PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Esko Marttinen (ranked 5386 p4p, 466 weight class) and Elias Al Haddad (ranked 4953 p4p, 449 weight class). Marttinen's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, For Heavy Metal we will die!. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Marttinen
vs
Al Haddad

182 cm
29
162 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

174 cm
38
163 lbs
22 - 24 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Esko Marttinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 24 - 2, fighting out of New York, Elias Al Haddad!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, John Roberts and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Al Haddad takes the fight into the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Marttinen as the two fighters clinch.
Marttinen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Al Haddad using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Marttinen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A short right from Al Haddad on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Marttinen fails to land.
Al Haddad looking to stall.
Marttinen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Al Haddad's elbow.
Al Haddad throws a punch but it's blocked by Marttinen.
A nice left hand lands by Al Haddad.
Al Haddad blocks a body shot from Marttinen.
Marttinen lands a shoulder strike.
Marttinen scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A short left from Marttinen.
Marttinen misses with a punch on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Al Haddad.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Marttinen.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Marttinen scores with a nice short uppercut.
Marttinen throws a punch but it's blocked by Al Haddad.
A head punch on the inside from Al Haddad fails to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marttinen keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Al Haddad's efforts to push away.

Marttinen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Marttinen has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Heavy Metal in the buildup to the fight.
Marttinen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Al Haddad.
Marttinen misses with a straight right.
Al Haddad misses with an uppercut.
Marttinen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Al Haddad sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Marttinen misses with an uppercut. Al Haddad saw that one coming.
A big right from Al Haddad misses.
Marttinen connects with a solid leg kick.
Marttinen circles away from the clinch attempt
and Marttinen counters with a leg kick.
Al Haddad on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Marttinen cracks the inside of Al Haddad's front leg.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Al Haddad.
Marttinen lands with a right hand.
Jab from Al Haddad.
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!
Marttinen misses with a left hand
and Al Haddad counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marttinen scores with a one two! Al Haddad had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Marttinen tries to land a front kick but Al Haddad steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Al Haddad tries to move into range but Marttinen moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Al Haddad on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Marttinen throws a lazy right hand but Al Haddad sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Al Haddad is looking for the big counter here.
Marttinen looks to land a body kick but Al Haddad moved away.
Al Haddad ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Marttinen lands with a kick to the ribs.
Al Haddad misses with a few strikes there.
Marttinen throws a lazy right hand but Al Haddad sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Al Haddad avoids a kick to the body.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Al Haddad! But no joy.
Marttinen slips a jab and a cross from Al Haddad.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Al Haddad checks a leg kick.
Marttinen ducks under a wild hook from Al Haddad.
It looked like Marttinen was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Al Haddad.
Marttinen slips a jab from Al Haddad.
Marttinen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Al Haddad cracks the inside of Marttinen's front leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Haddad connects with a looping right hand.
Al Haddad blocks a head kick by Marttinen.
Marttinen tests Al Haddad's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Marttinen lands a nice hook to Al Haddad's body. Al Haddad takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A slow jab from Al Haddad misses its intended target.
Al Haddad looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Marttinen lands a jab to the head.
Marttinen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Al Haddad.
Al Haddad throws a shot to the body.
Marttinen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Al Haddad manages to avoid it.
Al Haddad takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Marttinen misses with a low kick.
Marttinen walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
No joy there for Al Haddad, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Al Haddad ducks under a wild hook from Marttinen.
Despite the aggression on Al Haddad's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Al Haddad bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Al Haddad walks into a straight right hand from Marttinen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marttinen works Al Haddad's body with a nice hook.
Marttinen lands a jab to Al Haddad's midsection.
Good standup being displayed there by Marttinen as he connects with a hook.
Al Haddad with a nice cross.
Al Haddad loads up on a big right hand but Marttinen slips the punch.
Marttinen throws a shot from downtown. Al Haddad moves away and avoids it.
Marttinen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Al Haddad throws the left hand but Marttinen avoids the punch easily.
Marttinen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Al Haddad.
Marttinen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Al Haddad fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Al Haddad gets tackled into the cage by Marttinen. Marttinen maintains the clinch.
Al Haddad tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Al Haddad misses with a punch on the inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Still in the clinch, Marttinen scores with a nice short uppercut.
Al Haddad blocks a body shot from Marttinen.
Marttinen makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Al Haddad misses with the head strike.
Marttinen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esko Marttinen dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Marttinen misses with a leg kick.
Marttinen throws a push kick but Al Haddad slaps the foot to one side.
Marttinen misses with a body kick.
Al Haddad goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Marttinen misses with an uppercut. Al Haddad saw that one coming.
Al Haddad throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A jab from Marttinen misses.
Al Haddad misses with a right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A big right from Marttinen misses.
Marttinen takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Al Haddad takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Marttinen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Al Haddad paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Marttinen slips a jab from Al Haddad.
Marttinen throws a lazy right hand but Al Haddad sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Marttinen throws a hook but Al Haddad avoids it easily.
Al Haddad steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Marttinen.
Al Haddad throws a right hand that Marttinen ducks under and follows up with a left that Marttinen also avoids with ease.
Marttinen was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Marttinen feints and then cracks Al Haddad's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Al Haddad down.
Al Haddad moves away from the strike by Marttinen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marttinen wants to slow Al Haddad down by chopping away at his legs.
Al Haddad misses with a hook
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Al Haddad scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Al Haddad throws an overhand right that lands on Marttinen's shoulder, as Marttinen tries to avoid the shot.
Marttinen misses with a looping right.
Marttinen moves away from the strike by Al Haddad.
Esko Marttinen is winning the standup battle so far.
Marttinen turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Marttinen throws the left hand but Al Haddad avoids the punch easily.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Marttinen.
Al Haddad throws the left hand but Marttinen avoids the punch easily.

