nice jab there from Built.

It looks like Diego Escobar has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Built jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Escobar lands with a cross.
Escobar doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Built avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Escobar has been working on his boxing with his coaches at AK Beasties in the buildup to the fight.
Escobar swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Built.
Built has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Escobar.
Built misses with a low kick as Escobar jumps back.
Escobar moves out of range of the body kick.
It looked like Escobar wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Escobar uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Built.
Escobar feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Escobar is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Built ducks under a wild hook from Escobar.
Escobar scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Built throws a poor cross that misses
and Escobar counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Built fails to land with a series of punches.
Escobar connects with a body shot that sends Built's belly button to the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Built gets cracked there but stands up to it.
The crowd cheers as Built lands an impressive looking overhand right. Escobar doesn't seem phased though.
Escobar scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Built avoids the body shot from Escobar.
Built wants to clinch.
An attempted straight right counter from Escobar misses the target.
Escobar lands a glancing blow to the side of Built's head.
Nice uppercut there from Built.
Built throws a hook but Escobar blocks it.
Escobar's jab looks to have found its range, popping Built under the eye.
Escobar connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Built momentarily.

That's four 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 chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Escobar connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Built throws a body punch but Escobar moves out of range.
Built blocks the body kick.
Escobar pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Escobar blocks a head kick by Built.
Escobar lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Escobar throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Built throws a fast counter high kick but Escobar manages to duck under it in time.
Built throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Built misses with a leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Built takes one on the button.
Escobar lands a nice leg kick that just misses Built's sensitive parts.
Escobar keeps Built at a distance using the push kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Escobar dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Diego Escobar's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Escobar misses with a right hand
and Built counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A nice leg kick lands there from Escobar.

Built closes the distance and pushes Escobar back into the cage.
Built working aggressively here.
Escobar is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Built can do to turn this around?
Escobar tries to break free but Built pushes him back against the cage.
Escobar wants to break the clinch but can't.
Built lands a right hand that snaps the head of Escobar backwards.

Escobar manages to break the clinch.
Escobar attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Escobar throws a quick inside leg kick.
Built lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Escobar misses with an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Built misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Built misses the target.
Escobar throws a series of strikes that have Built backpedaling.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Built clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Escobar lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Escobar misses with some punches.
Built blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Escobar scores with a shoulder strike.
Built can't find room to land a body shot as Escobar controls the action.
Escobar lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Built lands a right hand that snaps the head of Escobar backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Escobar.
Built softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Built fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Built prevents a body shot from Escobar.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Escobar.
Built working aggressively here.
Built working aggressively here.
Built blocking some punches.
Built tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Escobar's elbow.
Escobar blocks an uppercut.
Escobar lands with a right to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Escobar has a couple of punches blocked by Built.
Built blocking some punches.
Built tries a body shot but Escobar blocks it.
Built makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar misses with a punch on the inside.
Built makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Escobar can't find room to land a body shot as Built controls the action.
A right handed body shot lands from Built.
Built tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Built.
Built misses with a short punch on the inside.
Escobar misses with some punches.
Built misses with some punches.
Built working aggressively here.
A head punch on the inside from Escobar fails to land.
Built misses with the head strike.
Built goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Built misses with a hook from the clinch.
Escobar scores with a shoulder strike.
Escobar tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short left from Escobar.
Escobar swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Escobar has a couple of punches blocked by Built.
Built misses with a body punch.
Still in the clinch, Escobar scores with a nice short uppercut.
Escobar has a couple of punches blocked by Built.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Built lands a hook that snaps the head of Escobar backwards.
Escobar prevents a body shot from Built.
Escobar goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Escobar blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Built fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Escobar lands a body shot in the clinch.
Escobar prevents a body shot from Built.
Built has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Escobar blocking some punches.
Good body shot from Escobar.
Built blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Escobar misses with a hook from the clinch.
Escobar lands a hook that snaps the head of Built backwards.
A hook to the body from Escobar.
Built lands a nice uppercut.
Built misses with a punch on the inside.
Escobar prevents a body shot from Built.
Escobar goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Escobar doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Built scores with a shoulder strike.
Built tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Escobar throws a punch but it's blocked by Built.
Escobar misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar misses with the head strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Built gets through Escobar's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Built misses with the head strike.
A head punch on the inside from Escobar fails to land.
Built lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Escobar backwards.
Escobar lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Built or not.
Escobar's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Built working aggressively here.
Built blocks a body shot from Escobar.
Escobar lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Built or not.
Built blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Built.
Escobar throws a head punch that misses.
Escobar scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Built fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Escobar looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Built goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Escobar.
Escobar throws a head punch that misses.
Built misses with some punches.
Built fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Pa‘Akea Built will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Diego Escobar's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Built uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Escobar.
Escobar jabs Built right on the nose. Built blinks but takes it well.
Built misses with a straight left.
An attempted straight right counter from Escobar misses the target.
Escobar scores with a leg kick.
Built swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Escobar lands with a kick to the ribs.
Escobar wants to land a leg kick but Built is out of range.
Escobar lands a head shot.
Built pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escobar fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Built manages to avoid it.
Escobar uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Built.
Built steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Escobar.
Built slips under a jab from Escobar.
Escobar connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Built misses with a straight right.
A left lands for Escobar.
Built feints and then cracks Escobar's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Escobar down.
Escobar lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Escobar throws a lazy right hand but Built sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Built throws a hook to the side of Escobar's head but Escobar sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Escobar swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Escobar throws an overhand right that lands on Built's shoulder, as Built tries to avoid the shot.
Escobar looks to throw the jab but Built is out of range.
Escobar scores with a nice head shot.
Escobar throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Built ducks under a wild hook from Escobar.
Built takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Built uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Escobar.
Escobar thows a body kick. Built tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Escobar swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Built.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Built avoids a kick to the body.
Diego Escobar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Built misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Escobar tried to counter with a leg kick but Built avoided it.
Escobar lands a leg kick that knocks Built off balance momentarily.
Built moves out of range as Escobar strikes.
Jab by Escobar.
Escobar lands with a nice body kick.
Escobar pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
That kick from Escobar tenderised Built's leg. Built is trying to keep his angry face on.
Built bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Built looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Built on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Built has Escobar up against the cage in a clinch.
Built throws a punch but it's blocked by Escobar.
Built misses with a body punch.
Escobar tries to work over Built's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Built blocks an uppercut.
A right hook to the body lands for Escobar.
A nice right hand lands inside from Escobar.
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 Built walks away with a smile on his face. Escobar gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Escobar scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Escobar lands the left hand.
Built gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Escobar.
Built has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Escobar.
Built is looking to clinch.
A jab from Escobar does it's job there.
Escobar keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar lands with a right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Built throws a body shot but no joy.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Built.
Built throws a big shot that misses.
Escobar looks to score with a jab to the body but Built is just out of range.
Escobar throws a big shot that misses.
Escobar takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Escobar throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Donk. Escobar catches Built right on the button with a cross.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Built.
Built throws a solid leg kick but Escobar takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Built.
Escobar loads up on a big right hand but Built slips the punch.
Escobar uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Built.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Escobar clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Diego Escobar's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Escobar misses with a two punch combination.
Escobar misses with a wild body shot.
Escobar looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Built looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Escobar throws a jab but it's blocked by Built.
Built looks to land a combination but Escobar avoids it well.
Built tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Escobar manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Some bone on bone action there as Built checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Escobar swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escobar chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Escobar fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Built manages to avoid it.
Diego Escobar is winning the standup battle so far.
Built moves away from the strike by Escobar.
Escobar misses with a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar moves out of range of the body kick.
Escobar throws a low kick but it's checked well by Built.
Built let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Escobar loads up on a big right hand but Built slips the punch.

