PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chris Esken (ranked 4286 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kurt Red (ranked 3202 p4p, 0 weight class). Kurt Red is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Esken
vs
Red

175 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

169 cm
25
176 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chris Esken!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kurt Red!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, David Schapiro and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Red with a poor takedown
and Esken cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Red throws a sloppy head kick
and Esken counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Red closes the distance but Esken moves to the side
and Esken counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Red shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Esken's guard.
Esken being controlled here, momentarily.
Red postures up and lands a big shot to Esken's brow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Red works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Esken on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Red scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Esken is looking to escape.
Red keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Red moves nicely into side control.
Red staying calm.

Red is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Esken knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Red working the body and head with strikes.
Red lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Esken down.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Red is trying to get an arm triangle but Esken is defending well.
Red is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Esken will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Esken is looking for a sweep.
Esken knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Red on the ground.
Red lands some shots froms side control.
Esken tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Red presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Red sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
It looks like Red might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Red looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Red lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Red controlling from mount.

Red has isolated one of Esken's arms. Esken looking to fight him off but Red twists into an armbar. It's tight... Will he tap?? YES, he's tapped! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:42 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kurt Red!