PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Martti Esko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake Kilmster (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Kilmster's choice of entrance music: Maylene & The Sons of Disaster - Darkest of Kin. 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.

Esko
vs
Kilmster

190 cm
21
199 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

175 cm
20
195 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Knock Out Artistry
Heavy Weight Nutrition (*Recovery 152 $50!)

•‡• LION Clothing •‡•

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Martti Esko!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Jake Kilmster!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Andrew Berry and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kilmster swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kilmster misses with a series of wild punches.
Kilmster connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

It looks like Martti Esko has been cut.
Kilmster fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Esko manages to avoid it.
Kilmster swinging wilding here.
Esko scores with a leg kick.
Kilmster tries to bum rush Esko with a series of wild strikes but Esko uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Esko lands a jab-cross combination.
Esko ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Esko swinging wilding here.
Esko throws a head kick that misses.
Esko fails with a takedown attempt.
Kilmster connects with the punch.
Kilmster dodges the punch combination from Esko.
Esko takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Esko is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kilmster falls off balance throwing a combination
and Esko counters with a series of strikes. Kilmster will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kilmster avoids a kick to the body.
Kilmster lands with a shot to the body.
Esko avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kilmster scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kilmster throws a right and a left that Esko avoids nicely.
Jake Kilmster is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kilmster looks to score with a jab to the body but Esko is just out of range.
Kilmster looks to score with a jab to the body but Esko is just out of range.
Martti Esko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kilmster throws a right hand that Esko ducks under and follows up with a left that Esko also avoids with ease.
A telegraphed right hand from Kilmster misses the target.
Esko slips a straight right by Kilmster.
Esko looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kilmster loads up on a big right hand but Esko slips the punch.
Kilmster throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Esko sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nice defenses there by Kilmster.
Kilmster misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Esko.
Esko tries to bum rush Kilmster with a series of wild strikes but Kilmster uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esko ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nice cross by Kilmster.
Esko showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kilmster.
Kilmster misses with a body shot.
Kilmster throws a series of punches but Esko avoids them all with ease.
Kilmster throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Kilmster scores with a three punch combo!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Esko moves into range and clinches up with Kilmster.
Kilmster wants to break free but Esko has control.
Esko misses with a hook from the clinch.
Esko creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Esko lands a shoulder strike.
Kilmster blocks the elbow strike.
Esko misses with an elbow over the top.
Esko misses with a punch on the inside.
Kilmster wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kilmster wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Esko has him pressed against the ropes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esko comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Esko lands a nice elbow.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Esko throws an elbow but misses.
Kilmster blocks an elbow strike from Esko.

Kilmster breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Esko thows a body shot but no joy.
A big left from Esko misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Kilmster misses the target.
Esko fails with an attempt to clinch.
A combination from Kilmster does no damage.
Nice cross by Esko.
Esko connects with a body shot.
Kilmster tries to bum rush Esko with a series of wild strikes but Esko uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kilmster tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Esko was well out of range. Poor timing from Kilmster.
Esko thows a body kick. Kilmster tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Kilmster misses with a series of wild punches.
Esko takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Esko as he connects with a hook.
Kilmster misses with a wild body shot.

Esko shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Esko was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Esko looking to control but Kilmster is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Esko working for a guillotine from mount but Kilmster is in no mood to give up.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Esko jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Kilmster is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Kilmster and Esko has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Kilmster dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Martti Esko's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kilmster connects with a right hand. Esko shakes it off.
Esko is looking to clinch but Kilmster is avoiding it.
Kilmster fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Esko manages to avoid it.
Esko keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kilmster takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Kilmster throws a lazy right hand but Esko sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kilmster misses with a hook. Esko ducked under it nicely.
Esko shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kilmster defends it nicely.

Esko shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kilmster's guard.
Kilmster is pulling down on Esko's head to control his posture.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kilmster wants to control the position but Esko says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Kilmster regains full guard. Nicely done.
Kilmster has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Kilmster is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Esko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Esko stopping the sweep attempt from Kilmster.
Esko will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Esko wants to pass the guard but Kilmster is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esko is working hard here to advance position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kilmster stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Kilmster listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Kilmster misses the jab.
Martti Esko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Esko throws a head kick that misses.
Esko throws a solid leg kick but Kilmster takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Esko.
Kilmster misses with a hook.
Esko moves out of range as Kilmster strikes.
Kilmster lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Esko circles away quickly and effectively.
Jake Kilmster seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Esko ducks under a wild hook from Kilmster.
Esko tries to clinch up but Kilmster circles away and keeps his distance.
Esko is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Kilmster.

