PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Apelu Foai (ranked 8754 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Esken Jr (ranked 5350 p4p, 0 weight class). Chris Esken Jr told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Foai
vs
Esken Jr

185 cm
18
300 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

205 cm
18
290 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Apelu Foai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chris Esken Jr!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Chris Downing and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Foai gets tackled into the cage by Esken Jr. Esken Jr maintains the clinch.
Esken Jr lands a hook that snaps the head of Foai backwards.

It looks like Apelu Foai has been cut.
Esken Jr misses with some punches.
A hook to the body from Esken Jr.
Esken Jr will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Foai up against the cage.
Esken Jr managing to block the knees to the body from Foai.
Esken Jr misses with a body punch.
A nice left hand lands by Esken Jr.
Esken Jr lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Foai backwards.
Foai's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Esken Jr stalling against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Foai tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Esken Jr swings wildly with an uppercut but Foai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Foai misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Esken Jr.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esken Jr swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Esken Jr tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Foai's elbow.
Esken Jr lands with a left to the head.
Foai prevents a body shot from Esken Jr.
Esken Jr misses with a short punch on the inside.
Esken Jr scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Foai prevents a body shot from Esken Jr.
Esken Jr lands a right hand that snaps the head of Foai backwards.
Foai wants a takedown but no success here.
Esken Jr pushes Foai back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Esken Jr swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Esken Jr.
Esken Jr throws a head punch that misses.
Esken Jr lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Foai backwards.
Foai takes a shot to the head.
Esken Jr lands a right hand.
Esken Jr looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Esken Jr taking a breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esken Jr stops a takedown attempt from Foai.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Esken Jr gets through Foai's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Esken Jr slows down the pace here.
Esken Jr throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Esken Jr tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Esken Jr swings wildly with an uppercut but Foai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Esken Jr stops a takedown attempt from Foai.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Apelu Foai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Foai fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Esken Jr misses with the head strike.
Foai definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Esken Jr tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Esken Jr throws a punch but it's blocked by Foai.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Esken Jr.
Esken Jr throws a head punch that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Foai takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Esken Jr displaying some good clinch control by pressing Foai up against the cage.
Esken Jr prevents the takedown attempt.
Esken Jr tries a body shot but Foai blocks it.
Foai's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Esken Jr working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Esken Jr tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Foai wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Esken Jr swings wildly with an uppercut but Foai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Foai misses with a knee to the head.
Esken Jr lands a nice uppercut.
Esken Jr misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esken Jr lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Esken Jr can't find room to land a body shot as Foai controls the action.
Esken Jr digs a right hand underneath Foai's ribcage. Foai let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Foai blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Foai is trying to pull guard but Esken Jr turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Foai is trying to stall.

Foai escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Foai pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Esken Jr tries to counter with a clinch but Foai shakes him off and moves away.
Foai misses with a few strikes there.
Foai fails to land with a series of punches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Esken Jr closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Foai is looking for a takedown.
Foai is breathing heavily.
Foai's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A head punch on the inside from Esken Jr fails to land.
Esken Jr working aggressively here.
Esken Jr scores with a nice hook to the head.
Esken Jr blocks a punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Esken Jr dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Apelu Foai'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.

Foai rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Esken Jr moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Esken Jr moves into the clinch successfully.
Esken Jr tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Esken Jr lands a left hand.
Foai drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Esken Jr gets the underhooks and prevents it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Foai drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A frustrated look appears on Foai's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Foai blocks an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esken Jr displaying some good clinch control by pressing Foai up against the cage.
Esken Jr scores with a shoulder strike.
Esken Jr lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Foai.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Esken Jr misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esken Jr lands with a right to the head.
Esken Jr lands a right hand.
Esken Jr content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Esken Jr working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Esken Jr lands an uppercut.
Esken Jr tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Esken Jr lands with a left to the head.
Foai wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Esken Jr has him pressed against the cage.
Esken Jr scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Esken Jr throws a head punch that misses.
Foai working hard to break the clinch.
Esken Jr working aggressively here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Foai.
Esken Jr misses with a punch on the inside.
Esken Jr throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Foais head.

