PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Martti Esko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Neler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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
Neler

190 cm
19
190 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

180 cm
21
190 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Martti Esko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Neler!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Colin Fotheringham and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Neler throws a right hand that Esko ducks under and follows up with a left that Esko also avoids with ease.
Martti Esko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Neler lands a glancing blow to the side of Esko's head.
Esko tries to clinch but Neler moves out of range.
Neler misses with a two punch combination.
Esko tries to close the distance and clinch but Neler swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Esko clinches with his opponent.
Neler blocks an elbow strike.
Esko swings wildly with an uppercut but Neler uses good head movement to avoid it.
Neler wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Esko looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Neler blocking some punches.
Esko pushes Neler back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Nice body punch from Esko.
Neler blocks the elbow strike.
Neler blocks an uppercut.
Esko lands a nice elbow.
Esko lands with a short head shot on the inside.

It looks like Paul Neler has been cut.
Esko creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Esko lands a nice elbow.
Neler blocks the elbow strike.
Esko misses with an elbow over the top.
Neler on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Still in the clinch, Esko scores with a nice short uppercut.
Esko misses with an elbow strike.
Esko lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esko tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Esko lands an elbow inside.
Esko swings wildly with an uppercut but Neler uses good head movement to avoid it.
Esko lands a right hand.
Esko lands a knee to the body.
Neler looks gassed!
Esko gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Esko.
Esko lands a damaging elbow.

Neler is rocked!
Esko gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Neler is still on wobbly legs! Can Esko finish him?
Neler dodges an elbow strike from Esko.
Neler seems to have recovered his senses.
Esko lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That has opened up Paul Neler's cut even more.
Esko scores with a shot to the side of Neler's head.
Esko gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
A right handed body shot lands from Esko.
Neler managing to block the knees to the body from Esko.
Nice elbow from Esko.
with the fighters clinched against the cage, Esko creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Esko drives through and clinches with Neler against the cage.
Esko landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Esko lands a left hand.
Esko throws a punch but it's blocked by Neler.
Neler's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neler blocks an elbow strike.
Esko throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Neler blocks the elbow strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Esko just misses with a elbow thrown towards Neler's brow.
Neler blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Esko throws an elbow but it misses.
Neler blocks an elbow strike from Esko.
Neler can't break the clinch.
Neler is trying to break free.
Esko lands an uppercut.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Esko.
With the fighters up against the cage, Esko throws an elbow but misses.
Neler is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Esko misses with a short punch on the inside.
Esko lands with a short shot to the head.
Esko swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Esko lands a damaging elbow.
Esko misses with a hook from the clinch.
Neler blocks an elbow strike.
Neler is trying to break free.
Esko lands a nice elbow.
Neler blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Neler wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Esko has him pressed against the cage.
Neler avoiding damage as Esko throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neler wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Esko has him pressed against the cage.
Esko trying to land knees to the body.
Neler wants to get back to striking at distance but Esko won't allow it.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Esko.
With the fighters up against the cage, Esko throws an elbow but misses.
Esko tries to land knees in the clinch but Neler avoids the damage to the body.
Neler blocks an elbow strike from Esko.
Neler blocks the elbow strike.
Esko throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Esko throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Esko throws an elbow that misses.
Esko misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Neler.
Neler wants to break free but Esko has control.
Neler managing to block the knees to the body from Esko.
Neler wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Esko trying to land knees to the body.
Esko misses with a hook from the clinch.
Neler on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Esko creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Neler wants to get back to striking at distance but Esko won't allow it.
With the fighters up against the cage, Esko throws an elbow but misses.
Esko lands a nice shot to the body.
Esko creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
With the fighters up against the cage, Esko throws an elbow but misses.
Esko throws a head punch that misses.
Neler blocks the elbow strike.
Neler avoids the elbow strike from Esko, against the cage.
Esko pushes off an throws an elbow but Neler leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Neler wants to break the clinch but can't.
Esko throws an elbow but it misses.
Esko swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Neler blocks the elbow strike.
Neler blocks an elbow strike from Esko.
Esko prevents Neler from breaking the clinch.
Esko has a couple of punches blocked by Neler.
Esko keeps control of Neler as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Esko missing with knees to the body.
Neler blocking some punches.
Neler blocks the elbow strike.
Esko lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Esko throws a punch but it's blocked by Neler.
Neler is looking to break free of the clinch but Esko has double underhooks.
Esko misses with an elbow strike.
Esko prevents Neler from breaking the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Esko just misses with a elbow thrown towards Neler's brow.
Neler is trying to break the clinch but Esko has him pressed against the cage.
Esko throws an elbow that misses.
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 Paul Neler'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.

