PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jack Daniels (ranked 719 p4p, 90 weight class) and Esko Marttinen (ranked 618 p4p, 79 weight class). Marttinen has chosen For Heavy Metal we will die! as his entrance music. Esko Marttinen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Daniels
vs
Marttinen

179 cm
39
163 lbs
30 - 16 - 2

182 cm
33
162 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$100)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 16 - 2, fighting out of New York, Jack Daniels!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Esko Marttinen!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Sosuke Kotani and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Daniels avoids a kick to the body.
Daniels scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Marttinen staying out of range there.
Marttinen dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Daniels. That did some damage!
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Marttinen has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Daniels's corner calls for a 1-2. Daniels obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Daniels stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Daniels wants it to stay on the feet.
A punch combination from Daniels misses.
Daniels connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Marttinen's hands.
Daniels looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Daniels has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Daniels scores with a sloppy right hand. Marttinen should have avoided that one.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Marttinen needs to keep his hands up - Daniels had a free shot at his head there.
Marttinen scores with a leg kick.
Daniels stuffs the takedown attempt from Marttinen. Marttinen gets slowly back to his feet.
Daniels digs a good body shot into Marttinen's ribs.
Marttinen swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Daniels ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Marttinen moves away.
Daniels walks into a left hand.
Daniels checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Daniels just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Daniels moves into the clinch successfully.
Marttinen misses with a body punch.
A short right from Marttinen on the inside.
Daniels struggles to land a body shot inside as Marttinen controls his hands.
Daniels throws a punch but it's blocked by Marttinen.
Daniels takes a shot to the head.
Still in the clinch, Marttinen scores with a nice short uppercut.
Marttinen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Marttinen is looking for a takedown.
Jack Daniels has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Esko Marttinen.
Daniels scores with an uppercut up the middle.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Daniels.
A head punch on the inside from Daniels fails to land.
Marttinen lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Daniels pushes Marttinen back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Daniels throws a head punch that misses.
Daniels has Marttinen pressed against the cage, preventing Marttinen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A right handed body shot lands from Marttinen.
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!
Marttinen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Daniels is pressed up against the cage. Marttinen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Daniels down to the mat. Daniels avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Daniels takes one to the chin there.
Daniels throws a one two combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daniels looks for the body kick but Marttinen saw that one coming.
Daniels throws a hook to the side of Marttinen's head but Marttinen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Daniels scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Daniels throws a head kick but Marttinen moves out of range.
Daniels tries to clinch there but Marttinen circles away.
Jack Daniels is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Marttinen throws a hook but Daniels avoids it easily.
Daniels throws a chopping leg kick but Marttinen manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Daniels waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Marttinen.
A looping hook to the body misses from Daniels. Marttinen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Esko Marttinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Marttinen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Marttinen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A jab from Marttinen misses.
Marttinen lands the left hand.
A solid leg kick lands there for Marttinen.
Daniels loads up on a big right hand but Marttinen slips the punch.
Marttinen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Daniels manages to avoid it.
It looked like Daniels wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Daniels lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Marttinen circles away quickly and effectively.
Daniels gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Marttinen misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marttinen lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Daniels at a distance.
Marttinen throws a head kick but Daniels moves out of range.
Marttinen walks into a straight right hand from Daniels.
Daniels takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Daniels waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Marttinen.
A telegraphed right hand from Daniels misses the target.
Marttinen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Marttinen scores with a punch to the head.
Marttinen tries to score with a low kick but Daniels moves his leg out of the way.
Daniels buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Daniels 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.
Marttinen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Daniels tries to clinch up.
Marttinen misses with a looping right.

Daniels moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Daniels lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Daniels fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Marttinen throws a head punch that misses.

Marttinen breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daniels moves in looking to clinch but Marttinen pushes him off.
Marttinen thuds his right hand into Daniels's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Daniels doesn't manage to clinch there - Marttinen circles away.
Daniels tries to clinch up.
Marttinen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Daniels tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Marttinen misses with a body kick.
It looked like Daniels was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Marttinen.
Marttinen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Daniels defends it nicely.
Left hook, right uppercut from Daniels.
Daniels loads up on a big right hand but Marttinen slips the punch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice shot by Daniels.
Daniels scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Daniels misses with a head kick.
Marttinen drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Daniels defends it well.
Some bone on bone action there as Daniels checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Marttinen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jack Daniels will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Marttinen scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Daniels misses with a straight left.
Marttinen lands with an uppercut that bounces Daniels off the cage and back into range.
Daniels throws a body shot but no joy.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Daniels 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 Marttinen has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Marttinen and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Marttinen lands a leg kick that knocks Daniels off balance momentarily.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Daniels - that will leave a mark!

