PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Esko Marttinen (ranked 915 p4p, 108 weight class) and Pekko Wannanen (ranked 979 p4p, 121 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Marttinen might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to For Heavy Metal we will die!. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Marttinen
vs
Wannanen

182 cm
32
162 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

172 cm
30
161 lbs
17 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

THE END 32

Urban Fighter
CAGED CROW Clothings 50$

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 10 - 3 - 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 17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Pekko Wannanen!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Sosuke Kotani and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marttinen works the jab nicely.
Marttinen tests Wannanen's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Marttinen shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Wannanen napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Wannanen is trying to get back to his feet.
We've been hearing that Marttinen has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
You can see the frustration on Wannanen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Wannanen tries to escape but Marttinen is in control.
Marttinen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wannanen keeps working.
Wannanen is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Marttinen asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Marttinen working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Wannanen holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Marttinen is working Wannanen over with some ground and pound from side control.
The ground and pound from Marttinen seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marttinen misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Marttinen creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Wannanen sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Marttinen trying to control the action but Wannanen is working from the bottom.
Wannanen is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Wannanen pushes Marttinen away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Marttinen gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Marttinen looks up at the clock and then as Wannanen takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Marttinen smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Wannanen wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Sloppy strikes there by Marttinen.

Wannanen sneaks out the side door and pushes Marttinen away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Marttinen scores with a hook.
A chopping leg kick lands by Wannanen.
Marttinen moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Wannanen has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Marttinen.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wannanen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wannanen bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Marttinen's head.
Marttinen throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Marttinen throws a wild body kick that Wannanen sees coming a mile off.
Wannanen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Marttinen.
Marttinen keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Wannanen lands a lovely overhand right.
Marttinen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A looping hook to the body misses from Marttinen. Wannanen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Wannanen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Marttinen slips under a jab.
Marttinen slips under a jab from Wannanen.
Wannanen walks into a left hand.
Pekko Wannanen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Marttinen lands with a nice body kick.
Wannanen takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Marttinen pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Wannanen back to the cage. Marttinen follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Wannanen digs a good body shot into Marttinen's ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Marttinen.
Marttinen misses with a body kick.
Wannanen lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Wannanen throws a leg kick but Marttinen checks it.
Nice shot lands for Marttinen.
Wannanen misses with a looping left.
Wannanen slips a jab from Marttinen.
Marttinen throws a left and a right that both miss
and Wannanen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Wannanen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Marttinen lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Marttinen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Wannanen.
Wannanen tries to clinch there but Marttinen circles away.
Marttinen looks to score with a jab to the body but Wannanen is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marttinen closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Wannanen to the mat! Wannanen manages to get full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Wannanen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Wannanen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Marttinen looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Wannanen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Marttinen.
Marttinen throwing strikes from guard but Wannanen blocks nicely.
Wannanen wants to stand up but Marttinen is controlling him.
Wannanen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Marttinen.
Marttinen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Wannanen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Marttinen is controlling him.
Wannanen keeping moving, preventing Marttinen from controlling successfully.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Wannanen manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Marttinen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Wannanen's elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Wannanen walks into a stiff left hand from Marttinen.
The fighters circle momentarily. Marttinen darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Wannanen tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Marttinen is able to avoid easily.
Marttinen throws a half hearted mid kick.
Marttinen misses with a low kick.
Marttinen stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Wannanen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
As Wannanen looks to move away, Marttinen throws a big counter combo but Wannanen just gets out of the way.
Marttinen bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Marttinen connects with a single shot there.
Wannanen moves out of range of the body kick from Marttinen.
Marttinen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Wannanen can do to turn this around?
Marttinen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Wannanen was well out of range. Poor timing from Marttinen.
Wannanen let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Esko Marttinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wannanen throws a right and a left that Marttinen avoids nicely.
Marttinen swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Wannanen tests Marttinen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
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 walks into a straight right hand from Wannanen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marttinen lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Marttinen walks into a straight right hand from Wannanen.

It looks like Esko Marttinen has been cut.
Wannanen takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Marttinen throws a solid leg kick but Wannanen takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Marttinen.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Wannanen! But no joy.
Wannanen lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Marttinen throws a hook but Wannanen avoids it easily.
Marttinen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Wannanen. Wannanen obviously looking to wear him down.
Esko Marttinen is winning the standup battle so far.
Marttinen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Wannanen's coach down at Lovelair Muay Thai/MMA was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Wannanen's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Marttinen throws a shot from downtown. Wannanen moves away and avoids it.
Wannanen throws a low kick but Marttinen moves out of range easily.
Marttinen connects with a crisp jab.
A low kick from Wannanen misses

and Marttinen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wannanen is looking to escape.

Marttinen is trying to work for a kimura but Wannanen is defending well.
Wannanen wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marttinen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Marttinen thows a huge punch but Wannanen dodges it nicely.
Wannanen tries to roll over but Marttinen keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marttinen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Marttinen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Wannanen is trying to get back to full guard.
Wannanen tries to kick Marttinen off in order to stand up. Marttinen Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Wannanen is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Marttinen has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Wannanen tries to improve position but can't.

