PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Esko Marttinen (ranked 438 p4p, 56 weight class) and Cholo Van Gaal (ranked 632 p4p, 81 weight class). Marttinen comes to the cage accompanied by For Heavy Metal we will die!. Esko Marttinen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Marttinen
vs
Van Gaal

182 cm
31
162 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

177 cm
36
158 lbs
23 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

THE END 32

RAGS of a RONIN

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Esko Marttinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cholo Van Gaal!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Jonathan Paton and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marttinen does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Marttinen throws a shot from downtown. Van Gaal moves away and avoids it.
Van Gaal leaves Marttinen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Marttinen.
Marttinen throws a chopping leg kick but Van Gaal manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
An inside leg kick from Marttinen misses.
Marttinen moves away from the strike by Van Gaal.
Nice defenses there by Marttinen.
Marttinen throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Van Gaal on the side of the head.
Marttinen feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Van Gaal's calf.
Van Gaal throws a big shot that misses.
Marttinen misses with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Gaal throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Van Gaal looks to land a right hand but Marttinen moved out of range.
Van Gaal takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Marttinen throws a big shot that misses.
Esko Marttinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed right hand from Van Gaal misses the target.
Van Gaal cracks Marttinen with a good jab.

It looks like Esko Marttinen has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marttinen moves out of range of the strikes.
Marttinen lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Van Gaal at a distance.
Van Gaal lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Marttinen connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Van Gaal's hands.
Van Gaal misses with a looping left.
Marttinen moves out of range of the strikes.
A big right from Marttinen misses.
Marttinen tries a low kick but Van Gaal avoids it.
Van Gaal steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Marttinen.
Van Gaal misses with an uppercut. Marttinen saw that one coming.
Van Gaal looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Van Gaal takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Van Gaal feints and then cracks Marttinen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Marttinen down.
Van Gaal tries to clinch but Marttinen moves out of range.
Cholo Van Gaal is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Marttinen lands a head shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marttinen throws a hook but Van Gaal blocks it.
Van Gaal slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Marttinen with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Van Gaal to score with a decent uppercut.
Van Gaal moves away from the strike by Marttinen.
It seemed like Van Gaal was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Van Gaal rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Marttinen counters with a nice kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marttinen moves out of range of the leg kick from Van Gaal.
Van Gaal tries to clinch there but Marttinen circles away.
Van Gaal slaps away a takedown attempt from Marttinen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Van Gaal wants to counter with a clinch but Marttinen pushes him away.
A big right from Van Gaal misses.
Van Gaal takes a jab right on the kisser.
Van Gaal tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Marttinen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Van Gaal scores with a jab to the jaw.
Van Gaal misses with a straight left.
Van Gaal thows a left - swing and a miss!
Marttinen lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Marttinen walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Van Gaal checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Van Gaal throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Marttinen misses with a takedown
and Van Gaal connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Esko Marttinen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Gaal scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Van Gaal avoids the body shot from Marttinen.
Marttinen clobbers Van Gaal with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Gaal tries to close the distance and clinch but Marttinen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Marttinen lands a leg kick that knocks Van Gaal off balance momentarily.
Marttinen shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Marttinen misses with a low kick.
Marttinen is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Van Gaal.
Van Gaal misses with a hook.
Marttinen staying out of range there.
Marttinen lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Van Gaal throws a nice outside leg kick.
Marttinen doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Van Gaal moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A solid leg kick lands there for Van Gaal.
Van Gaal pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Van Gaal blocks a head kick by Marttinen.
Van Gaal tries to clinch but Marttinen moves out of range.
A quick step to the side and Marttinen tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
A jab from Marttinen finds it's way through Van Gaal's defenses.
Van Gaal scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Marttinen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marttinen misses the jab.
Van Gaal fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Marttinen with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Van Gaal fails with an attempt to clinch.
Marttinen looks to throw the jab but Van Gaal is out of range.
Marttinen throws a jab but it's blocked by Van Gaal.
It looks like Marttinen has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Marttinen takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Van Gaal throws a jab but it's blocked by Marttinen.
A jab from Van Gaal misses.
Marttinen throwing a counter right hand but Van Gaal manages to avoid it.
Van Gaal connects with a jab.
Marttinen looks to land a left hand but Van Gaal moved out of range nicely.
Marttinen misses with a left hand
and Van Gaal connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Van Gaal stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Van Gaal wants it to stay on the feet.
Van Gaal clobbers Marttinen with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marttinen misses with a left hand
and Van Gaal counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Marttinen is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Van Gaal misses with a hook. Marttinen ducked under it nicely.
Marttinen tries a head kick but it misses.
Marttinen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Van Gaal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Cholo Van Gaal will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Esko Marttinen's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Van Gaal looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Marttinen goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Marttinen lands a jab.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Marttinen 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 Van Gaal has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Van Gaal and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Marttinen lands a nice looking body shot.
Van Gaal lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Van Gaal tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Marttinen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Van Gaal.
Van Gaal lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A lazy left from Marttinen finds it's target.
Marttinen scores with a head kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Van Gaal throws an overhand right that lands on Marttinen's shoulder, as Marttinen tries to avoid the shot.
Danga de danga de dang - Van Gaal scores with a four punch combination!
Van Gaal misses with a looping left.
That kick from Marttinen tenderised Van Gaal's leg. Van Gaal is trying to keep his angry face on.
Van Gaal takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
A jab from Van Gaal finds it's way through Marttinen's defenses.
Marttinen throws an overhand right that lands on Van Gaal's shoulder, as Van Gaal tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Gaal misses with a straight left.
Van Gaal has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Marttinen.
Marttinen misses the shot to the body.

