|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Martti Esko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Van Wilder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!
|
|
|
190 cm
21
199 lbs
8 - 5 - 0 |
|
190 cm
23
194 lbs
7 - 3 - 0 |
BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin |
|
BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined |
| |
|
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
8 - 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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Van Wilder! The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Andrew Berry and Colin Fotheringham.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway! Esko throws a right and a left that both miss. Esko tests Wilder's chin there with a solid looking shot.
It looks like Van Wilder has been cut. Wilder misses with a looping right. Wilder on the wrong end of a nice hook. Esko scores with a punch to the head. Wilder connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe. Esko throws a sloppy head kick and Wilder moves out of range easily. Wilder slips under a jab. Esko throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land. Esko drops Wilder with a beautiful combination! Wilder stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Esko is looking for the KO!
Wilder is rocked! 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! Wilder takes a swing at Esko's ribcage but misses. Wilder is still on wobbly legs! Can Esko finish him? Esko steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Wilder. Wilder scores with a jab to the jaw. Esko moves away from the strike by Wilder. Esko throws a big overhand right that connects, sending Wilder tumbling to the canvas! Esko looking to pass the guard. Esko is working hard here to advance position. Wilder is looking to stand up but Esko isn't so interested in that idea. Wilder seems to have recovered his senses.
That's one minute gone in the round. Esko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wilder is keeping the position for now. Esko drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Esko jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position. Wilder manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Wilder takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Wilder throws a series of punches but Esko moves out of range. Esko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Wilder swinging wilding here.
Wilder throws a left and a right that both miss
and Esko counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Esko. Wilder tries to break the clinch but Esko is controlling the position. A right hand to the body from Esko.
Wilder looks gassed! Esko lands an elbow that stopped Wilder in his tracks for a moment. Wilder takes an elbow to the temple.
That has opened up Van Wilder's cut even more.
That's two minutes gone in the round. Esko misses with some punches.
Wilder gets through Esko's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head. Esko tries to land knees in the clinch but Wilder avoids the damage to the body. Esko landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Wilder is trying to break the clinch but Esko has him pressed against the ropes. Esko creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses. Esko landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Esko landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Esko misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Wilder.
A left hand lands to the body for Esko.
Esko gets through Wilder's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head. The crowd are loving this. Great action here. Esko lands a nice elbow. Wilder lands a hook to the side of the head. Esko lands a nice elbow. Wilder is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath. Wilder avoids the elbow strike from Esko, against the ropes.
Esko scores with a shoulder strike. Wilder blocks an elbow strike. Esko tries to land knees in the clinch but Wilder avoids the damage to the body. Wilder is trying to break the clinch but Esko has him pressed against the ropes. Wilder is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Esko is keeping busy. Esko lands an elbow inside. Wilder managing to block the knees to the body from Esko.
Wilder is trying to break free. With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Esko creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut. Wilder escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
That's three minutes gone in the round. Esko throws a body kick that digs right into the meat. Esko has managed to clinch.
Esko digs a right hand into Wilder's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Wilder's gas tank. Nice elbow from Esko. Esko lands a knee to the body.
Wilder working aggressively here.
Esko lands a right hand. A head punch blocked on the inside by Esko. Esko misses with some punches.
Esko lands a hook that snaps the head of Wilder backwards. Wilder dodges an elbow strike from Esko.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Esko. Wilder lands a shoulder strike. Wilder is trying to break free. Wilder is trying to break free. With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Esko just misses with a elbow thrown towards Wilder's brow. Esko lands an elbow just above Wilder 's eye. Wilder dodges an elbow strike from Esko.
Esko landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Wilder working aggressively here.
Esko lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Wilder or not. Esko scores with a hook to the body. Wilder swings wildly with an uppercut but Esko uses good head movement to avoid it. Wilder tries to break the clinch but Esko is controlling the position. Esko lands a right hand.
That's four minutes gone in the round. Esko lands a damaging elbow. Esko comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush. Esko looks to throw an elbow but misses. A nice glancing elbow lands by Esko. Esko misses with a hook from the clinch. A short uppercut from Esko. Wilder misses with a punch on the inside.
Wilder is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes. Esko lands a damaging elbow. Esko lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes. Both guys are working to get underhooks. Esko misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Wilder.
Esko gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head. Esko avoids a wild elbow strike from Wilder. Wilder is trying to break the clinch but Esko has him pressed against the ropes. Wilder has a couple of punches blocked by Esko.