Neler scores with a nice head shot.
Esko tries to clinch but Neler moves out of range.
Neler bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Neler looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Neler looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Neler misses with a jab, cross combination.
Esko wants to clinch up but Neler keeps it at a distance.
Neler throws a combination. Esko tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Some wild striking there from Neler.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Esko is looking to clinch.
Esko takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Esko doesn't manage to clinch there - Neler circles away.
Esko wants to clinch up but Neler keeps it at a distance.
Esko tries to clinch up but Neler circles away and keeps his distance.
Neler tries to bum rush Esko with a series of wild strikes but Esko uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Neler moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Martti Esko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Left hook, right uppercut from Neler.

Esko forces Neler back against the cage and clinches.
Esko misses with a hook to the ribs.
Neler on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Esko swings wildly with an uppercut but Neler uses good head movement to avoid it.
Esko throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A short right from Esko.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Esko tries a body shot but Neler blocks it.
Neler dodges an elbow strike from Esko.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esko trying to land knees to the body.
Neler wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Nice body punch from Esko - that landed with a thud.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Esko.
A head punch on the inside from Esko fails to land.
Esko looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Neler blocks an elbow strike.
Esko swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Esko.
Esko lands an elbow that stopped Neler in his tracks for a moment.
Esko pushes off an throws an elbow but Neler leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Neler wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Neler tries to break the clinch but Esko is controlling the position.
Esko throws an elbow but it misses.
Esko creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Esko misses with a punch on the inside.
Esko looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Esko scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Esko pushes off an throws an elbow but Neler leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Neler blocks an uppercut.
Esko misses with an elbow strike.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Esko lands an elbow that stopped Neler in his tracks for a moment.
Neler takes an elbow to the temple.
Neler is trying to break free.

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.
Neler managing to block the knees to the body from Esko.
Esko working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Esko lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Esko throws a head punch that misses.
Esko misses with a short punch on the inside.
Esko throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Esko fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Esko gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Neler wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Esko has him pressed against the cage.
Esko lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Esko throws an elbow but it misses.
Esko lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Esko misses with a body punch.
Esko working aggressively here.
Esko prevents Neler from breaking the clinch.
Neler dodges an elbow strike from Esko.
Neler takes an elbow to the forehead.
Esko throws an elbow but it misses.
Esko lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Esko lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Esko pushes off an throws an elbow but Neler leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Esko pushes off an throws an elbow but Neler leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Esko throws a punch but it's blocked by Neler.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esko misses with a punch on the inside.
Esko lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Neler backwards.
Esko looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Esko misses with some punches.
Esko can't find room to land a body shot as Neler controls the action.
Esko misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Neler.
Neler on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Neler takes an elbow to the temple.
Neler is trying to break the clinch but Esko has him pressed against the cage.
Esko throws a punch but it's blocked by Neler.
Neler on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Neler is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Esko fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Neler dodges an elbow strike from Esko.
Neler avoids the elbow strike from Esko, against the cage.
Neler can't break the clinch.
Neler blocks an elbow strike.
Esko digs a right hand into Neler's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Neler's gas tank.
Esko throws an elbow but it misses.
Esko throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Esko keeps control of Neler as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Neler is trying to break free.
Neler prevents a body shot from Esko.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Esko throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Nelers head.
Neler managing to block the knees to the body from Esko.
Esko throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Esko.
Neler wants to break free but Esko has control.
Esko pushes off an throws an elbow but Neler leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Neler wants to break free but Esko has control.
Esko keeps control of Neler as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Neler wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Esko just misses with a elbow thrown towards Neler's brow.
Neler dodges an elbow strike from Esko.
Esko creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Neler dodges an elbow strike from Esko.
Esko trying to land knees to the body.
Neler is looking to break free of the clinch but Esko has double underhooks.
A head punch on the inside from Esko fails to land.
With the fighters up against the cage, Esko throws an elbow but misses.
Neler is looking to break free of the clinch but Esko has double underhooks.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Esko misses with an elbow strike.
Esko pushes off an throws an elbow but Neler leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Neler dodges an elbow strike from Esko.
Neler tries to break the clinch but Esko is controlling the position.
Neler wants to get back to striking at distance but Esko won't allow it.
Esko tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Paul Neler will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Paul Neler'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 is looking to clinch.
Neler swats away the attempt to clinch by Esko.
Esko wants to clinch.

