PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Murray Esson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ilkka Laitinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Laitinen has chosen AC/DC - Thunderstruck as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Esson
vs
Laitinen

174 cm
34
156 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

177 cm
40
165 lbs
41 - 22 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Murray Esson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 41 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ilkka Laitinen!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Paul Tew and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laitinen swings for the body but Esson moves out of range.

Esson dives in and scores a takedown into Laitinen's guard.
Esson wants to control from the top but Laitinen keeps moving.
Laitinen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Esson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Esson wants to control from the top but Laitinen keeps moving.
Laitinen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Esson landing some decent shots from guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Laitinen's head.
Laitinen keeping moving, preventing Esson from controlling successfully.
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.
Esson wants to pass the guard but Laitinen is keeping the position.
Laitinen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Laitinen keeping moving, preventing Esson from controlling successfully.
Laitinen wants to sweep here but Esson controlling him for the moment.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Esson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Laitinen is trying to control but can't.

Esson is trying to work for a kimura but Laitinen is defending well.
Laitinen trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Esson working over Laitinen with some ground and pound. Laitinen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Laitinen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Laitinen.
Laitinen is trying to keep Esson in close.
Laitinen being controlled here, momentarily.
Esson distracts Laitinen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Esson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Laitinen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Esson distracts Laitinen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esson stops Laitinen from standing up.
Esson tries to free his leg and advance position but Laitinen is retaining full guard.
Esson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Esson looks to land a combination but Laitinen avoids it well.
Esson misses with the combination.
Ilkka Laitinen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A punch combination from Esson misses.
Esson misses with the combination.
A little jabbing left from Laitinen on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
The fighters circling - Laitinen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Esson wants to clinch up but Laitinen keeps it at a distance.
Esson misses with a double jab.
Laitinen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Esson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esson feints a jab promting Laitinen to slip. Esson then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Laitinen slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Esson tries to bum rush Laitinen with a series of wild strikes but Laitinen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Esson misses with a few strikes there.
Laitinen doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Esson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Laitinen dodges the punch combination from Esson.
Some wild striking there from Esson.
Laitinen looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Laitinen throws a quick inside leg kick.
Esson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Laitinen slips a jab and a cross from Esson.
Esson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Laitinen circles away quickly and effectively.
Esson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Laitinen counters with a low kick, right behind Esson 's knee.
Esson is breathing heavily.
Laitinen lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Esson misses with a few strikes there.
Esson throws a right hand that Laitinen ducks under and follows up with a left that Laitinen also avoids with ease.
Esson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Murray Esson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A slapping leg kick lands for Laitinen.
Murray Esson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Esson throws a series of punches but Laitinen moves out of range.
Esson misses with a combination
and Laitinen counters with a good low kick that Esson was not able to check.
Laitinen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Esson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Esson misses with a series of wild punches.
Laitinen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Esson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Laitinen can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Laitinen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Esson throws a nice looking combination but Laitinen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Esson moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Esson gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Laitinen slips a jab and a cross from Esson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Laitinen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Laitinen throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Esson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Some wild striking there from Esson.
That kick from Laitinen tenderised Esson's leg. Esson is trying to keep his angry face on.
Esson misses with the combination.
Laitinen cracks Esson with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Esson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Esson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Laitinen circles away quickly and effectively.
Laitinen lands a nice hook to Esson's body. Esson takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Laitinen throws a body shot but no joy.
Laitinen scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Esson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Laitinen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nice straight punches there by Laitinen. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Laitinen.
Esson feints a jab promting Laitinen to slip. Esson then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Laitinen slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Esson takes one to the chin there.
A thudding body kick lands there by Laitinen!
Esson throws a right and a left that Laitinen avoids nicely.
Murray Esson is winning the standup battle so far.
Laitinen throws a leg kick which misses Esson's front leg but catches the back leg as Esson tries to avoid it.
Laitinen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Esson.
Esson is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Esson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Laitinen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Esson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Esson misses with a double jab
and Laitinen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Laitinen turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esson takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A punch combination from Esson misses.
Esson throws a right hand that Laitinen ducks under and follows up with a left that Laitinen also avoids with ease.
Laitinen fakes the leg kick and cracks Esson in the body.
Esson is starting to get sloppy and is letting his hands down. Laitinen just took advantage and landed a stinging jab. Oh! Now a right hook, right on the button! Esson has gone limp and this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:23 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Ilkka Laitinen!
Ilkka Laitinen very nearly forgot to thank Milwaukee's Best 160 (85% laundry) amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.