Apelu Foai's cut is getting worse.
Esken Jr misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Foai jumps guard but Esken Jr turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Apelu Foai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Esken Jr lands a right hand.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Esken Jr creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Foai tries for a takedown but Esken Jr manages to get underhooks.
Foai blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Esken Jr misses with a punch to the body.
Foai tries to pull guard but Esken Jr holds him up against the cage and eventually Foai drops back down to his feet.
Esken Jr misses with a punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Esken Jr scores with a nice short uppercut.
Foai is trying to force a seperation but Esken Jr has the dominant position.
A frustrated look appears on Foai's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Esken Jr misses with some punches.
A nice left hand lands by Esken Jr.
Foai working hard to break the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Esken Jr.
Foai is trying to push Esken Jr away but Esken Jr has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esken Jr is leaning against Foai and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Esken Jr lands a body punch.
Esken Jr has a couple of punches blocked by Foai.
Esken Jr leaning his opponent against the cage.
Esken Jr throws a punch but it's blocked by Foai.
Esken Jr tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Esken Jr throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Foais head.
Foai blocks a body shot from Esken Jr.
Chris Esken Jr seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A frustrated look appears on Foai's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Esken Jr misses with a short punch on the inside.
Foai wants to stall.
Foai is trying to break the clinch but Esken Jr has him pressed against the cage.
Esken Jr swings wildly with an uppercut but Foai uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esken Jr is pushing Foai up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Esken Jr lands a nice uppercut.
Foai blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Esken Jr working aggressively here.
Esken Jr is pressed up against the cage. Foai has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Esken Jr down to the mat. Esken Jr avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Esken Jr gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Esken Jr fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Foai has Esken Jr pressed against the cage.
Foai wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Esken Jr has him pressed against the cage.
Foai is looking for a takedown.
Foai wants a takedown.
Esken Jr working aggressively here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Esken Jr showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Apelu Foai's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Foai tries to clinch but Esken Jr is having none of it.
Chris Esken Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Esken Jr avoids the head kick by Foai.
Esken Jr throws out a counter right but Foai avoids it with no problem.
Esken Jr checks a leg kick.

Esken Jr moves into the clinch successfully.
Still in the clinch, Esken Jr scores with a nice short uppercut.
Foai swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Foai is trying to break free.
Esken Jr misses with the head strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Esken Jr.
Foai is trying to drag Esken Jr to the mat but Esken Jr just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Esken Jr.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esken Jr will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Foai up against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Esken Jr.
Esken Jr lands a left hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esken Jr lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Apelu Foai's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Esken Jr stops a takedown attempt from Foai.
Esken Jr misses with the head strike.
Esken Jr misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Esken Jr fails to land.
Esken Jr working aggressively here.
Esken Jr misses with a short punch on the inside.
Foai blocks an uppercut.
Foai takes a shot to the head.
Esken Jr misses with the head strike.
Esken Jr lands a left hand that snaps the head of Foai backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Esken Jr fails to land.
Foai blocking some punches.
Foai blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Foai has Esken Jr pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Esken Jr manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Apelu Foai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A right handed body shot lands from Esken Jr.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esken Jr working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Foai blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Esken Jr swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Esken Jr misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Esken Jr.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Esken Jr lands with a left to the head.
Esken Jr stalling the fight.
Foai wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Foai wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Foai tries to pull guard but Esken Jr holds him up against the cage and eventually Foai drops back down to his feet.
Esken Jr misses with a hook from the clinch.
Esken Jr leaning his opponent against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Esken Jr.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esken Jr misses with a short punch on the inside.
Esken Jr misses with a punch on the inside.
Foai blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Esken Jr lands with a right to the head.
A short right from Esken Jr on the inside.

Jeez, Apelu Foai's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Foai can't get the takedown.
Esken Jr misses with the head strike.
Esken Jr has a couple of punches blocked by Foai.
Chris Esken Jr is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Esken Jr lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Esken Jr lands a nice shot to the body.
Esken Jr blocks an elbow strike.
A nice right hand lands inside from Esken Jr.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Foai wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Esken Jr has him pressed against the cage.
Esken Jr working aggressively here.
Foai wants a takedown.
Foai lands a left hand that snaps the head of Esken Jr backwards.
Foai tries to break the clinch but Esken Jr is controlling the position.
Foai jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Esken Jr walks away with a smile on his face. Foai gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Esken Jr darts in and clinches Foai up against the cage.
Esken Jr gets underhooks to prevent Foai's takedown attempt.
Apelu Foai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Foai working hard to break the clinch.
Foai's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Esken Jr comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Esken Jr winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 25:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 25:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Esken Jr!