PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Murray Esson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hae Ki Park (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Esson comes to the cage accompanied by Amy MacDonald - This Is The Life. Hae Ki Park is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Esson
vs
Ki Park

174 cm
32
156 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

171 cm
33
145 lbs
21 - 15 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry
Milwaukee's Best 160

Perkele!

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 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Murray Esson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hae Ki Park!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Esson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Park swivels and escapes.
Park takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Park tries to clinch up.
Park tries to clinch up.
Esson scores with a body shot.
Esson shoots in for a takedown but Park shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Park checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Park darts in trying to clinch
and Esson counters with an outside leg kick.
Esson is looking to land body kicks.
Park walks into a straight right hand from Esson.
Esson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Park works the jab nicely.
Esson lands with a shot to the body.
Esson comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Esson throws a hook but Park avoids it easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Park fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Esson checks it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Esson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Park makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Park.
Esson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Park keeping full guard, as Esson tries to pass.
Esson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Esson 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.
Esson throwing shots but Park is blocking nicely.
Esson 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.
Esson trying to pass the guard but Park defending well.
Esson has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Esson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Park defending well though.
Park blocking the ground and pound attempt from Esson.
Esson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Park defending well though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Park manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Esson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Park looking for a guillotine here but Esson defends easily.
Esson landing some decent shots from guard.
Esson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Esson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Esson looking to pass the guard.
Esson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Park not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Park has his foot on Esson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Esson works his way back into a safe position though.
Esson tries to free his leg and advance position but Park is retaining full guard.
Esson works over Park with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Park swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Esson controlling from the top position.
Esson is looking to work some ground and pound but Park has wrist control.
Esson looking to pass the guard.
Park 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.
Esson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Park is keeping the position for now.
Esson trying to control the position from guard on top but Park is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Esson sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Park swivels though and keeps the full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Esson lands a nice shot to the body.
Esson misses with a straight left.
Esson wants to land a leg kick but Park is out of range.
Park bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Esson is looking to wear down Park with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Park lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Esson at a distance.
Esson scores with a nice head shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Esson looks for the body kick but Park saw that one coming.
A good leg kick by Esson.

Park gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Esson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Esson wants to pass to mount but Park is defending the position.
Park is doing well to control the position and prevent Esson from advancing to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Murray Esson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nice body punch from Esson.
Esson 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.
Park takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Esson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Park.
Esson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Esson lands with a right hand.
Esson has a takedown stuffed.
Park lands a jab to Esson's midsection.
Esson's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Park connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Esson scrambles back to his feet.
Esson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Park manages to avoid it.
Park throws a half hearted mid kick.
Esson throws a jab but it's blocked by Park.
Park moves out of range of the strikes.
Esson wants to land a leg kick but Park is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Park. Park obviously looking to wear him down.
Park throws the kick towards the body but Esson avoids it.
Park throws a head kick but Esson moves out of range.
Esson feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Park's calf.
Esson throws a front kick aimed at Park's knee but Park avoids it well.
Park throws a jab but it's blocked by Esson.
Esson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Park.
Esson comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
The crowd cheers as Esson lands an impressive looking overhand right. Park doesn't seem phased though.
Park looks to score with a jab to the body but Esson is just out of range.
Park just misses with a punch to the body.
Park attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Park tries to clinch up.
Park blocks a head kick by Esson.
Esson gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Park.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esson uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Park throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Esson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A head kick misses from Park.
Esson lands a nice hook to Park's body. Park takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Park throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Murray Esson is winning the standup battle so far.
Esson cracks Park with a good jab.
Esson dives in for a single leg takedown but Park sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Esson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Park's elbow.
Park blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Esson misses with a short punch on the inside.

Park breaks the clinch.
Esson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Park is fending him off so far but Esson persists. Nope, Park circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Murray Esson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Esson just misses with a punch to the body.
Esson on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Park swings for the body but Esson moves out of range.
Esson checks a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Park avoids the body shot from Esson.
Park lands a nice hook to Esson's body. Esson takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Good work by Park as he checks the leg kick.
Park ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Esson moves away.
Park walks into a left hand.
Esson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Park explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Park blocks a head kick by Esson.
Park throws a head kick but Esson moves out of range.
Esson ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Esson misses with a looping left.
Esson fails with the takedown.
Park slips a jab from Esson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Park throws a lazy uppercut
and Esson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Park cracks Esson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Park uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Esson.
Esson lands a nice leg kick that just misses Park's sensitive parts.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Park is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Park tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Esson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Esson misses with a jab to the body
and Park counters with a nice leg kick.
Esson throws an off balance right hand
and Park counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Esson misses with a low kick.
Park scores with a nice right hand.
Park misses the shot to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Park lands a right hook to the body.
Esson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Park blocks a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hae Ki Park will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Park sizes up Esson with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Park misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Esson.
Park scores with a jab to the head.
Esson connects with a body shot.
Esson misses with a hook. Park ducked under it nicely.
Park tries a head kick but it misses.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Park.
Esson lands with a hook. Park tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Esson looks to score with a jab to the body but Park is just out of range.
Esson moves out of range as Park throws a body kick.
Esson misses with an attempted mid kick.
Esson takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Park scores with a kick to the midsection.
Park loads up on a big right hand but Esson slips the punch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Esson lands a glancing blow to the side of Park's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esson connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Esson misses with a double jab.
Hae Ki Park is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Esson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Park manages to avoid it.
Esson throws a body punch but Park moves out of range.
Esson moves away from the strike by Park.
Good work by Park as he checks the leg kick.
Park moves out of range as Esson throws a body kick.
Park looks to land a left hand but Esson moved out of range nicely.
Esson throws a leg kick but Park sees it coming and moves out of range.
Park scoring well with a low kick there.
Park lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Park cracks the inside of Esson's front leg.
Park gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Esson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Park goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Esson scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Esson throws a head kick but Park moves out of range.
Park throws a series of punches but Esson moves out of range.
A punch combination from Esson misses.
Park pushes Esson away with a front kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Esson swings for the body but Park moves out of range.
Esson takes a swing at Park's ribcage but misses.
Park avoids the body shot from Esson.
Esson throws a shot from downtown. Park moves away and avoids it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Esson is defended easily by Park.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Esson crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Park - the referee stops the clock and Esson gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Park. Esson manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esson throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Park on the side of the head.

Esson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Esson is working for a kimura but Park is defending it quite comfortably.
Murray Esson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Park tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Park won't allow Esson to pass to mount.
Esson is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Park is trying to control the position but Esson postures up.
Esson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Park manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Esson is trying to escape the mount.

Park gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Park checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Esson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Park sprawls well. Park wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Esson gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Murray Esson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of 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 Park has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Park and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Park moves out of range of the strikes.

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 Murray Esson.
I think Esson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Murray Esson!
Murray Esson made sure to mention his sponsor, Milwaukee's Best 160 in his post fight interview.