Esko lands a damaging elbow. Esko lands an elbow that stopped Wilder in his tracks for a moment. With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Esko just misses with a elbow thrown towards Wilder's brow. Esko gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head. As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action. Esko lands a nice uppercut. Esko lands an elbow that stopped Wilder in his tracks for a moment. Esko blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Wilder wants to break the clinch but can't.
Esko lands a glancing elbow in the clinch. Esko doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Esko keeps control of Wilder as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks. And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Martti Esko dominated that round. The cut man is working on Van Wilder's cut. The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Esko uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Wilder. Wilder throws a shot from downtown. Esko moves away and avoids it. Wilder throws a lazy right hand but Esko sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily. Wilder misses with a hook. Wilder looks to land a combination but Esko avoids it well. Esko is looking to clinch but Wilder is avoiding it.
Esko avoids a punch combination nicely.
Wilder avoids the head kick by Esko.
Wilder dodges the punch combination from Esko.
Martti Esko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things. Wilder takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him. Van Wilder seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout. Wilder throws a right hand that Esko ducks under and follows up with a left that Esko also avoids with ease. Esko getting the better of the striking in that exchange. We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up. Wilder throws a right hand that Esko ducks under and follows up with a left that Esko also avoids with ease. Esko has Wilder up against the ropes in a clinch.
Esko lands an elbow that stopped Wilder in his tracks for a moment. Esko works on Wilder's body with a couple of short punches. Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here. Esko comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush. Esko using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Esko lands a left hand.
That's one minute gone in the round. Esko pushes Wilder back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch. Wilder takes a shot to the head. Esko lands a right hand that snaps the head of Wilder backwards. Nice elbow from Esko. Esko lands an elbow inside.
The cut above Van Wilder's eye is starting to cause him problems now. Esko lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Wilder managing to block the knees to the body from Esko.
Wilder wants to get back to striking at distance but Esko won't allow it.
Wilder trying to stall but Esko improves his position.
Esko working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely. Esko unloads a knee to the mid-section. Wilder lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh. Still in the clinch, Esko scores with a nice short uppercut. Esko landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Nice body punch from Esko - that landed with a thud.
Esko lands a nice elbow. A head punch blocked on the inside by Wilder. Esko's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button! Wilder wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee. Esko gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head. Esko is working Wilder over against the ropes. Esko misses with a punch on the inside.
Wilder misses with a hook from the clinch. Martti Esko has scored more points in the clinch so far. Wilder doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Esko presses Wilder against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot. Esko throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
That's two minutes gone in the round. Good body shot from Esko.
Wilder breaks the clinch.
Wilder tries to bum rush Esko with a series of wild strikes but Esko uses good footwork to avoid the assault. A nice inside leg kick there by Esko. That's going to slow Wilder down. Esko dodges the punch combination from Wilder.
A telegraphed right hand from Wilder misses the target. Esko avoids a lazy jab quite easily. Wilder pushing out the jab but it's not landing. Esko scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Esko tries a head kick but it misses.
Esko has taken the fight to the clinch.
Esko lands an elbow inside. Esko throws a head punch that misses. Esko throws an elbow but it misses.
Wilder makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut. A battle for position here, against the ropes. Esko working aggressively here.
Esko trying to land knees to the body.
Wilder working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely. Esko misses with some punches.
That's three minutes gone in the round. Wilder lands a left hand.
Wilder has a couple of punches blocked by Esko.
Wilder blocks an uppercut.
Wilder wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Esko has him pressed against the ropes. Wilder blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning. Wilder lands a body punch. Wilder breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat. Wilder is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot. Wilder walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head. A telegraphed right hand from Esko misses the target. Wilder circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nice shot lands for Wilder. Wilder misses the body punch and Esko counters with a lovely straight right hand! This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Esko. Wilder jabs Esko right on the nose. Esko blinks but takes it well. Esko tries to clinch up but Wilder circles away and keeps his distance. Wilder lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Nice jab there from Esko. Esko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Wilder swats him away and circles back towards the center. Jab by Wilder. Wilder scores with a jab to the head.
That's four minutes gone in the round. Esko avoids a punch combination nicely.
