PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tolek Banan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Murray Esson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Esson has chosen Amy MacDonald - This Is The Life as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Banan
vs
Esson

179 cm
20
163 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

174 cm
23
156 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI
SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI

CEC Nutrition Q159

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tolek Banan!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Murray Esson!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Banan looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Banan keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Esson.
Banan loads up on a big right hand but Esson slips the punch.
Esson tries a head kick but it misses.
Banan walks into a left hand.
Banan moves out of range of the leg kick from Esson.
Esson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Left hook, right uppercut from Banan.
Esson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Banan walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Banan scores with a hook.
Esson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Banan on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Esson fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Banan has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Esson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Banan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Banan changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esson swings widly with a right hand
and Banan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Esson misses with a hook
enabling Banan to counter with a crisp jab.
Esson throws a push kick but Banan slaps the foot to one side.
Esson throws a good cross that connects.
Murray Esson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Esson shoots in but no luck this time.
Esson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Esson avoids the body shot from Banan.
Esson tries a head kick but it misses.
Esson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Esson is looking to slow Banan down with leg kicks.
A punch combination from Banan misses.
Banan lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Esson backs up against the cage.
Esson attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
A jab from Banan misses.
Tolek Banan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esson misses with a straight right.
Esson misses with a wild body shot.
Esson lets loose with a powerful body kick. Banan will feel that in the morning.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Some bone on bone action there as Banan checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Esson misses with a wild body shot.
Esson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Banan takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Esson lands with a good body shot.
A head kick misses from Esson.
Esson slips a jab from Banan.
Banan scores with a nice head shot.
Banan scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Banan moves out of range of the body kick.
Banan lands with an uppercut that bounces Esson off the cage and back into range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banan swings for the body but Esson moves out of range.
Esson throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Banan throws a shot to the body.
Esson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Esson.
Banan jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Esson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Banan manages to avoid it.
Esson lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Esson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Esson misses with a left hand
and Banan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Esson shoots in for a takedown but Banan shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Tolek Banan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Murray Esson.
Esson has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Esson there as he acknowledges the shot.
Esson looks to land a left hand but Banan moved out of range nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esson throws a push kick but Banan slaps the foot to one side.
Banan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Esson moves away from the strike by Banan.
Banan takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Banan misses with a wild body shot.
Esson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A big left from Banan misses.
Esson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Esson lands a head kick!
Esson throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Banan.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Banan doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Esson looks to land a body kick but Banan moved away.
Esson gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Murray Esson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Esson goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Esson.
Banan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Esson moves away.
Banan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Banan throws a one two combo.
Banan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Esson moves away.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Banan.

Esson gets a double leg takedown into Banan's guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Esson passes Banan's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Esson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Banan has managed to free his arm - good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Banan is refusing to be controlled, as Esson sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esson is looking to pass Banan's guard but actually Banan recovers to full guard.
Esson passes Banan's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Banan is not content to let Esson control the position.
Esson trying to mount his opponent but Banan defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esson trying to control from Banan's half guard. Banan has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Esson tries to free his leg and advance position but Banan is retaining full guard.
Esson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Esson wants to pass the guard but Banan is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esson is looking to advance position but Banan has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Banan knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Esson on the ground.
Banan controlling his opponent.
Banan trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Banan thowing shots but they're missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esson blocking the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Banan trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Esson tries to lock up and control but Banan gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Banan throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Esson is squirming around, avoiding Banan's attempts to control the action.
Banan lands a big elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Banan punching from mount but Esson doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Esson wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Banan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Murray Esson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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.

