PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Wai Man Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Murray Esson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Man Li
vs
Esson

176 cm
28
153 lbs
19 - 12 - 1

174 cm
33
156 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160 (85% laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Wai Man Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Murray Esson!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Li checks a leg kick.
Esson throws a leg kick that is checked

and Li counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Esson!
Esson being controlled for a moment.
Li lands a nice forearm strike.
Li tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Esson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Esson manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Li is looking for a kimura here.
Esson punching from the bottom.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Esson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Li engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Li wants to pass the guard but Esson is keeping the position.
Li's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Li landing some decent shots from guard.
Esson trying to strike off his back.
Li wants to pass the guard but Esson is keeping the position.
Esson throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
Li won't allow Esson to sweep him here.
Esson is striking off his back. Li thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Esson tries to get to full guard but Li has control of the leg.
Esson landing rabbit punches to the side of Li's head. Not doing much damage but still scoring a few points.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Esson wants to improve his position but Li is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Li wants to take a breather but Esson is having none of it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Li trying to control the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Esson punching from the bottom.
Esson is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
Esson is looking to improve his position but Li isn't that keen on the idea.
Esson swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Li moves to back control.
Li is trying to stick to Esson's back but Esson is turning into Li. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Li's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Esson.
Esson is fighting to break Li's control of his arms but Li is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Esson throws a big right hand that misses.
Esson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Li looking to control.
Esson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Esson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Esson throws an elbow that misses. Li uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Esson's guard. Nice move by Li!
Li advances to half guard.
Esson throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Li tries to pass to full mount but Esson defends it.
Li blocks the strikes from Esson.
Li tries to pass to full mount but Esson defends it.
Li trying to control from half guard but Esson is working away.
Esson throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Esson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Esson throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esson missing with punches from the bottom.
Esson flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Li looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Esson tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Esson is not content to let Li control the position.
Esson misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Esson landing a few short strikes.
Esson is looking to improve his position.
Esson won't allow Li to pass to mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Li thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Esson wants to get back to full guard.
Esson punching from the bottom.
Esson is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Wai Man Li will probably get the nod.
That's time! Li's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Li takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Murray Esson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Li swings widly with a right hand
and Esson counters with a solid body kick.
Esson throws a body kick that misses.
Li showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Esson.
Esson scores with a hook to the body. Li takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Li fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Esson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Esson misses with a lunging right hand
and Li counters with a straight right hand.
Esson moves into range and connects with a jab.
Esson lands a really nice looking cross but Li seems unphased.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Esson fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Li has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Esson lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Li at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li throws a sloppy body shot
and Esson counters with a left to the body.
Esson throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Esson misses with a low kick.
Esson slips a straight right by Li.
Li slips under a jab.
Li ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Esson moves away.
Esson with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Li, as that shot connected.
Li takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Esson misses with a body kick.
Esson fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Esson misses with a wild body shot.
Nice body punch from Esson.
Esson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li connects with a single shot there.
Esson is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Li rather than just go for the knockout.
Li connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Esson's hands.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Li fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Esson manages to avoid it.
Esson wants to slow Li down by chopping away at his legs.
Murray Esson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Esson throws a hook to the side of Li's head but Li sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Esson thumps Li with a low kick.
Esson tries to bum rush Li with a series of wild strikes but Li uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Esson throws a leg kick but Li checks it.
Esson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Esson checks the leg kick.
Li looks to land a right hand but Esson moved out of range.
Li swings for the body but Esson moves out of range.
Li lands a right hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Li scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Esson missing with punches from the bottom.
Esson strikes from the bottom but Li uses the opportunity to move to side control.
Li trying to control the position but Esson is working away.
Esson misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Esson being controlled for a moment.
Li working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Esson gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Esson punching from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li controlling the action here.
Li prevents Esson from improving his position.
Li lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Li is looking to advance position but Esson won't allow it.
Esson tries to get to full guard but Li has control of the leg.
Li works his foot free and advances to mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Li with good strikes from the mount here!
Li lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Murray Esson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Esson misses with a wild body shot.
Li misses with a wild body shot.
Esson scores with a hook to the body. Li takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Li shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Esson as he avoids it easily.
Esson throws an overhand right that lands on Li's shoulder, as Li tries to avoid the shot.
Esson looks to score with a jab to the body but Li is just out of range.
Li fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Esson is out of range.
Li misses with a straight right.
Li scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Li lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Esson at a distance.
Esson misses with a leg kick.
Esson on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Esson just misses with a punch to the body.
Esson throws an off balance right hand
and Li counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Esson throws a sloppy head kick and Li moves out of range easily.
Esson buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A clash of legs there as Esson blocks the low kick.
Esson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Li shoots in looking for a takedown. Esson tries to sprawl out of it but Li keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Esson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Esson tries a head kick but it misses.
Esson thuds his right hand into Li's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Li lands a right hook to the body.
Li on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Esson. Esson obviously looking to wear him down.
Esson comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Li comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Li on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Li shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Esson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Esson punching to the body, from the bottom.
Our spies down at at Grappling Pro Helsinki inform us that Esson has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Esson wants to hit a switch here but Li passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Esson there!
Esson is arching his back trying to strike from the bottom but Li turns him over and now has his back.
Li tries to get the hooks in deep but Esson pushed the leg off.
You can see the frustration on Esson's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Esson manages to reverse the position and now he's in Li's guard. Nice work there by Esson.
We've been hearing good reports from Li's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Esson throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esson throws a big right hand that misses.
Esson landing with the ground and pound.
Wai Man Li overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Esson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Li works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Esson chips away with some ground and pound.
Esson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Li is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Li working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Esson.
Esson throwing strikes from guard but Li blocks nicely.
Li utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Li trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Li avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Esson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Li works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Esson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Li wants to sweep but no luck.
Esson chips away with some ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Esson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Li is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Esson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Li looking to hit a scissor sweep but Esson is one step ahead there.
Li lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Esson keeping moving, preventing Li from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Murray Esson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Esson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Murray Esson!
After the big win, Murray Esson made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Milwaukee's Best 160 (85% laundry) and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.
Wai Man Li was interviewed post fight and said 'I'd rather die than lose to a joker like this guy again. I don't know where things went wrong, but I guarantee a win next time out.'.