PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Eric Esch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luke Choate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Esch
vs
Choate

181 cm
22
323 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

225 cm
21
300 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eric Esch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Luke Choate!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yuuki Gou and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big left from Choate misses.
Choate keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Choate just misses with a punch to the body.
Esch throws a right and a left that Choate avoids nicely.
Choate fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Esch has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Choate misses with a jab, cross combination.
Luke Choate seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Choate throws a nice looking combination but Esch bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Choate swings for the body but Esch moves out of range.
Esch scores with a jab to the body.

Esch clinches with his opponent.
Esch lands a left hand that snaps the head of Choate backwards.
Esch is leaning against Choate and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Esch lands an uppercut.
Choate wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Esch leaning against his opponent.
Esch lands a shoulder strike.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
A shot in the inside from Esch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esch lands with a short shot to the head.
A shot in the inside from Esch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Esch.

It looks like Luke Choate has been cut.
A short left from Esch.
Esch lands a shot to the body.
Choate looks winded!

Esch breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A combination from Choate does no damage.
The fighters circling - Esch throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Esch throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
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!
Esch misses the jab.
Esch jabs at Choate's body.
Choate bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Esch misses with an uppercut.
Esch throws a series of punches but Choate moves out of range.
Esch throws a hook but Choate blocks it.
Choate tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Esch slips a jab and a cross from Choate.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Choate on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Esch fails to land with a series of punches.

Esch scores a knockdown with a big right hand! Choate beats the count and gets back to his feet. The referee asks him to walk forwards and it appears he is OK so we'll continue the bout.
Esch punishes Choate's body with a nice straight punch.
Choate throws a half hearted mid kick.
Choate throws a chopping leg kick but Esch manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Esch throws a lazy right hand but Choate sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Esch throws a nice inside leg kick.
Esch misses with a jab, cross combination.

Esch connects with a beautiful left hand that drops Choate onto his butt! Choate bounces straight back up though - he's OK. After the ref checks him out, we're back to the action.
Esch thows a body shot but no joy.
Choate staying out of range there.
Choate throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Esch cracks Choate with a perfect right hand that drops him to the mat! Choate is sitting up but I can't see if he's OK from my position. The referee's count has reached 5,6,7 and Choate is still not up. Can he make it? 8,9, he's up! Wow, he cut that one a bit fine!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Choate keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Choate lands a head kick!

Esch scores a knockdown with a big right hand! Choate beats the count and gets back to his feet. The referee asks him to walk forwards and it appears he is OK so we'll continue the bout.

Choate is rocked!
Choate misses with a series of wild punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Esch takes that one as he scored multiple knockdowns. Luke Choate was lucky to get out of the first round.
The cut man is working on Luke Choate's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A swing and a miss from Esch.
Eric Esch is winning the standup battle so far.
Choate throws a body kick that misses.
Esch is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Choate can do to turn this around?
Choate misses with a wild body shot.
Choate throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Choate misses with a head kick.
Choate misses with a straight left.
Esch lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Choate circles away quickly and effectively.
Esch throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Esch throws a right and a left that both miss.
A punch lands to the side of Choate 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Esch throws a right hand that Choate ducks under and follows up with a left that Choate also avoids with ease.
Choate scores with a sloppy right hand. Esch should have avoided that one.
Choate lands with a nice combination. Esch backs away looking to recover.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Esch lands a jab to the head.
Choate thumps Esch with a low kick.
Choate blocks a leg kick.
Esch will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Esch connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Esch. Choate does a little dance to reset his feet.
Esch showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Choate.
Choate misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A punch combination from Choate misses.
Choate darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
The fighters circling - Esch throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Choate throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Esch misses with a looping left.
Choate tries to bum rush Esch with a series of wild strikes but Esch uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Choate lands a jab.
Luke Choate is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd cheers as Esch lands an impressive looking overhand right. Choate doesn't seem phased though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Esch connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Some wild striking there from Choate.
Esch avoids the head kick by Choate.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Choate misses with a double jab
and Esch counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Choate is breathing heavily.
Esch misses with a series of wild punches.
Choate throws a right and a left that both miss.
Choate slips under a jab from Esch.
Choate throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Esch.
Choate will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Choate slips a straight right by Esch.
Choate keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Esch.
Esch throws a jab when Choate was well out of range.
Esch scores with a decent looking hook.
Esch misses with an uppercut. Choate saw that one coming.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Choate throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Esch tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Choate was well out of range. Poor timing from Esch.
Esch blocks a head kick by Choate.
Esch blocks a head kick by Choate.
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 Eric Esch will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Luke Choate's cut.
That's time! Esch's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Choate tries a low kick but Esch avoids it.
Esch throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Esch throws an overhand right that lands on Choate's shoulder, as Choate tries to avoid the shot.
Esch fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Choate looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Esch loads up on a big right hand but Choate slips the punch.
A jab from Esch finds it's way through Choate's defenses.
Esch takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Esch throws a looping overhand right but Choate ducks down to avoid it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Choate avoids the body shot from Esch.
Esch scores with a punch to the head.
Esch takes one on the button.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Choate moves forwards but Esch connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Esch throws a lazy right hand but Choate sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Esch throws a body kick that misses.

Esch lands with a right, followed by a left to the temple and Choate goes down! The ref sends Esch to a neutral corner so he can begin the count. 3,4,5,6 and Choate is back to his feet. He seems a little groggy but the referee thinks he's OK to continue, so we're back to the action!
Choate is still on wobbly legs! Can Esch finish him?
Esch misses with a looping right.
Choate dodges the punch combination from Esch.
Choate walks straight into a perfectly timed right hook, crumpling him to the floor! Choate is in all kinds of trouble here - can he beat the count? 3,4,5,6,7,8,9....10 - he's out and it's by a long way too - he didn't ever look like beating that count!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punch). Eric Esch!
A less than humble Eric Esch misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.