Charles Oliveira scores huge win over Efrain Escudero
In the world of mixed martial arts, a fighter’s record often doesn’t mean much. So with Charles Oliveira entering his fight against Efrain Escudero with a record of 13-0, it was unclear whether he was
a legitimate prospect or simply another Brazilian fighter who could pad a resume with low-profile wins. But Oliveira proved he was no joke, hurting and then submitting 2-1 favourite Escudero in the third-round with a rear-naked choke at Ultimate Fight Night
22, put on by the Ultimate Fighting Championships Wednesday night.
In the first round, both men exhibited their striking ability as Oliveira targeted Escudero early, coming out launching knees and kicks. They mostly missed, but the Brazilian began to land on Escudero
with leg kicks and punches. Towards the end of the round he shot for a take-down and Escudero made him pay for it in punches and then ended up on top with more punches to make the round very close.
Round two was much the same affair, with another tight round. Escudero counter-striked more effectively in the second round and managed to take Oliveira down at one point, but Oliveira continued to land
kicks to the body and legs of Escudero, meaning both fighters were entering a situation in the third round where they could conceivably have been ahead, tied, or behind on the score cards.
Round three began with a low-blow kick from Oliveira, and Escudero paused to recover as the ref gave him a breather. After clinching, Escudero then landed his own brutal low blow to Oliveira, who collapsed
to the mat after the referee allowed him time to recover. Finally both fighters resumed fighting in front of the restless crowd. Escudero fired a kick that Oliveira caught, and then Oliveira slammed him down. Escudero got up, but in the scramble Oliveira mounted
his back and applied a picture-perfect standing rear-naked choke, to which Escudero tapped at two minutes and 25 seconds of the third round.
It was an impressive display for Oliveira in just his second UFC fight, and his second straight submission victory. After facing mostly unknown fighters, his win over Escudero is a huge step up in his
MMA career.
Escudero, the winner of The Ultimate Fighter season nine reality show tournament, suffered his second UFC loss, dropping him to 3-2 in the promotion at 13-2 overall. It’s a disappointing set-back for what
was one of the 155lb division’s most promising fighters, and is rendered doubly disappointing by the fact that Escudero came in three pounds overweight for the bout.
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