PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rudy Fernandez (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. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Fernandez
vs
Esson

180 cm
24
164 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

174 cm
23
156 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rudy Fernandez!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Murray Esson!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Esson throws a solid leg kick but Fernandez takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Esson.
Esson goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Esson with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Esson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Esson misses with a hook.
Esson thows a body kick. Fernandez tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Esson throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Fernandez moves out of range of the leg kick from Esson.
Esson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Fernandez.
Fernandez shoots in looking for a takedown but Esson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Fernandez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Esson throws a shot from downtown. Fernandez moves away and avoids it.
Fernandez with a lazy takedown attempt
and Esson counters with a solid body kick.
Esson leaves Fernandez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rudy Fernandez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Good leg kick by Esson there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Esson changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Esson scores with a leg kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Fernandez checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Fernandez tries for a takedown but Esson circles away easily
and Esson counters with an outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esson connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Fernandez.
Fernandez throws a right hand that Esson ducks under and follows up with a left that Esson also avoids with ease.
Fernandez takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Esson lands a nice shot to the body.
Fernandez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Esson as he jumps to the side.
Fernandez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Esson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Esson will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Esson throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Fernandez blocks a head kick by Esson.
Fernandez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Esson circles away.
Fernandez misses with a body kick.
Esson slips a jab and a cross from Fernandez.
Fernandez misses with the combination.
Esson takes one on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Esson.
Fernandez throws a right and a left that Esson avoids nicely.
Esson tests Fernandez's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Esson throws a sloppy head kick and Fernandez moves out of range easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Fernandez looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Esson wants to control but Fernandez is keeping busy.
Fernandez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Esson controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Esson is pressing down on Fernandez's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Fernandez lands a couple of elbows.
Fernandez throws a big elbow that misses.
Esson keeping moving, preventing Fernandez from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fernandez won't allow Esson to sweep him here.
Esson working a defensive guard here.
Fernandez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Esson wants to sweep but no luck.
Esson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Esson keeping moving, preventing Fernandez from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Fernandez has gone for a leg lock! Esson slips out almost immediately though and dives into Fernandez's guard.
Esson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fernandez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Esson passes Fernandez's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Esson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Fernandez defending well though.
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!
Esson has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fernandez slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fernandez is trying to stand.
Esson trying to control the action but Fernandez is working from the bottom.

Esson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Esson trying to control from half guard but Fernandez is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Murray Esson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Esson lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Fernandez has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Fernandez and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Rudy Fernandez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice takedown defense from Esson. No joy for Fernandez on that attempt.
Esson throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Fernandez moves out of range of the body kick from Esson.
Fernandez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Esson avoids it really well and circles away.
Esson throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Esson scores with a jab to the jaw.
Esson misses with a low kick.
Fernandez misses with a takedown
and Esson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rudy Fernandez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice inside leg kick there by Esson. That's going to slow Fernandez down.
Fernandez 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.
Fernandez shoots in for a double leg but Esson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Esson looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandez misses with a series of wild punches.
Murray Esson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice takedown defense from Esson. No joy for Fernandez on that attempt.
Fernandez is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fernandez on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Esson. Esson obviously looking to wear him down.
Esson connects with a solid leg kick.
Esson connects with a solid leg kick.
Esson lands a leg kick that knocks Fernandez off balance momentarily.
Esson throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
A slapping leg kick lands for Esson.
Fernandez doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Esson counters with a thumping low kick.
A good leg kick by Esson.
Esson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Fernandez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Esson as he avoids it easily.
Fernandez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
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!
That kick from Esson tenderised Fernandez's leg. Fernandez is trying to keep his angry face on.
Esson lands a jab to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez has his takedown stuffed
and Esson counters with a nice leg kick.
Esson lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Esson throws a sloppy head kick and Fernandez moves out of range easily.
Esson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rudy Fernandez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Esson thumps Fernandez with a low kick.
Esson fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Fernandez.
Fernandez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Esson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Fernandez fails with a takedown attempt.
Fernandez stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Esson.
Esson scores with a kick to the body.
Esson throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Fernandez on the side of the head.
Esson fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Fernandez has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Esson throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Fernandez's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Esson cracks Fernandez with a good jab.
Esson tried to score with a low kick but Fernandez checks it.
Esson scores with a nice head shot.

Fernandez is rocked!
Esson steps in with a hook that catches Fernandez right on the chin and knocks him to the floor! Esson follows him down with more strikes and that's all she wrote! Fernandez looks absolutely devastated.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:23 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Murray Esson! Murray Esson retains his lightweight title!
Murray Esson bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.