Esko moves into the clinch successfully.
Neler wants to get back to striking at distance but Esko won't allow it.
Esko working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A right hook to the body lands for Esko.
Esko comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Esko lands an elbow just above Neler 's eye.
With the fighters up against the cage, Esko throws an elbow but misses.
Esko lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Esko lands a damaging elbow.
Neler is trying to break the clinch but Esko has him pressed against the cage.
Esko lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Neler.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Esko.
With the fighters up against the cage, Esko throws an elbow but misses.
Neler blocks the elbow strike.
Esko comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Esko misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Neler.
Esko pushes off an throws an elbow but Neler leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Nice elbow from Esko.

The cut above Paul Neler's eye is starting to cause him problems now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Esko.
Esko looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Esko throws a head punch that misses.
Esko missing with knees to the body.
Esko pushes off an throws an elbow but Neler leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Neler is looking to break free of the clinch but Esko has double underhooks.
Esko misses with the head strike.
Neler wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Esko has him pressed against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Esko.
Esko misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Esko gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Neler blocks an elbow strike.
Neler blocks the elbow strike.
Neler is trying to break free.
A nice left hand lands by Esko.
Neler takes an elbow to the forehead.
Esko throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Esko lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Neler blocks an elbow strike from Esko.
Esko misses with a short punch on the inside.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Esko.
Martti Esko has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Neler.
Neler wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Neler dodges an elbow strike from Esko.

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.
Neler wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Esko doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Neler blocks an elbow strike.
Esko lands an elbow inside.
Esko lands with a right to the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Esko just misses with a elbow thrown towards Neler's brow.
Esko misses with a hook to the ribs.
Esko lands a hook that snaps the head of Neler backwards.
Esko creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Esko throws an elbow that misses.
Esko throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Nelers head.
Neler wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Esko lands with a light punch inside.
Esko throws an elbow that misses.
Neler blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Neler wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Esko misses with the head strike.
Neler dodges an elbow strike from Esko.
Neler is looking to break free of the clinch but Esko has double underhooks.
Esko gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Neler is trying to break free.
Esko misses with a body punch.
Neler takes an elbow to the temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Esko.
Neler blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Esko scores with a nice hook to the head.
Esko throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Esko creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Neler is trying to break free.
Esko lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Neler wants to break the clinch but can't.
Esko tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Neler takes an elbow to the temple.
Neler blocks the elbow strike.
Esko lands an elbow inside.
Esko trying to land knees to the body.
Neler wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Neler blocks the elbow strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Esko just misses with a elbow thrown towards Neler's brow.
Esko creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Neler is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Esko lands a nice elbow.
A short left from Esko.
Neler blocks an elbow strike.
Esko throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Esko landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

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 misses with a hook from the clinch.
Esko makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Nice elbow from Esko.
A body shot lands from Esko.
Nice body punch from Esko.
Esko tries to land knees in the clinch but Neler avoids the damage to the body.
Neler wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Esko has him pressed against the cage.
Esko misses with an elbow strike.
A shot in the inside from Esko.
Esko lands an elbow inside that Neler shrugs off.

Paul Neler's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Esko lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Esko misses with the head strike.
Neler blocks the elbow strike.
Esko lands a nice elbow.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Paul Neler's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Martti Esko!