Esko thows a body kick. Wilder tries to catch it but that hurt him. Esko is looking to clinch. Esko tries to clinch but Wilder is having none of it. Esko connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe. Wilder uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Esko. Wilder rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Esko moves out of range and avoids them all easily. Esko scores with a spinning back kick! Wilder avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Esko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Esko takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
A jab from Wilder does it's job there. Esko avoids a punch combination nicely.
Wilder might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable. Esko tries to clinch but Wilder moves out of range. Wilder misses with a two punch combination.
Wilder drops his hands momentarily and Esko takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head. And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Martti Esko dominated that second round. The cut man is working on Van Wilder's cut. The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.
A combination from Esko does no damage. Esko keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Wilder. Wilder misses with an uppercut. Esko saw that one coming. Wilder tries to bum rush Esko with a series of wild strikes but Esko uses good footwork to avoid the assault. Martti Esko is winning the standup battle so far. Esko is looking to clinch. Esko takes one on the chin but seems OK.
It looks like Martti Esko has been cut. Wilder falls off balance throwing a combination
and Esko counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw. The fight stays on the outside here - Esko looks like he's thinking about clinching though. No joy there for Wilder, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Wilder throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Esko fails in his attempt to clinch. Esko doesn't manage to clinch there - Wilder circles away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it! Esko fails in his attempt to clinch. Wilder walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush. Esko moves into the clinch successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily. Wilder can't break the clinch.
Esko trying to land knees to the body.
Esko lands a nice elbow.
That's one minute gone in the round. Nice elbow from Esko. Esko scores with a nice hook to the head. Esko struggles to land a body shot inside as Wilder controls his hands.
Esko keeps control of Wilder as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks. Esko blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Esko creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut. Esko lands an elbow inside that Wilder shrugs off. Wilder is trying to break free. Esko softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes. Esko has a couple of punches blocked by Wilder.
Wilder has had enough of the clinch but Esko keeps him there for the moment. Esko lands an elbow inside that Wilder shrugs off. Esko gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head. Esko lands a nice elbow from the clinch. Esko blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Esko lands an elbow just above Wilder 's eye. Wilder wants to break the clinch but can't.
Both fighters working to control the clinch. Wilder misses with a hook from the clinch. Esko lands a hook that snaps the head of Wilder backwards. Wilder blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Wilder working aggressively here.
Still in the clinch, Esko scores with a nice short uppercut. Wilder takes an elbow to the temple. Esko throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Esko misses with an elbow strike.
Wilder lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
That's two 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 looks to throw an elbow but misses. Esko prevents a body shot from Wilder. Wilder misses with a punch on the inside.
Wilder trying to stall but Esko improves his position.
Wilder working some nice short punches in the clinch. Wilder takes an elbow to the temple. Wilder tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Esko digs a right hand underneath Wilder's ribcage. Wilder let out a lung full of air as it connected. Wilder on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Esko lands an elbow inside that Wilder shrugs off. Wilder dodges an elbow strike from Esko.
Wilder softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes. Wilder looking to stall.
Esko lands an elbow inside. Wilder avoiding damage as Esko throws knees to the body.
Wilder throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Esko blocks it with crossed arms. A quick uppercut on the inside from Esko. A nice left hand lands by Esko.
Esko working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely. Wilder misses with a knee to the head. Esko unloads a knee to the mid-section. Wilder lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh. Wilder blocks an uppercut.
Wilder lands a right hand. Wilder is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Esko is keeping busy. Esko lands a right hand that snaps the head of Wilder backwards.
That's three minutes gone in the round. Esko lands a glancing elbow in the clinch. Wilder blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning. Wilder wants to break free but Esko has control.
Wilder looking to slow down the pace here. Wilder wants to break free but Esko has control.
A nice left hand lands by Wilder.
Esko scores with a nice hook to the head. Esko gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head. Wilder wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee. Esko creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Wilder's defenses. Wilder swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Wilder takes an elbow to the forehead. Esko misses with an elbow strike.
Esko lands a shoulder strike. Esko takes a shot to the head. Esko lands a damaging elbow. With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Esko just misses with a elbow thrown towards Wilder's brow. A head punch on the inside from Wilder fails to land. Esko using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Esko's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button! Wilder managing to block the knees to the body from Esko.
Wilder lands with a short shot to the head. Wilder lands a body shot. A nice left hand lands by Wilder.
A shot in the inside from Esko.
