PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Billy Szent (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henri Eskola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Billy Szent had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 171.3lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Billy Szent has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Szent
vs
Eskola

180 cm
21
183 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

180 cm
28
170 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Very quick

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Billy Szent!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Henri Eskola!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Franklyn Lucas and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Szent shoots in and gets a takedown into Eskola's guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Eskola is trying to keep Szent in close.
Szent working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Szent trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Eskola manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Eskola trying to control but Szent is working from the bottom.
Szent keeping full guard, as Eskola tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Szent has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Eskola can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Eskola trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eskola controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Szent is pulling down on Eskola's head to control his posture.
Eskola wants to stand but Szent is controlling his posture from full guard.
Eskola pushing down on Szent's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Eskola seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Eskola not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eskola is taking a breather. Szent 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.
Szent is trying to control but can't.
Eskola has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Szent holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Szent is not content to let Eskola control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Eskola shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Szent is trying to defend but Eskola finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Eskola working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Szent's thigh. Szent counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Szent controlling Eskola's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eskola is looking to work some ground and pound but Szent has wrist control.
Szent controlling Eskola's posture.
Eskola wants to control from the top but Szent keeps moving.
Szent has his hands on Eskola's head, controlling the position.
Szent is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Szent wants to free his trapped foot but Eskola is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eskola punching from the bottom.

Eskola makes his way to full guard, as Szent worked for a kimura.
Eskola is trying to control the position but Szent postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Eskola can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Szent controls the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Henri Eskola will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Szent circles away from the clinch attempt.

Szent gets the takedown into side control.
Szent misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
An elbow from Szent crashes against the mat.
Szent trying to control the action but Eskola is working from the bottom.
Eskola is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Eskola is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Szent asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Szent working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Szent in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Eskola struggling a bit here.
Eskola is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Szent is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Szent looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Szent in side control, throwing shots but Eskola defends.

Szent tries for a kimura but Eskola is defending well.
The referee asks Szent politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Szent prefers to stall for the moment though.
Eskola regains half guard, as Szent was trying to land strikes.
Szent is looking to take a break and control but Eskola is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eskola wants to improve his position but Szent is controlling well.
Szent is thwarting Eskola's attempts to control the position.
Szent misses with a head shot. Eskola uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szent postures up.
Szent engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Eskola managing to control the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Szent shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Eskola but Eskola pushes him off and we're back to square one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Szent dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Szent shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Szent sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Szent trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Eskola tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Eskola keeping full guard, as Szent tries to pass.
Szent trying to control the position from guard on top but Eskola is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Eskola looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szent throws a big elbow that misses.
Szent stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Eskola swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Eskola working a defensive guard here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Szent throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Eskola's waist but Eskola gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Szent off to one side.
Szent shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Eskola counters by clinching up.

Szent successfully pulls guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szent is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Eskola trying to control but Szent is working from the bottom.
Billy Szent overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Szent working a defensive guard but Eskola manages to pass into side control anyway.
Eskola is looking to take a break and control but Szent is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Eskola stands up and beckons Szent to his feet.
Eskola is looking to clinch.

Eskola gets the takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szent prevents Eskola from improving position.
Eskola is looking to take a break and control but Szent is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Szent keeps Eskola under control for a moment.
You can see the frustration on Szent's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Eskola is looking to take a break and control but Szent is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Eskola tries to stand but Szent is controlling his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szent tries to buck Eskola off but Eskola is having none of it.
Szent regains half guard.

Eskola is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Szent has managed to free his arm - good work.
Szent is holding on to half guard well.
Eskola wants to pass the guard but Szent is defending well.
Szent is positioning himself well to prevent Eskola advancing to mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Billy Szent.
I think Szent 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Billy Szent!
Billy Szent really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that TFP Graphics - Pit Inc logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.