PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Esko Marttinen (ranked 1448 p4p, 169 weight class) and Nik Snow (ranked 1070 p4p, 130 weight class). Marttinen kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is For Heavy Metal we will die!. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Marttinen
vs
Snow

182 cm
35
162 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

178 cm
32
156 lbs
9 - 4 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

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 13 - 8 - 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 9 - 4 - 1, fighting out of New York, Nik Snow!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Andrew Berry and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Snow tries to score a power double leg takedown but Marttinen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Snow somewhat.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Snow.
Marttinen jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Snow moves into the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Marttinen.
Snow gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Marttinen.
Marttinen misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marttinen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Snow is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Snow blocks an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Snow.

Snow manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marttinen throws a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marttinen throws an elbow that misses. Snow uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Marttinen's guard. Nice move by Snow!

Snow trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Snow avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Marttinen looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Snow passes into side control.
Snow slows the pace down.
Snow looking to control but instead Marttinen has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Marttinen's coaches at Heavy Metal have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Snow sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Marttinen defending well though.
Marttinen wants to improve his position but Snow is controlling well.
Marttinen is not content to let Snow control the position.
Snow looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Snow wants to pass to mount but Marttinen is defending the position.
Marttinen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Snow.

Marttinen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Snow pulls his head out easily.
Snow not doing much here.

Marttinen actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Well, if Snow is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Marttinen is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Snow's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Snow's back!
Marttinen lands an elbow to the side of the head.
You can see the frustration on Snow's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Snow grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.

Snow is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Marttinen gets his way!

Marttinen is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Snow trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Snow manages to reverse the position and now he's in Marttinen's guard. Nice work there by Snow.
Snow is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Marttinen working a defensive guard here.
Snow wants to stand but Marttinen is controlling his posture from full guard.
Snow seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Marttinen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Snow is aware though and is defending well.
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 Esko Marttinen will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Marttinen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Marttinen moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromSnow.
Snow gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Snow takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Marttinen throws a left and a right that both miss
and Snow counters with a one-two to the body.
Marttinen shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Snow shoots in for a takedown but Marttinen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Marttinen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Snow.
Snow doesn't manage to clinch there - Marttinen circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A lazy left from Marttinen finds it's target.
Snow staying out of range there.
Snow wants to counter the offense by Marttinen and move into the clinch position.

Snow shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Marttinen manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Marttinen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Snow throwing strikes but missing.
Snow trying to control the position from guard on top but Marttinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Snow avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Snow pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Marttinen is keeping the position for now.
Snow wants to stand and escape but instead Marttinen has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Marttinen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Snow's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Snow trying to keep a closed guard but Marttinen is proving a slippery customer.
Marttinen with a flurry of punches that miss.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marttinen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Snow looking to hit a scissor sweep but Marttinen is one step ahead there.
Marttinen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Snow's head.
Marttinen cracks Snow with a solid left hand.
Marttinen is in close to Snow's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Marttinen looking to pass the guard.
Marttinen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Marttinen scoring with some ground and pound.
Marttinen slips nicely into half guard.
Marttinen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Snow wants to control but Marttinen is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Marttinen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Snow taking some punishment here, with Marttinen in his half guard.
Marttinen lands strikes from half guard.
Snow has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Snow taking some punishment here, with Marttinen in his half guard.
Esko Marttinen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Marttinen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Marttinen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Snow defending well though.
Snow regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Marttinen.
Snow looking for a sweep. Not yet Snow, not yet.
Marttinen looking to pass the guard.
Marttinen works over Snow with some ground and pound from guard.
Marttinen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Marttinen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Marttinen throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marttinen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Marttinen trying to move into half guard but instead Snow has managed to sweep!

Marttinen wants to sweep but no luck.
Snow trying to control but Marttinen is working from the bottom.
Snow controlling from the top position.
Marttinen wants to sweep but no luck.

Snow stands up from guard. Let's bang!
A head kick by Marttinen misses
and Snow counters with a low kick, right behind Marttinen 's knee.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Snow fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esko Marttinen dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Snow is looking to clinch.
Marttinen scores with a hook.
Marttinen misses with a takedown attempt - Snow sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Snow fails in his attempt to clinch.
Marttinen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Snow can do to turn this around?
Snow drops his hands momentarily and Marttinen takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Marttinen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Snow swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Snow gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Marttinen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marttinen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Esko Marttinen is winning the standup battle so far.
Snow is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Marttinen misses with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Snow shoots in for a double leg but Marttinen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Good exchange - Marttinen coming out on top.
Snow throws a left and a right that both miss
and Marttinen counters with a straight right hand.
Snow is trying hard to land a takedown here. Marttinen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Esko Marttinen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nik Snow.
A solid body kick from Snow.
Marttinen misses the jab.

Snow shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Marttinen's guard.
Snow stopping the sweep attempt from Marttinen.
Snow trying to control but Marttinen is working from the bottom.
Snow advances position into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Snow postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Snow remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Marttinen is looking to reverse the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Snow decides to stand back up.
Snow tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Marttinen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A punch combination from Snow misses.
Marttinen throws a jab when Snow was well out of range.

Snow closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marttinen tries to score a body lock takedown but Snow shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Marttinen misses with a hook to the ribs.

Marttinen manages to break the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Snow.
Snow tries to clinch up but Marttinen circles away and keeps his distance.
A punch lands to the side of Snow 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Nik Snow is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Snow blocks a jab.

Snow fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Marttinen sprawls well initially but Snow persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Marttinen wants to control but Snow is keeping busy.
Marttinen gets back to full guard.
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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marttinen is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Marttinen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Snow is aware though and is defending well.
Marttinen keeping moving, preventing Snow from controlling successfully.
Snow trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Marttinen has an active guard here but Snow has managed to pass into half guard.

Marttinen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nik Snow has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Snow working over Marttinen with some ground and pound. Marttinen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

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 I reckon that's a shut out for Marttinen, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Esko Marttinen!
Esko Marttinen tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.