Marttinen clinches up with Al Haddad and pushes him back against the cage.
Al Haddad pushes off an throws an elbow but Marttinen leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Al Haddad can't break the clinch.
Marttinen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Marttinen swings wildly with an uppercut but Al Haddad uses good head movement to avoid it.
Marttinen lands a right hand that snaps the head of Al Haddad backwards.
Marttinen throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Haddad is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Marttinen softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Al Haddad misses with a punch on the inside.
Marttinen throws a head punch that misses.
Marttinen lands a shoulder strike.
A nice right hand lands inside from Marttinen.
Al Haddad has a couple of punches blocked by Marttinen.
Al Haddad blocking some punches.
Al Haddad displaying some good clinch control by pressing Marttinen up against the cage.
Al Haddad lands with a right to the head.
Marttinen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Marttinen lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A right handed body shot lands from Marttinen.
Marttinen blocks an uppercut.
Al Haddad swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marttinen lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A nice left hand lands by Marttinen.

Marttinen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Al Haddad might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Al Haddad is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Marttinen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Al Haddad moves away.
Al Haddad checks a leg kick nicely.
Marttinen digs a good hook to Al Haddad's body.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Marttinen.
Marttinen slips under a jab from Al Haddad.
Al Haddad just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromMarttinen.
Marttinen misses with a head kick.
Marttinen throws a push kick but Al Haddad slaps the foot to one side.
Marttinen throws a head kick but Al Haddad moves out of range.

Marttinen clinches.
Marttinen lands a right hand.
Marttinen throws a head punch that misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Al Haddad wants to break the clinch but can't.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Al Haddad.
Al Haddad has a couple of punches blocked by Marttinen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Marttinen.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Marttinen as Al Haddad tries to tie him up.
Al Haddad lands with a left to the head.
Marttinen throws a punch but it's blocked by Al Haddad.
Al Haddad softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Marttinen working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Al Haddad tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Al Haddad is trying to break free.
Marttinen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Marttinen breaks the clinch.
Marttinen pushes Al Haddad away with a front kick.
Al Haddad will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Marttinen is looking to score with low kicks.
Al Haddad looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Al Haddad throws a big shot that misses.
Al Haddad lands a jab to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esko Marttinen dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Marttinen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Al Haddad.
Marttinen lands with a nice body punch.
Al Haddad looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Elias Al Haddad is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Al Haddad throws an off balance right hand
and Marttinen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A punch lands to the side of Al Haddad 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Marttinen looks to land a body kick but Al Haddad moved away.
Al Haddad checks a leg kick.
Al Haddad chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Marttinen can pounce on him.
Al Haddad walks into a jab.
Al Haddad tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Marttinen was well out of range. Poor timing from Al Haddad.
Marttinen throws a push kick but Al Haddad slaps the foot to one side.
Marttinen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Al Haddad misses the jab.
Marttinen throws a sloppy head kick
and Marttinen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Al Haddad's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Al Haddad has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Marttinen.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Al Haddad takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Marttinen throws a half hearted mid kick.
Al Haddad on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marttinen tries to clinch up.
Marttinen fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Al Haddad checks it well.
Marttinen lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Al Haddad gets a clinch.
Al Haddad just leaning against Marttinen, taking a breather.
Marttinen lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short right from Marttinen.
Nice body punch from Marttinen.
Marttinen misses with a punch to the body.
Marttinen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Al Haddad breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Marttinen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Al Haddad can do to turn this around?
Marttinen blocks a jab.
Marttinen throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Al Haddad is rocked!
Marttinen lunges in with a left hook that violently twists Al Haddad head around and knocks him out cold! Marttinen hops onto the cage and yells out at the top of his lungs - Yeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaah! They're showing the replay on the big screens now; that was nasty! I hope one of the photographers got a good shot of it.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Esko Marttinen!
A less than humble Esko Marttinen misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.