Esson throws a hook but Banan avoids it easily.
Banan throws a hook but Esson avoids it easily.
Esson looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Esson lands a head kick. Banan smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Esson is looking to slow Banan down with leg kicks.
Esson takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Esson swings for the body but Banan moves out of range.
Esson misses with an attempted mid kick.
Esson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Banan.
A solid leg kick lands there for Esson.
Banan works Esson's body with a nice hook.
Esson throws a leg kick that misses.
Esson slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esson feints and then cracks Banan's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Banan down.
Murray Esson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Banan looks to score with a jab to the body but Esson is just out of range.
Esson tries a head kick but it misses.
Esson throws a head kick that Banan semi-blocks.
Banan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Esson manages to avoid it.
Esson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Banan blocks a head kick by Esson.
Esson misses with a body kick.
Esson throws a head kick that misses
and Banan counters with a nice uppercut.
Esson misses with a right hand
and Banan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Esson looks to throw a body kick
and Banan counters with a one-two to the body.
Nice defenses there by Esson.
Esson is looking to slow Banan down with leg kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Banan checks a leg kick.
Banan checks the leg kick nicely there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Banan. Esson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Esson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Esson lands with a slapping head kick.
Esson fails with a takedown attempt.
Banan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Esson.
Banan digs a good body shot into Esson's ribs.
Banan blocks a head kick by Esson.
Esson takes a swing at Banan's ribcage but misses.
Banan swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Esson.
Esson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Esson throws the kick towards the body but Banan avoids it.
Esson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Banan.
Esson rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Banan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Banan scores with a jab. Esson acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Banan blocks a head kick by Esson.
Esson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Banan.
Esson lands with a thumping leg kick.
Esson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Esson scores with a nice right hand.
Banan throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Esson on the side of the head.
Banan misses with a left hand
and Esson makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Banan really felt that one!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esson throws a leg kick but Banan sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Esson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Banan.
Esson swings widly with a right hand
enabling Banan to counter with a crisp jab.
Esson takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Esson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Banan blocks a head kick by Esson.
Esson slips a jab from Banan.
Banan displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Esson throws out the jab.
Esson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Esson is looking to land body kicks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Banan misses with the combination.
A big left from Banan misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Murray Esson just about did enough to take it.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Banan blocks a head kick by Esson.
Banan fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Esson feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Banan's calf.
Esson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Banan.
Banan is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Esson.
Esson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A chopping leg kick lands by Esson.
Banan throws a shot to the body.
Esson scores with a push kick.
Banan misses with a jab, cross combination.
Banan on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Esson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Banan.
Banan moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esson throws a head kick but Banan moves out of range.
Esson throws a lazy right hand but Banan sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Good standup being displayed there by Banan as he connects with a hook.
Banan throws out a loose jab but Esson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Banan tried to score with a low kick but Esson checks it.
Esson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Banan sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Banan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Esson misses with a head kick.
Esson lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Esson takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Banan tries to bum rush Esson with a series of wild strikes but Esson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Banan ducks under a wild hook from Esson.
Esson thows a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Esson scores with a kick to the body.
Esson throws a body punch but Banan moves out of range.
Banan moves out of range of the body kick.
Banan misses with a right hand
and Esson counters with a stiff right hand.
Esson throws a right hand that misses
and Banan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Banan avoids the body shot from Esson.
Esson has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Esson throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Banan takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Banan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Banan keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Banan moves away.
Esson throws a head kick but Banan moves out of range.
Banan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Esson walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Banan steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Esson. That one must have hurt.
Esson throws the left hand but Banan avoids the punch easily.
Esson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Banan moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Banan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Esson was well out of range. Poor timing from Banan.
Banan throws a hook but Esson blocks it.
Banan is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Esson misses with a wild body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esson is looking to land body kicks.
A punch lands to the side of Esson 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Esson fails with the takedown.
Esson misses with a head kick.
Esson misses with a kick to the body.
Banan scores with a jab to the head.
Banan looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Esson ducks right into an uppercut from Banan.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Esson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Banan throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Esson on the side of the head.
Esson throws a push kick but Banan slaps the foot to one side.
Banan will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Banan digs a good body shot into Esson's ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Murray Esson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Esson throws a body punch but Banan moves out of range.
Banan connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Banan throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Banan takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A looping hook to the body misses from Banan. Esson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Esson walks into a jab.
Esson fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Banan.
Esson lands a nice hook to Banan's body. Banan takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A nice inside leg kick there by Esson. That's going to slow Banan down.
Banan takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Esson misses with a straight left.
Esson throws a poor cross that misses
letting Banan counter with a right hand.
Banan lands a really nice looking cross but Esson seems unphased.
Banan with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esson throws a wild body kick that Banan sees coming a mile off.
Esson misses with a straight left.
Esson misses with a leg kick.
Nice shot by Esson.
Esson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Crunch! Esson slams his shin into Banan's torso.
Banan moves out of range as Esson throws a body kick.
Esson lands with a nice body punch.
Banan tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Esson is able to avoid easily.
Banan steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Esson.
Esson looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Esson moves out of range as Banan strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banan misses with a straight left.
Esson misses with a kick to the body.
Banan moves out of range as Esson throws a body kick.
Banan checks a leg kick.
Banan avoids the body shot from Esson.
Banan moves out of range as Esson strikes.
Banan connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Esson thows a body shot but no joy.
Esson throws a half hearted mid kick.
Banan moves out of range of the body kick.
Esson lands with a slapping head kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Banan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Esson was well out of range. Poor timing from Banan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Banan as he jumps to the side.
Esson scores with a shot to the body.
A low kick from Esson misses
and Banan counters with a left and a right that stings Esson.
Banan clobbers Esson with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Esson throws a half hearted mid kick.
Esson shoots for a double leg takedown but Banan sprawls well. He's pushed Esson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Esson is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Esson fails with a takedown attempt.
Tolek Banan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Murray Esson.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Banan, as that shot connected.
Esson with a poor takedown
and Esson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banan misses with an uppercut.
Esson connects with an inside leg kick.
Esson takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Esson moves out of range as Banan strikes.
Esson blocks a head kick by Banan.
Esson listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
A head kick from Esson lands but Banan takes it in his stride.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Banan slips under a jab from Esson.
Esson goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Esson dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Banan. That did some damage!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Banan takes one to the chin there.
Esson staying out of range there.

Esson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Banan to the mat! Banan manages to get full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Murray Esson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Esson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight for Murray Esson!
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Murray Esson!
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight for Murray Esson!

Murray Esson wins by unanimous decision!
Murray Esson is the new lightweight champion!
After the fight, Murray Esson was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.