PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Eric Esch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Freddie Schmall Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Esch
vs
Schmall Jr

180 cm
21
296 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

212 cm
21
285 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

World class boxer
Granite chin

World class MT
Granite chin

Urban Fighter
Voodoo Nutrition

Dauntless

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Eric Esch!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Freddie Schmall Jr!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Daniel Franklin and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Esch closes the distance and clinches.
Schmall Jr swings wildly with an uppercut but Esch uses good head movement to avoid it.

Esch breaks from the clinch.
Schmall Jr connects with a single shot there.
Esch slips a jab and a cross from Schmall Jr.

Esch has closed the distance and engaged Schmall Jr in a clinch.
Schmall Jr doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Schmall Jr misses with a punch to the body.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Schmall Jr misses with some punches.
Esch tries a body shot but Schmall Jr blocks it.

Esch breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schmall Jr throws out a loose jab but Esch uses good head movement to avoid it.

Esch moves into the clinch.
Esch misses with a short punch on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Esch.
Schmall Jr lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

It looks like Eric Esch has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Schmall Jr throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schmall Jr throws a head punch that misses.
A hook to the body from Schmall Jr.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Schmall Jr.
Esch misses with a punch on the inside.
Esch swings wildly with an uppercut but Schmall Jr uses good head movement to avoid it.
Schmall Jr blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Esch's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Esch lands a nice uppercut.
Schmall Jr trying to control the position but instead, Esch has worked for underhooks and has pushed Schmall Jr into the ropes.
Esch lands a hook that snaps the head of Schmall Jr backwards.
Esch prevents a body shot from Schmall Jr.
Schmall Jr fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Our sources have told us that Esch has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Schmall Jr stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Esch blocking some punches.
Nice body punch from Schmall Jr - that landed with a thud.
Esch is breathing heavily.
Esch takes a shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schmall Jr throws a punch but it's blocked by Esch.
Esch manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Esch blocks an uppercut.
Schmall Jr tries to throw a body punch but Esch avoids it by throwing Schmall Jr back against the ropes.
Schmall Jr stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Esch lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Schmall Jr misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Schmall Jr misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Schmall Jr.
Schmall Jr working aggressively here.
Esch lands a left hand that snaps the head of Schmall Jr backwards.
Esch scores with a shoulder strike.
Schmall Jr scores with a hook to the body.
Schmall Jr blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A shot in the inside from Schmall Jr.
Schmall Jr goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Freddie Schmall Jr will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Eric Esch's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Schmall Jr throws a leg kick which misses Esch's front leg but catches the back leg as Esch tries to avoid it.
Schmall Jr dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Esch moves into the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Schmall Jr as Esch tries to tie him up.
Freddie Schmall Jr seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Esch misses with a hook to the ribs.
Schmall Jr misses with a punch on the inside.
Nice body punch from Schmall Jr.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Esch.
Schmall Jr swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Esch lands a left hand.
Schmall Jr has a couple of punches blocked by Esch.
Esch lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esch wants to break the clinch but can't.
Schmall Jr works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Schmall Jr misses with a punch on the inside.
Schmall Jr goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Esch struggles to land a body shot inside as Schmall Jr controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Esch.
Schmall Jr works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Schmall Jr.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Schmall Jr.
Schmall Jr lands an uppercut.
Schmall Jr lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Esch backwards.

Eric Esch's cut is getting worse.
Schmall Jr scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Esch avoids a wild elbow strike from Schmall Jr.
Schmall Jr lands with a short shot to the head.
Schmall Jr swings wildly with an uppercut but Esch uses good head movement to avoid it.
Schmall Jr blocks an uppercut.
Esch prevents a body shot from Schmall Jr.
Esch takes a shot to the head.
Schmall Jr lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Esch or not.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Schmall Jr working aggressively here.
Esch swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A shot in the inside from Schmall Jr.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schmall Jr scores with a nice hook to the head.

Eric Esch's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Schmall Jr has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Schmall Jr works on Esch's body with a couple of short punches.
Schmall Jr pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
A right hand to the body from Schmall Jr.
Schmall Jr tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Schmall Jr makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Esch prevents a body shot from Schmall Jr.
Schmall Jr misses with a punch on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Schmall Jr.
Schmall Jr blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Esch's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Schmall Jr lands with a light punch inside.
Schmall Jr tries to work over Esch's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Esch blocks a body shot from Schmall Jr.
Esch scores with a nice hook to the head.
Esch working aggressively here.

Esch pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Schmall Jr throws a big shot that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Freddie Schmall Jr showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Eric Esch's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Schmall Jr lands a glancing blow to the side of Esch's head.
Schmall Jr throws the left hand but Esch avoids the punch easily.
Esch on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Schmall Jr throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Esch sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Esch bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Esch throws out a loose jab but Schmall Jr uses good head movement to avoid it.
Schmall Jr is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Esch waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Schmall Jr.
Schmall Jr throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Esch wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Schmall Jr.
Schmall Jr swats away the attempt to clinch by Esch.
Schmall Jr throws out a counter right but Esch avoids it with no problem.
Schmall Jr misses with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esch takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Jeez, Eric Esch's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
A punch combination from Esch misses.

Schmall Jr scores a flash knockdown with a right hook that drops Esch to his hands and knees! The ref pushes Schmall Jr away as he looks to land an illegal blow. Esch got an extra few seconds to recover there, which could have made all the differences as he stumbles back to his feet. The referee looks into his eyes and decides to allow the bout to continue. Can he survive?!

Esch is rocked!

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Eric Esch's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Freddie Schmall Jr!
Freddie Schmall Jr is the new super heavyweight champion!
An out of breath Freddie Schmall Jr thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.