Martti Esko's cut is getting worse.
Esko throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kilmster counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Esko showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kilmster.
Esko misses with a wild combination.
Kilmster looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Kilmster swats away the attempt to clinch by Esko.
Kilmster moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Esko uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kilmster.
Esko is looking to clinch but Kilmster is avoiding it.
Kilmster throws a low kick but it's checked well by Esko.
A slow jab from Kilmster misses its intended target.
Kilmster steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Esko.
Esko fails with an attempt to clinch.
A head kick misses from Esko.
Kilmster shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A jab from Esko misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Kilmster showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Martti Esko's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Kilmster getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
A slow jab from Kilmster misses its intended target.
Kilmster blocks a head kick by Esko.
Good standup being displayed there by Esko as he connects with a hook.
Esko shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kilmster defends it nicely.
Kilmster lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Kilmster connects with a crisp jab.

Martti Esko's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Kilmster fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Esko looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kilmster misses with a two punch combination.
Kilmster lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Kilmster throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kilmster works the jab nicely.
Kilmster scores with the left hand. Esko knows he should have avoided that one.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Esko throws a combination that misses
and Kilmster connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kilmster fails to land with a series of punches.
A combination from Esko does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kilmster checks a low kick from Esko.
Esko steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kilmster.
Kilmster throws a series of punches but Esko moves out of range.
Esko throws a head kick that half lands.
Kilmster misses with a hook.
Esko looks to clinch
and Kilmster counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kilmster throws out a loose jab but Esko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kilmster swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Esko counters by clinching up.
A short body shot lands from Esko as the two fighters clinch.
Esko lands a nice elbow.
Esko throws a punch but it's blocked by Kilmster.
Esko throws an elbow that misses.
Kilmster on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kilmster blocks an elbow strike.
Esko tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kilmster's elbow.
Kilmster tries to break free but Esko pushes him back against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Esko.
Kilmster effectively controlling the action here.
Kilmster blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Kilmster breaks the clinch.
Kilmster misses with a double jab
and Esko counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Kilmster misses with a hook.
Kilmster takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Kilmster throws a chopping leg kick but Esko manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Esko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Esko shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kilmster, as that shot connected.
Kilmster fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Esko tries to clinch up.
Kilmster takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Kilmster fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kilmster avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Esko avoids a punch combination nicely.

Esko clinches up against the ropes.
Esko creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Kilmster's defenses.
Esko stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Esko lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kilmster backwards.
Esko pushes off an throws an elbow but Kilmster leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Esko trying to land knees to the body.

Kilmster breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kilmster blocks a head kick by Esko.
Esko checks a leg kick nicely.
Kilmster throws a shot from downtown. Esko moves away and avoids it.

Esko closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Kilmster is trying to control Esko's posture but Esko avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Esko thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kilmster can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kilmster isn't going anywhere.

Esko wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kilmster, who protects the arm well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kilmster manages to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Kilmster really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Martti Esko's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kilmster lands with a nice body punch.
Esko throws a head kick that half lands.
Esko is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Esko slips a jab and a cross from Kilmster.
Kilmster looks to throw the jab but Esko is out of range.
Kilmster ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Esko moves away.
Kilmster connects with a crisp jab.
Esko jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Kilmster ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Esko moves away.
Esko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Esko.
Esko keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Esko plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Esko tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kilmster swivels and escapes.
Kilmster throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kilmster thows a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esko tries to clinch there but Kilmster circles away.
Kilmster misses the shot to the body.
Kilmster ducks under a wild hook from Esko.
Esko misses with a straight right.
Kilmster throws a series of punches but Esko avoids them all with ease.
Kilmster throws the left hand but Esko avoids the punch easily.
Kilmster takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Kilmster ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Esko moves away.
Nice body kick from Esko.
Esko takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Esko goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Esko scores with a jab. Kilmster acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Kilmster dodges the punch combination from Esko.
Kilmster avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kilmster digs a good hook to Esko's body.
Kilmster misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Esko counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esko doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Esko connects with a solid leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Kilmster misses the target.
Esko tries to clinch but Kilmster moves out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Kilmster. No joy for Esko on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Martti Esko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fighters circling - Kilmster throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kilmster lands with a nice combination. Esko backs away looking to recover.