Marttinen shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Marttinen was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Van Gaal is not content to let Marttinen control the position.
Van Gaal can't do much from the bottom here.
Marttinen trying to control the action but Van Gaal is working from the bottom.
Marttinen controlling the position from side mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marttinen has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Van Gaal felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Marttinen taking a break here but Van Gaal is having none of it and regains half guard.

Marttinen is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Van Gaal has managed to free his arm - good work.
Marttinen trying to pass the guard but Van Gaal defending well.
Marttinen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marttinen frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Van Gaal can't escape the position.
You get the feeling that Van Gaal really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Van Gaal tries to lock up and control but Marttinen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Marttinen wants to take Van Gaal's back but he can't do it this time.
Van Gaal is looking to improve his position but Marttinen isn't that keen on the idea.
Marttinen working the ground and pound effectively.

Marttinen is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Van Gaal has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Van Gaal!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marttinen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Van Gaal not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Van Gaal got a little sloppy there for a moment and Marttinen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Van Gaal has managed to get both his arms back between Marttinen's legs - danger averted.
Van Gaal preventing the sweep.

Marttinen looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Van Gaal passes into half guard.
Marttinen is pressing down on Van Gaal's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Esko Marttinen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Esko Marttinen's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Marttinen digs a good hook to Van Gaal's body.
Marttinen misses with a takedown
and Van Gaal cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Van Gaal misses with a wild combination.
Van Gaal's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Some bone on bone action there as Marttinen checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Van Gaal takes a swing at Marttinen's ribcage but misses.
Marttinen scores with a jab to the jaw.
Van Gaal throws out a powerful jab.
Van Gaal misses with a wild combination.
Van Gaal lands with a slapping head kick.
Marttinen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Van Gaal moves away.
Marttinen tries a low kick but Van Gaal avoids it.
A nice inside leg kick there by Marttinen. That's going to slow Van Gaal down.
Marttinen throws a head kick that misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Marttinen fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Van Gaal is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marttinen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Van Gaal swings for the body but Marttinen moves out of range.
Van Gaal missing with a left hand there. Marttinen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Van Gaal jabbing away but nothing is landing.
It looked like Marttinen wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Van Gaal throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Marttinen on the side of the head.
Nice defenses there by Marttinen.
Van Gaal pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Van Gaal displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Marttinen throws out the jab.
Van Gaal wants to counter the offense by Marttinen and move into the clinch position.
Marttinen misses with a straight left.
Van Gaal moves forwards but Marttinen connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Marttinen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Van Gaal lands a head shot.
Van Gaal connects with a crisp jab.
Cholo Van Gaal seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A big left from Van Gaal misses.
Marttinen misses with a left hand
and Van Gaal connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Van Gaal gets caught napping as Marttinen dives in and scores a takedown. Van Gaal manages to retain guard.

