Efrain Escudero: The overlooked Ultimate Fighter 8 lightweight winner
by MMAmania.com on Dec 14, 2008 10:24 PM EST
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"That's exactly what the UFC needs, another boring ass (expletive) wrestler!"
-- Junie Browning
Those words -- directed toward Efrain Escudero during season eight of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) -- set up a heated semifinal match up to determine one of the lightweight finalists.
Browning did his best before the match to sabotage his position, throwing drinking glasses at castmates and swinging on them to provoke reactions. It didn't work. And the All American wrestler from Pima Community College eventually "beat off" the "Lunatic" with a second round choke.
Escudero demonstrated stellar ground acumen throughout the season, choking out Ido Pariente and Shane Nelson before besting Browning. He then flew under the radar heading into TUF 8 Finale as UFC President Dana White and others compared his opponent, Phillipe Nover, to stars such as Anderson Silva and Georges St. Pierre.
Talk about high praise.
So when Escudero entered the Octagon last night at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, he was supposed to lose. But he didn't, relying on his strong wrestling background to frustrate the Filipino for three rounds.
"I did exactly what I wanted to do," Escudero told UFC.com after the fight. "Phillipe was going to throw that overhand right and I knew that I had to duck it. After awhile I started setting him up where he would be throwing that knee. I was just waiting for that knee to grab his leg and take him down."
Even after the "improbable" win, it still appears that Browning -- who looked much improved in his submission win over Dave Kaplan -- and Nover -- who failed to live up to the implausible expectations (could anyone?) -- are still getting all the attention even though Escudero bested them both.
The good news is that Escudero doesn't seem to care. He doesn't bitch, moan or cry for attention. He just goes about his business and wins fights with a smile on his face.
Just what the UFC needs.
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He told Cofield in an interview that he’s a white belt. Very technical wrestler, impressed with his timing during the fight.
by NameNotRequired on Dec 14, 2008 10:38 PM EST reply actions
i think efrain laid his way to a contract.. i didn’t see griffin/bonnar do it or grove/herman do it.. they desereved a UFC CONTRACT!!
that punk just laid and waited 4+ mins for dana to give him a contract of 3 fights.. he won’t ever get a ppv main card live event
he will always be just a Fight Night under card, mark my words!
by mikeybear on Dec 15, 2008 12:15 AM EST up reply actions
what are you talking about mikey? he submitted the first three opponents and then won ONE decision and youre complaining? get out of here
by brendan on Dec 15, 2008 12:25 AM EST up reply actions
Efrain “lay and pray” Escudero sucks ass. I would never pay to watch that boring loser fight. Junie Browning was exactly right about him. I wouldnt be surprised if efrain landed less than 5 strikes on Nover in the entire fight. And now this boring joke, with the personality of a door knob, gets a contract with the ufc???
I’d like to see a rematch between “lay and pray” escudero and browning. Junie looked much improved in his win over kaplan. I would love to see efrain get KTFO.
by Spider Rulz on Dec 15, 2008 10:04 AM EST up reply actions
I have yet to watch this fight but last week when all u guys were alreday annointing Phillipe, I told u guys not to sleep on Efrain. He is much bigger and stronger than Phillipe, and I for one am not the leat bit surprised that he won the show.
Was it a good fight? how did Nover look?
by john on Dec 15, 2008 12:37 PM EST up reply actions
It doesnt matter. He won the fight. No matter how he does it. Youre not in there, and neither am I
by Adrian Iriarte on Dec 15, 2008 1:51 AM EST up reply actions
I felt like by round 3, Nover had Efrain all figured out…just not enough time to finish him. If they fought again, I’d bank on Nover winning. But congrats to Efrain, he won fair and square. He deserved it as well after putting up with so much crap during the filming of the show and having still gone on the show depsite his father’s death – a class act.
by RedDog on Dec 15, 2008 2:46 AM EST up reply actions
i was going to post a comment~
but ur post pretty much sums up exactly how i feel.
by stinky~fingers on Dec 15, 2008 10:02 AM EST up reply actions
Go watch kickboxing if you don’t like the ground game.
by DirtyML on Dec 15, 2008 7:37 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah, Tong Poe is defintely a more exciting fighter…
by dirtymo3 on Dec 15, 2008 5:51 PM EST up reply actions
He shows very impressive submission offense and defense for a white belt in BJJ. His wrestling is also very solid, and I completely disagree with people who call him a LnP fighter. He finished all his fights on the show, and won an exciting decision in the finale. I look forward to continued development from him in future fights.
by GregC on Dec 15, 2008 12:16 AM EST up reply actions
As much as I thought Nover would win, gotta give credit where it’s due. This kid seems like a class act and carries himself very well. He did what most people thought he couldn’t, so congratulations to him.
by chefdaddy on Dec 14, 2008 10:43 PM EST reply actions
Viva Mexico!!!!!! mexican fighters ftw, they’re warriors and are much needed for the UFC..
by RoB on Dec 14, 2008 10:44 PM EST reply actions
How can added diversity not be good for the UFC? It can provide a bridge for fans from all different cultures. Don’t be racist, cultural expansion is just going to help MMA grow and gain legitimacy as a sport.
by GregC on Dec 15, 2008 1:55 PM EST up reply actions
Escudero is exactly what the UFC needs. Someone who is going to show up beat some a$$ and not cry about the small things.
