PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Escalante (ranked 3136 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonathan Maia (ranked 24920 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Escalante
vs
Maia

184 cm
25
156 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

173 cm
18
155 lbs
7 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ricardo Escalante!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 11 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jonathan Maia!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Sandra Marshall and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maia has his takedown stuffed

and Escalante moves into the clinch.
Maia drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Escalante wants the takedown. Maia is fighting it off but Escalante persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Maia's guard against the cage.

Maia working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Escalante doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Escalante manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Escalante has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Escalante wants to get up but he can't break Maia's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

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

Maia had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Escalante defends it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escalante working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Escalante got a little sloppy there for a moment and Maia has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Escalante has managed to get both his arms back between Maia's legs - danger averted.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Maia can do anything to dispel that myth.

Maia is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escalante seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Maia is looking for a triangle but Escalante pushes his legs off easily.
Escalante will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Escalante advances to half guard.
Maia tries to roll over but Escalante keeps him under control.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Escalante lands a nice short elbow.
Escalante really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Maia actively working from the bottom here.
Escalante working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Maia looking for submissions off his back.
Still in half guard, Escalante seems content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia regains full guard. Nicely done.

Maia looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Escalante passes into half guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Maia looking for submissions off his back.
Maia looks winded!
Escalante looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
It looks like Escalante is going to stand back up.
Maia is looking to improve his position.

Maia looking for submissions off his back.
Escalante is taking a breather. Maia says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maia looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Escalante slows the pace down in half guard.

Maia is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Escalante pulls his head out easily.

Maia looking for submissions off his back.
Escalante content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Maia actively working from the bottom here.
Escalante performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

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.
Maia taking some punishment here, with Escalante in his half guard.

Maia looking for submissions off his back.

Maia actively working from the bottom here.

Maia looking for submissions off his back.

Escalante is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Maia looking for submissions off his back.
Maia wants to improve his position but Escalante is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Escalante dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Maia misses with a takedown
and Escalante counters with a big head kick but Maia shrugs it off.
Maia gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Escalante counters with a head kick.
Escalante bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Maia's head backwards.
Maia has his takedown stuffed
and Escalante counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Ricardo Escalante has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jonathan Maia.
Maia gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Escalante counters with a perfectly timed head kick, knocking Maia out cold! Wow, that took some serious skill and not a little luck! Escalante is taking it in his stride though, strolling around like it's no big deal. What a guy.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:29 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Ricardo Escalante!