Wannanen explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Wannanen avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Wannanen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Wannanen cracks the inside of Marttinen's front leg.
Wannanen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Marttinen throws out the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wannanen lands a leg kick that knocks Marttinen off balance momentarily.
Wannanen scores with a sloppy right hand. Marttinen should have avoided that one.
Wannanen throws a leg kick which misses Marttinen's front leg but catches the back leg as Marttinen tries to avoid it.
Marttinen stalks Wannanen and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Wannanen's face. Wannanen staggers backwards, shaken.
Wannanen moves out of range of the strikes.
Marttinen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Wannanen moves away.
Marttinen throws a leg kick
and Wannanen counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Wannanen takes a swing at Marttinen's ribcage but misses.
Wannanen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Marttinen.
Wannanen scores with a jab. Marttinen acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Wannanen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Marttinen, right into the meat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Marttinen throws a looping overhand right but Wannanen ducks down to avoid it.
Marttinen misses with a double jab.
As Marttinen backs off Wannanen throws a huge counter combo but Marttinen manages to avoid it all.
Good shot there by Marttinen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wannanen misses with a wild body shot.
Wannanen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Marttinen moves away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Marttinen is defended easily by Wannanen.
Marttinen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Marttinen throws a sloppy head kick
letting Wannanen counter with a right hand.
Wannanen throws a hook to the side of Marttinen's head but Marttinen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
It looked like Marttinen wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Marttinen throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Wannanen stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Marttinen checks the leg kick.
Wannanen fails to land with a series of punches.
Marttinen thuds his right hand into Wannanen's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marttinen lands with a thumping leg kick.
Wannanen motions for Marttinen to come forward. Wannanen throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Esko Marttinen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Esko Marttinen's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Marttinen checks a leg kick nicely.
Marttinen misses with a hook.
Wannanen attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Wannanen throws a right and a left that both miss.
A big right from Wannanen misses.
Marttinen quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Marttinen moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Marttinen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Marttinen misses with the combination.
An inside leg kick lands from Wannanen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A clash of legs there as Wannanen blocks the low kick.
Sloppy strikes from Marttinen. Those never looked like landing.
Marttinen tries to bum rush Wannanen with a series of wild strikes but Wannanen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Wannanen walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wannanen misses with a two punch combination.
Wannanen gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Marttinen.
Marttinen throws the left hand but Wannanen avoids the punch easily.
Wannanen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Wannanen blocks a head kick by Marttinen.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Wannanen! But no joy.
Wannanen throws a right hand that Marttinen ducks under and follows up with a left that Marttinen also avoids with ease.

Marttinen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Marttinen trying to control but Wannanen is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wannanen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Marttinen forces his way into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Wannanen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Marttinen won't allow Wannanen to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marttinen lands a couple of digs.
Marttinen throwing strikes but missing.
Esko Marttinen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Wannanen wants to sweep here but Marttinen controlling him for the moment.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Wannanen keeping moving, preventing Marttinen from controlling successfully.
Wannanen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Marttinen.
Wannanen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Marttinen is controlling him.
Marttinen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Wannanen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Wannanen is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Wannanen just misses with a elbow thrown towards Marttinen's brow.
Still in the clinch, Marttinen scores with a nice short uppercut.
Wannanen has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Marttinen jumps guard but Wannanen turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Marttinen successfully pulls guard.
Wannanen has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Marttinen is proving hard to escape from.

Marttinen is looking for a triangle but Wannanen pushes his legs off easily.

Wannanen decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Marttinen, up you get!
Wannanen ducks under a wild hook from Marttinen.
Pekko Wannanen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Good leg kick by Wannanen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Good leg kick by Wannanen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Wannanen tries to clinch but Marttinen is having none of it.
Wannanen lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Wannanen lands a slapping body shot.
Wannanen checks the leg kick nicely there.
Wannanen bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Marttinen's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marttinen throws a sloppy body shot
and Wannanen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Wannanen moves away from the strike by Marttinen.
Wannanen throws a leg kick but Marttinen sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Wannanen misses with a straight left.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marttinen misses with a kick to the body.
Wannanen misses with a few strikes there.
Wannanen ducks under a wild hook from Marttinen.
Wannanen looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Marttinen is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Marttinen checks the leg kick nicely there.
Wannanen scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Marttinen doesn't seem bothered though.
Wannanen misses with a body shot
and Marttinen finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Marttinen scores with a body shot.
Wannanen walks forward, straight into a front kick from Marttinen.
Marttinen lands a head shot.
Wannanen throws a leg kick
and Marttinen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

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 Esko Marttinen.
Well Marttinen has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Esko Marttinen!
Esko Marttinen was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.
In defeat, Pekko Wannanen stepped up to the mic, saying 'well that's some bullshit!'.