by a2thep on Dec 14, 2008 10:50 PM EST reply actions
Tell Efrain that I will sell him my name
by the_mexicutioner on Dec 14, 2008 11:30 PM EST reply actions
hecho en mexico!!! hey mexicutioner….are you mexican? lol
Viva Mexico!!
by JoW on Dec 15, 2008 12:01 AM EST up reply actions
i’m mexican and i think efrain laid his way to a contract.. i didn’t see griffin/bonnar do it or grove/herman do it.. they desereved a UFC CONTRACT!!
that punk just laid and waited 4 mins for dana to give him 3 fights.. he won’t ever get a ppv main card live event
he will always be just a Fight Night under card, mark my words!
by mikeybear on Dec 15, 2008 12:14 AM EST up reply actions
everyone has his point of view…. i am mexican and not just for that i cheer for this guy i think he have some serious talent… i think that nover could beat him but he couldnt, im always a fan of BJJ but last night the wrestler won and wasnt boring at all to me!!
by JoW on Dec 15, 2008 12:28 AM EST up reply actions
Efrain just has a good ground game. He pretty much dominated a guy who is supposed to be a BJJ Black belt. Not bad for someone who is “just a wrestler.” Anyone who cant make that basic observation definitley has an elemantary to casual understanding of MMA at best. I mean its not like Efrain had any submissions during the show or anything. (Rolls his eyes)
by the_mexicutioner on Dec 15, 2008 8:19 AM EST up reply actions
You might want to consult with Pacman before you start selling your name mexicutioner.
by RealDrew on Dec 15, 2008 10:18 AM EST up reply actions
ofcoarse nover will be back. but efrain has a bright future in the ufc cuz he’s has the mexican heart that ppl don’t wanna believe in. I wanted. viva la raza!
by pimpin aint easy but its gotta be done on Dec 14, 2008 11:56 PM EST reply actions
Im no mexican but i think the mexican style is brawling with heart and passion similar too roger huerta’s style…Efrain resembles sean sherk…..
by matthew on Dec 15, 2008 12:22 AM EST up reply actions
Love this kid and yes I believed in him since watching him take the abuse in the house and not retaliate. That is a real disciplined fighter. I Knew from his pedigree that he really was a tough kid. He’s going to be around for a long time. I like Nover too, just not as much. Junie is colorful, but without the discipline he won’t last.
by MrFyer on Dec 15, 2008 6:09 AM EST reply actions
i dunno why i just realy dont like this guy, in the house he seamed like a bitch, i mean if some one pissed on my pillow i wound’t just take it lol i’m sure hes a good wrestler but borin as a fighter and his personalitly sucks shit, if junie had good training insted of that lemon coach mir, junie would have pounded efrain, it doesn’t realy matter who wins the show tho i mean look at tuf 1 diego won but i think fighters like leben, kos and kenflo have more recognition, and i’m really suprised that nover didn’t blam efrain (next gsp / silva?… maybe not)
by Choke Hazard on Dec 15, 2008 6:42 AM EST reply actions
The main strength of this guy is his compossure. He never gets or looks excited or underpressure.
His second is his extreme balance. How many failed takedowns did he cause and not by sprawling but by hoping all over the place even while getting punched.
He will be someone to fight Diago in a years time.
Or Frankie Edgar…
by omg on Dec 15, 2008 6:50 AM EST reply actions
9 out of 10 i think nover wins this fight. I think he got a case of over confidence and did not train for this fight like he should have(1st GSP/Serra fight). But i have to give credit where credit is due Efrain put it down congrats
by Ralphi on Dec 15, 2008 8:51 AM EST reply actions
ok he was taking him down at will and dominated the first 2 rounds.. 9 out of 10 my ass! if anything escudero wins 9 out of 10 people believe nover is better than he actually is because of all the hype he has gotten!
by RoB on Dec 15, 2008 11:58 AM EST up reply actions
I disagree. Personally, I feel that Efrain was better in every aspect of that fight. He did really really well. Im kinda wondering whats up with Nover. It kinda reminded me of GSP fighting Kos, with Nover being Kos. Efrain was able to just dominate him and frustrate him so much, that he just lost his whole game plan. Exactly what GSP does…
Im not saying that he is the next GSP, just that he executed a flawless game plan. It was his night all together…
Good luck in your future Efrain. I hope to see you again soon.
by enzo-enormous on Dec 15, 2008 12:07 PM EST up reply actions
I’m bummed because how bad my predictions were. I had Vinny by sub in the the first round. I thought Bader or Vinny would go for the take down and then Bader would get subbed easily. I did not expect this fight to be a battle of stand up. WTF!!!?? But anyway, Vinny got smashed. Hopefully he will learn and grow from it.
I thought Nover was going to TKO Effrain in the 1st round. Man I am so glad I didnt put any money up. I would’ve been fucked. I was pretty confident.
by WTF on Dec 15, 2008 8:02 PM EST reply actions
I dont understand that people complain about Efrain not throwing punches, instread of complaining they should turn and watch boxing. MMA is more about strategy (perfect for Efrain).
by oscar on Jan 2, 2009 5:52 AM EST reply actions
efrain won the fight square and fair i dont know why everyones hating i wanna see all the haters and $h!t talker step up to him and tell him everything you need to say to his face! do it i wanna see so if ur going to be writing $h!t on a webpage
ur pretty wack get a life.
by Does it matter on Jan 2, 2009 8:36 PM EST reply actions
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