Van Gaal scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Marttinen looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Van Gaal throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Marttinen feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Van Gaal's calf.
Van Gaal scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Van Gaal on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Marttinen throws a head kick that Van Gaal semi-blocks.
Sloppy strikes from Marttinen. Those never looked like landing.
Marttinen checks the leg kick nicely there.
Marttinen throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Van Gaal.
Marttinen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Van Gaal moves away.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Marttinen!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Marttinen slips a jab and a cross from Van Gaal.
Marttinen lands with a hook. Van Gaal tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Van Gaal lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Van Gaal moves forwards but Marttinen connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Van Gaal lands a right hook to the body.
Van Gaal blocks the body kick.
Marttinen has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marttinen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Van Gaal throws a lazy right hand but Marttinen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A jab from Van Gaal finds it's way through Marttinen's defenses.
A left lands for Van Gaal.
Van Gaal wants to clinch up but Marttinen keeps it at a distance.
Van Gaal uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Marttinen.
Van Gaal with a nice cross.

Marttinen shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Van Gaal is trying to defend but Marttinen finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Marttinen is looking for a kimura but Van Gaal is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Marttinen to get the leverage.
Van Gaal trying to hold on to Marttinen's head to control him but Marttinen postures up.

Marttinen wants to work for an arm triangle but Van Gaal is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marttinen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Van Gaal's head.
Van Gaal is trying is best to control the position here.
Marttinen stops Van Gaal from getting back to his feet.
Van Gaal wants to get back to full guard.
Marttinen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marttinen wants to take a breather but Van Gaal is having none of it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Van Gaal is trying to stand back up but Marttinen is controlling him

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Cholo Van Gaal just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Esko Marttinen's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A jab from Van Gaal does it's job there.
Marttinen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Marttinen throws a leg kick that is checked

and Van Gaal moves into the clinch.
Marttinen goes for a takedown in the clinch but Van Gaal prevents it.
Van Gaal lands a shoulder strike.
Marttinen misses with the head strike.
Marttinen tries to break free but Van Gaal pushes him back against the cage.
Van Gaal tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Marttinen.
Marttinen can't get the takedown.
Still in the clinch, Van Gaal scores with a nice short uppercut.
Van Gaal is trying to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marttinen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Marttinen breaks the clinch.
Van Gaal misses with a looping right.
Van Gaal walks into a straight right hand from Marttinen.
Van Gaal moves out of range of the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Gaal uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Marttinen.
Marttinen misses with a looping left.
Marttinen misses with a leg kick
and Van Gaal counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Van Gaal throws a hook but Marttinen avoids it easily.
Marttinen staying out of range there.
Marttinen throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Van Gaal stuns Marttinen with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Marttinen has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Van Gaal fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Marttinen manages to avoid it.
Marttinen tries to bum rush Van Gaal with a series of wild strikes but Van Gaal uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Van Gaal wants to clinch.
Marttinen takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Gaal is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The fighters circling - Van Gaal throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
It looked like Marttinen wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Good shot there by Marttinen.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Van Gaal throws a jab but it's blocked by Marttinen.
Marttinen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Van Gaal checks a leg kick nicely.
Van Gaal pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A head kick from Marttinen lands but Van Gaal takes it in his stride.
Van Gaal drops his hands momentarily and Marttinen takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Marttinen jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Van Gaal throws a head kick that misses.
Marttinen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Van Gaal chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Van Gaal dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Marttinen takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Marttinen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Van Gaal throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Van Gaal takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Marttinen pivots, looking for a leg kick but Van Gaal is out of range and Marttinen settles back down.
Van Gaal swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Van Gaal walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Marttinen checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Van Gaal waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Marttinen.
Van Gaal's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Marttinen connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Van Gaal scrambles back to his feet.
Van Gaal misses with a body kick.
Marttinen slips under a jab.
And Marttinen counters with a quick kick to the body but Van Gaal blocks it.
Van Gaal keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Van Gaal throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Marttinen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Marttinen lands a leg kick that knocks Van Gaal off balance momentarily.
Van Gaal connects with a nice looking jab.
Marttinen throws a wild body kick that Van Gaal sees coming a mile off.
A nice side step and Van Gaal releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Marttinen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
It seemed like Van Gaal was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Gaal throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Marttinen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A counter left hand to the body from Marttinen misses its target.
Marttinen tries to bum rush Van Gaal with a series of wild strikes but Van Gaal uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
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!
A head kick misses from Marttinen.
Van Gaal lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Marttinen circles away quickly and effectively.
Marttinen stalks Van Gaal and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Van Gaal's face. Van Gaal staggers backwards, shaken.
Van Gaal misses with a straight left.
Marttinen moves out of range as Van Gaal strikes.
Van Gaal moves to clinch but Marttinen breaks away