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. A quick uppercut on the inside from Wilder. Wilder lands with a left to the head. Esko digs a right hand underneath Wilder's ribcage. Wilder let out a lung full of air as it connected. Nice elbow from Esko. Wilder breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat. Esko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target. Esko has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him. No joy there for Wilder, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Esko clinches. Wilder swings wildly with an uppercut but Esko uses good head movement to avoid it. Esko trying to land knees to the body.
Esko keeps control of Wilder as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks. Wilder is trying to stall.
Esko misses with an elbow strike.
Wilder managing to block the knees to the body from Esko.
Wilder on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over. An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Esko. Wilder on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Wilder stalling against the ropes.
Wilder has had enough of the clinch but Esko keeps him there for the moment. Esko scores with a nice hook to the head. And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but Martti Esko did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it. Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval. That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.
Wilder misses with a double jab
and Esko counters with a stiff right hand. Wilder misses with a looping right. Esko gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here. Wilder throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Eskos head. Wilder manages to break the clinch.
Wilder looks to land a combination. Esko sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots. Wilder throws a series of punches but Esko moves out of range. Esko wants to clinch. Esko uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Wilder has time to react. Some wild striking there from Wilder.
Esko doesn't manage to clinch there - Wilder circles away.
Esko throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Wilder stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly. It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over. Esko misses with a wild combination.
Esko moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body. Wilder showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Esko.
That's one minute gone in the round. Wilder throws a left and a right that both miss
and Esko counters by clinching up. Esko missing with knees to the body.
Esko lands with a right to the head. Wilder is trying to break the clinch but Esko has him pressed against the ropes. Esko lands a damaging elbow. Esko lands a damaging elbow. Wilder breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat. Esko lands a nice shot that snaps Wilder's head back.
Wilder throws a big shot that misses. Wilder throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Esko sees it coming and avoids it easily. Wilder avoids the head kick by Esko.
Esko steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Wilder. Jab from Esko. Wilder has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye. Esko lands a nice hook to Wilder's body. Wilder takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes. Esko plants his feet and lands a nice head kick! Wilder looks to score with a combo but nothing lands. The fighters circling - Wilder throws out the jab but it was never going to land. Wilder throws a right and a left that both miss. Esko moves in looking to clinch but Wilder pushes him off. Esko throws a head kick but Wilder moves out of range.
That's two minutes gone in the round. Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it. A slow jab from Wilder misses its intended target. Esko scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent. Left hook, right uppercut from Wilder. Esko slips under a jab from Wilder. Wilder misses with a combination
and Esko counters with a three punch combo that has Wilder backing up. Wilder nods at Esko to acknowledge the strikes. Wilder falls off balance throwing a combination
and Esko counters into the clinch. Nicely done. Esko lands a nice elbow from the clinch. Esko gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head. Wilder swings wildly with an uppercut but Esko uses good head movement to avoid it. Esko lands an elbow inside that Wilder shrugs off. Wilder blocks an elbow strike from Esko.
Wilder wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Esko creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut. Esko lands a damaging elbow. Wilder lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Esko backwards. Esko unloads a knee to the mid-section. Wilder lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh. Esko comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush. Wilder misses with some punches.
Esko lands an elbow inside. Esko scores with an uppercut up the middle.
That's three minutes gone in the round. Wilder with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Wilder looking to slow down the pace here. Wilder wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee. A short right from Esko. Esko scores with a shoulder strike. Esko lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage. Wilder escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wilder throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Esko. Esko buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Wilder misses with a two punch combination.
Wilder takes a shot right to the bread basket. Esko is looking to take this fight into the clinch. Donk. Esko catches Wilder right on the button with a cross. Esko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Wilder misses with a combination
and Esko counters with a big head kick but Wilder shrugs it off. Wilder jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Wilder avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Wilder swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
That's four minutes gone in the round. A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace. Esko fails with an attempt to clinch.
Esko throws a nice looking combination but Wilder bobs and weaves to avoid any damage. Wilder fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Esko looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath. Wilder avoids the head kick by Esko.
A cross from Wilder lands. Esko keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Wilder. Wilder misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Esko.
Esko connects with a high kick. Esko clinches up with Wilder and pushes him back against the ropes. Wilder looking to slow down the pace here. Esko blocks the elbow strike.
Wilder takes an elbow to the forehead. Esko lands a glancing elbow in the clinch. Wilder doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Esko blocking some punches.
Esko pushes off an throws an elbow but Wilder leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes. A short right from Wilder on the inside. Esko lands a knee to the body.