Built clinches up with Escobar and pushes him back against the cage.
Escobar lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Pa‘Akea Built seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Escobar jumps guard.
Escobar wants to control the position but Built says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
My spies in Fist of Fury Training Center inform me that Built has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Escobar trying to control but Built postures up.
Escobar tries to roll over but Built keeps him under control.
Escobar is looking to control Built's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Escobar avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar tries to roll over but Built keeps him under control.
Built controlling the pace.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Built prevents Escobar from improving his position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Built connects with a high kick.
Escobar swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Built steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Escobar.
Escobar's corner calls for a 1-2. Escobar obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Escobar defending well as Built loads up on a big left hand.
Escobar tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Built was well out of range. Poor timing from Escobar.
Built tries to counter by closing the distance.
Escobar lands a nice looking body kick.
Escobar uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Built.
Escobar walks into a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Built avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Escobar connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Escobar misses with a low kick.
Built's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Built slips a jab from Escobar.
Escobar moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromBuilt.
Escobar misses with a body kick.
Escobar bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Built's head.
Escobar tests Built's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Escobar lands a nice shot that snaps Built's head back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Built rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Escobar counter with a right hand.
Escobar misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Built.
Built throws a sloppy head kick and Escobar moves out of range easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Escobar had his way with Pa‘Akea Built in that round.
The cut man is working on Diego Escobar's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Escobar takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Built throws a head kick but Escobar moves out of range.
Built takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Escobar takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A solid leg kick lands there for Escobar.
Escobar connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Built motions for Escobar to come forward. Built throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
That kick from Escobar tenderised Built's leg. Built is trying to keep his angry face on.
Escobar misses with a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Built steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Escobar.
Escobar lands with a hook. Built tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Escobar lands a really nice looking cross but Built seems unphased.
Escobar showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Built.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar misses with a body shot.
Escobar scores with a decent looking hook.
Nice defenses there by Built.
Built keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Escobar.
Built takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Escobar throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Built stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Escobar lands with a thumping leg kick.
Escobar is looking to score with low kicks.
Escobar misses with a hook to the body
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Built throws a sloppy head kick and Escobar moves out of range easily.
Built goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Escobar misses with a series of wild punches.
Built looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Escobar connects with a looping right hand.
A big right from Escobar misses.
Escobar looks to land a body kick but Built moved away.
Built throws a big counter head kick but Escobar avoids it with no problem.
Escobar scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A telegraphed right hand from Escobar misses the target.
Built throws out a counter right but Escobar avoids it with no problem.
Built takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Escobar connects with a right hand. Built shakes it off.
Escobar throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Built looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Built swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Built lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Escobar circles away quickly and effectively.
Built slips a straight right by Escobar.
Built steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Escobar.
Escobar avoids the body shot from Built.
A clash of legs there as Built blocks the low kick.
Escobar lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Escobar is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Built.
Built looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Built takes a jab right on the kisser.
Escobar lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Escobar throws an overhand right that lands on Built's shoulder, as Built tries to avoid the shot.
Built avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Built plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Escobar lands with a thumping leg kick.
Built lands a nice hook to Escobar's body. Escobar takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Built avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Escobar throws a body shot but no joy.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Built takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Built just misses with a punch to the body.
Escobar feints and then cracks Built's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Built down.
Escobar misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Built.
Built takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Built tries to clinch but Escobar moves out of range.
Nice jab there from Escobar.
Pa‘Akea Built has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Escobar connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Diego Escobar showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Escobar 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 49:46
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 49:46
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Diego Escobar!
A very excited looking Diego Escobar rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.