and Marttinen counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Van Gaal!
Van Gaal tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Marttinen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Marttinen thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Van Gaal tries to buck Marttinen off but Marttinen is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Cholo Van Gaal will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Esko Marttinen's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Van Gaal pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Marttinen lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Marttinen's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Marttinen duly obliges.
Marttinen closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Van Gaal with a hook.
Van Gaal waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Marttinen.
Marttinen slips under a jab.
Van Gaal throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A lazy left from Marttinen finds it's target.
Van Gaal scores with a hook.
Marttinen blocks a jab.
Marttinen takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Van Gaal takes one to the side of the head.
Marttinen tries to move into range but Van Gaal moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Marttinen misses with an uppercut. Van Gaal saw that one coming.
Van Gaal tries to counter by closing the distance.
Marttinen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Van Gaal takes one to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marttinen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Marttinen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Van Gaal.
Marttinen tries to bum rush Van Gaal with a series of wild strikes but Van Gaal uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Van Gaal scores with a punch to the head.
Marttinen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Marttinen scores with a punch to the head.
Van Gaal lands a nice hook to Marttinen's body. Marttinen takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Van Gaal moves into range and clinches up with Marttinen.
Marttinen lands an uppercut.
Van Gaal effectively controlling the action here.
Van Gaal has a couple of punches blocked by Marttinen.
Van Gaal blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Marttinen breaks from the clinch.
Marttinen misses with a low kick.
Marttinen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Van Gaal.
Marttinen tries to counter with a takedown but Van Gaal is quick to defend against it.
Marttinen throws a good cross that connects.
Esko Marttinen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Van Gaal walks into a left hand.
Marttinen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Marttinen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Van Gaal.
Van Gaal lands a jab to the nose.
Van Gaal tests Marttinen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Marttinen slips a jab from Van Gaal.
Marttinen dives in and grabs Van Gaal's left leg, looking for a takedown. Van Gaal pushes down on Marttinen's head and hops out.
Van Gaal waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Marttinen.
Sloppy strikes from Marttinen. Those never looked like landing.
Van Gaal misses with a straight left.
Marttinen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Van Gaal was well out of range. Poor timing from Marttinen.
Despite the aggression on Van Gaal's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Van Gaal missing with a left hand there. Marttinen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
An attempted straight right counter from Marttinen misses the target.
Van Gaal throws the left hand but Marttinen avoids the punch easily.
Van Gaal misses with an uppercut.
Van Gaal throws a big shot that misses.
Marttinen wants to slow Van Gaal down by chopping away at his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Marttinen, right into the meat.
Van Gaal misses with a wild body shot.
Van Gaal slips under a jab.
Van Gaal with a jab.

Marttinen throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Van Gaal tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Marttinen is in Van Gaal's guard.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Van Gaal keeping moving, preventing Marttinen from controlling successfully.
Van Gaal is pulling down on Marttinen's head to control his posture.
Marttinen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Van Gaal looking to control.
Cholo Van Gaal is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Van Gaal utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marttinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Gaal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Van Gaal is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Marttinen looking to pass the guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Marttinen tests Van Gaal's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Marttinen misses the jab.
Marttinen tries to move into range but Van Gaal moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
A punch combination from Van Gaal misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Marttinen shoots in and bounces Van Gaal off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Van Gaal has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Marttinen is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cholo Van Gaal comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Van Gaal has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 46:49
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 46:49
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cholo Van Gaal!
Cholo Van Gaal decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.