Esko drives through and clinches with Kilmster against the ropes.
Kilmster managing to block the knees to the body from Esko.
Esko misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kilmster blocks an elbow strike.
Kilmster is working for takedown but Esko is calmly controlling the position for now.
Nice elbow from Esko.
Esko fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kilmster blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Esko throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kilmster drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Esko gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Kilmster blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kilmster managing to block the knees to the body from Esko.
Esko keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kilmster's efforts to push away.
Kilmster blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Esko misses with a punch on the inside.
Kilmster is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
A hook to the body from Esko.
Esko struggles to land a body shot inside as Kilmster controls his hands.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Esko.

Kilmster breaks from the clinch.
Kilmster misses with a hook. Esko ducked under it nicely.
Esko throws a shot from downtown. Kilmster moves away and avoids it.
Esko lands with a hook. Kilmster tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Esko misses with a series of wild punches.
Kilmster scores with a jab. Esko acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Esko throws a hook but Kilmster avoids it easily.
Kilmster swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kilmster fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Esko manages to avoid it.
A jab from Esko finds it's way through Kilmster's defenses.
Kilmster misses with a straight right.
Esko cracks the inside of Kilmster's front leg.
Kilmster misses with an uppercut.
Esko bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kilmster's head backwards.
Kilmster misses with a body shot.
Esko wants to clinch.
Esko scoring well with a low kick there.
Decent striking displayed by Esko there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martti Esko had his way with Jake Kilmster in that round.
The cut man is working on Martti Esko's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Esko dives in and grabs Kilmster's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kilmster pushes down on Esko's head and hops out.
Kilmster lands a jab.
Kilmster throws the left hand but Esko avoids the punch easily.
Esko fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Esko takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Kilmster lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Kilmster lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Esko at a distance.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kilmster.
Kilmster moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Esko takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Jeez, Martti Esko's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Esko looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Esko gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Some wild striking there from Esko.
A combination from Kilmster does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esko uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kilmster.
Esko fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Martti Esko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kilmster fails to land with a series of punches.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Esko.
Esko looks to throw the jab but Kilmster is out of range.
Kilmster scores with a punch to the head.
Esko fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kilmster throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Esko counters with a big head kick but Kilmster shrugs it off.
Some wild striking there from Kilmster.
Kilmster lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Kilmster.
Esko shoots in but Kilmster avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Esko walks into a stiff left hand from Kilmster.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kilmster misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Esko.
Esko tries to clinch but Kilmster moves out of range.
Esko throws a nice head kick!
Kilmster avoids a kick to the body.
Esko slips a jab and a cross from Kilmster.
Esko doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kilmster counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Kilmster misses with a two punch combination.
Kilmster misses with a straight left.
Esko lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Esko shoots for a double leg takedown but Kilmster sprawls well. He's pushed Esko's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kilmster throws a hook to the side of Esko's head but Esko sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Esko slips a jab and a cross from Kilmster.
Esko scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A cross from Esko lands.
Kilmster throws a shot from downtown. Esko moves away and avoids it.
Kilmster waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Esko.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esko bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kilmster's head backwards.

Esko darts in and clinches Kilmster up against the ropes.
Esko throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Esko doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kilmster managing to block the knees to the body from Esko.

Kilmster wants the takedown. Esko is fighting it off but Kilmster persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Esko's guard against the ropes.
Kilmster is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Esko manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kilmster manages to get himself to full guard.
Esko slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kilmster can't do much from the bottom here.
Kilmster tries to bench press Esko off him but Esko keeps the position.
Martti Esko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Esko thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Kilmster is trying to control Esko's posture but Esko avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jake Kilmster comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kilmster has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge James Glass scores the fight 46:49
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 46:49
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jake Kilmster!
Jake Kilmster is the new middleweight champion!