Marttinen drives through with a takedown into guard.
Daniels working a defensive guard here.
Marttinen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Marttinen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Marttinen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Daniels swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Daniels is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Marttinen is controlling him.
Marttinen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daniels wants to stand up but Marttinen is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marttinen distracts Daniels with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Marttinen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Daniels working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Marttinen.
Marttinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Daniels is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marttinen throws a strike but Daniels rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Marttinen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Marttinen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Marttinen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Daniels wants to control from the top but Marttinen keeps moving.
Marttinen trying to keep a closed guard but Daniels is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daniels scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Marttinen wants to sweep here but Daniels controlling him for the moment.

Marttinen has his foot on Daniels's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Daniels works his way back into a safe position though.
Marttinen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Daniels is one step ahead there.
Daniels scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Marttinen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Daniels manages to get himself to full guard.

Daniels is pulling down on Marttinen's head. It's preventing any offense from Marttinen, at least for the moment.
Marttinen stops Daniels from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daniels is pulling down on Marttinen's head. It's preventing any offense from Marttinen, at least for the moment.
Marttinen content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Daniels working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Marttinen.
Marttinen slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Marttinen trying to control the position but Daniels is working away.
Daniels manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Daniels lands with a punch from half guard.
Esko Marttinen has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marttinen actively working from the bottom here.
Daniels scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Daniels winds up and cracks Marttinen with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nice strikes from Daniels there.
Marttinen regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Daniels.
Marttinen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Daniels is one step ahead there.
Daniels landing with the ground and pound.
Marttinen trying to control the position.
Daniels showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Esko Marttinen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Daniels gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Marttinen misses with a body shot.
Marttinen stuns Daniels with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Marttinen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Daniels connects with an inside leg kick.

Daniels closes the distance and clinches.
Daniels swings wildly with an uppercut but Marttinen uses good head movement to avoid it.
A nice right hand lands inside from Daniels.
Daniels lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Marttinen lands an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Daniels.
Marttinen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Marttinen tries to break the clinch but Daniels is controlling the position.
Jack Daniels has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Marttinen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
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!
Daniels swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Marttinen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Daniels works on Marttinen's body with a couple of short punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Marttinen creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Daniels misses with some punches.
Daniels throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Marttinens head.
Daniels prevents a body shot from Marttinen.
Daniels misses with a short punch on the inside.
Daniels lands with a right to the head.
Marttinen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Daniels lands with a right to the head.
Daniels has a couple of punches blocked by Marttinen.
A head punch on the inside from Daniels fails to land.
A short right from Marttinen.
Daniels misses with some punches.
Marttinen scores with a shot to the side of Daniels's head.
Daniels tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Marttinen misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Marttinen.
Daniels softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Marttinen is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Daniels can't fight it off and eventually Marttinen manages to take the fight to the floor. Daniels looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Marttinen with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daniels keeping full guard, as Marttinen tries to pass.
Marttinen trying to control but Daniels is working from the bottom.
Daniels lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Daniels throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Marttinen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Daniels content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Daniels trying to control but Marttinen is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marttinen looking for a sweep. Not yet Marttinen, not yet.
Daniels lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Daniels's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Daniels connects with a couple of short punches.
Daniels lands a couple of elbows.
Daniels landing some decent shots from guard.

Marttinen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Daniels defends well.
Daniels postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Marttinen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Daniels working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daniels content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Marttinen wants to sweep but no luck.
Daniels trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Daniels's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Daniels throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Daniels would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Daniels works over Marttinen with some ground and pound from guard.
Daniels landing some decent shots from guard.
Marttinen wants to sweep here but Daniels controlling him for the moment.
Daniels postures up and lands a big shot to Marttinen's brow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Daniels showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Daniels has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28

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