Wilder breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Esko throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Wilder. Wilder throws a left and a right that both miss
and Esko counters by moving into the clinch. And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Martti Esko had his way with Van Wilder in that round. Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval. The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!
Esko throws a head kick that half lands.
Nice defenses there by Wilder. Wilder throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick. Esko throws a series of punches but Wilder avoids them all with ease. Wilder lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook. Wilder lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Left hook, right uppercut from Esko. The fight stays on the outside here - Esko looks like he's thinking about clinching though. Wilder fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Esko lands a high kick!
Esko goes for a high kick. It partially lands. Wilder lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Esko backs up against the ropes.
Esko instigates a clinch. Wilder working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely. Wilder is looking to break free of the clinch but Esko has double underhooks. Esko lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Wilder has a couple of punches blocked by Esko.
Esko pushes Wilder back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch. Esko makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut. Nice elbow from Esko. 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.
That's one minute gone in the round. Esko prevents Wilder from breaking the clinch. Wilder fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A right hand to the body from Wilder.
Esko lands a body punch in the clinch. Wilder misses with a short punch on the inside. Esko comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush. Wilder blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning. Wilder wants to get back to striking at distance but Esko won't allow it.
Esko lands an elbow inside. Esko prevents Wilder from breaking the clinch. Wilder blocking some punches.
Esko has a couple of punches blocked by Wilder.
Wilder looking to stall.
Wilder is trying to break the clinch but Esko has him pressed against the ropes. Nice elbow from Esko. Esko keeps control of Wilder as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks. Esko lands an elbow just above Wilder 's eye. Wilder working aggressively here.
Esko lands with a good tight uppercut to the head. Esko misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Wilder.
Wilder manages to break the clinch.
Esko scores with a nice strike. Wilder throws a jab but it's blocked by Esko. Wilder scores with a body shot.
That's two minutes gone in the round. My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer. Esko connects with a looping right hand.
Esko lands the left hand. A big left from Wilder misses. Esko with a body punch. A glancing blow. Wilder misses with a series of wild punches.
Nice uppercut there from Esko. Esko clinches with his opponent.
Esko keeps control of Wilder as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks. Wilder on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Wilder blocks an uppercut.
Wilder wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Wilder is trying to break the clinch but Esko has him pressed against the ropes. Wilder can't break the clinch.
Esko landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Wilder wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Wilder tries to break the clinch but Esko is controlling the position. A right hand to the body from Esko.
Esko comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush. Wilder takes a shot to the head. Esko lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes. Wilder swings wildly with an uppercut but Esko uses good head movement to avoid it. Esko using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
That's three minutes gone in the round. Wilder misses with a punch on the inside.
Esko pushes Wilder back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch. Esko misses with an elbow over the top. Wilder lands a nice shot to the body. Esko swings wildly with an uppercut but Wilder uses good head movement to avoid it. Wilder is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes. Esko lands an elbow inside. Esko lands a right hand that snaps the head of Wilder backwards. Wilder is looking to break free of the clinch but Esko has double underhooks. Wilder breaks the clinch.
Esko closes the distance and pushes Wilder back into the ropes. Van Wilder has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here! Wilder misses with a short punch on the inside. Esko lands an elbow inside. Esko swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Wilder breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Wilder will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Esko lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook. Wilder throws a left and a right that both miss
and Esko counters with a flying knee. Nice. Esko moves away from the strike by Wilder. Esko wants to clinch.
That's four minutes gone in the round. The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action. Wilder misses with a series of wild punches.
Wilder drops his hands momentarily and Esko takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head. Esko blocks a jab. Esko lands a jab to the head.
The fight moves into the clinch position. Esko lands a damaging elbow. A short right from Wilder. Wilder blocks the elbow strike.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Esko. Esko misses with the head strike.
Wilder misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Esko fails to land. Wilder lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Esko or not. Wilder wants to get back to striking at distance but Esko won't allow it.
Esko crunches a lovely knee into Wilder's ribcage. Wilder manages to break the clinch.
Esko misses with a straight right. Martti Esko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach. Esko lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook. Wilder throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
And that's the end of the fight! Martti Esko showed his dominance in that final round. Well I reckon that's a shut out for Esko, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 50:45 Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 50:45 Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 50:45
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Martti Esko! Martti Esko retains his middleweight title!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
100% |
|
|
|
|
|
|