The American started his professional fighting career as a competitor in the popular Toughman competitions, racking up an impressive 56-5 record (32 KO) before graduating to professional boxing in 1994, where he holds a 75-7-4 record (56 KO).
Esch's first MMA appearance came on Dec. 31, 2003, when he faced Genki Sudo (Pictures) at the K-1 Dynamite event, losing via heelhook. Since then, Esch has gone 7-1-1, losing only to Ikuhisa Minowa (Pictures), and defeating some decent names such as Wesley Correira (Pictures).
Standing across from Esch is the current Cage Rage British heavyweight titlist, Rob Broughton (Pictures) (5-2-1), who was once described to me as "120 kilos of maniac from Liverpool” — and that description continues to ring true now that I've actually seen Broughton in action.
Like Esch, Broughton is a slugger, a man whose heavy punches and cast-iron jaw allow him to survive and triumph, even in the face of the unbelievable beating that he was taking at the hands of James Thompson (Pictures) at Cage Rage 17. On that occasion, Broughton simply hung tough until the PRIDE veteran had run out of steam, after which he reversed the situation, pounding Thompson unconscious.
Following his exploits against Thompson, the new champion took on UK heavyweight standout Robert Berry (Pictures), an outing that showcased some crisp punching from the youngster, once again ending with Broughton's opponent unconscious on the canvas after a mere three and a half minutes.
This is the sort of match-up that Cage Rage and their fans thrive on. Two sluggers locked in a cage, prepared to let it all hang out (sorry) before a rabid and screaming crowd. In my eyes, this is one of the worst match-ups possible for Broughton, simply because Esch has a similar skill-set to the youngster from Liverpool, but he has even more experience using them.
If this fight stays upright, then I think we'll see Esch triumphant. Broughton's plan must be to take the fight down to the ground — an exciting prospect, since it will allow us to truly judge the extent of what the young champion brings to the table.
Nevertheless, I don't think it will be enough. I think it'll be Esch by knockout towards the end of the first round.
Zelg Galesic (Pictures) vs. Mark Weir (Pictures)
Mark Weir (Pictures) (17-11) should need little introduction to the casual MMA fan. "The Wizard" is one of UK MMA's pioneers, a man who competed at the top level of British and international MMA since 2000.
Weir's career has seen him fight in the U.S. (in UFC, ROTR and WEC) and in Japan (PRIDE Bushido), but the lion's share of his recent career has seen him in Cage Rage, where he is the reigning British middleweight champion, a title he puts on the line on Saturday.
Zelg Galesic (Pictures) (5-1) is one of UK MMA's hottest properties right now. A native of Pula, Croatia, Galesic now trains in London with Team Trojan. "Little Mirko," as he's occasionally called, bears a passing resemblance to his countryman, Mirko Filipovic (Pictures), only in the sense that he enjoys the stand-up aspects of the game and has a fearsome striking arsenal.
Like Weir, Galesic is a tall and rangy middleweight, whose game emphasizes lightning-fast and accurate striking. Galesic also has an extensive ground game, something that he used to good effect against UFC veteran Curtis Stout (Pictures) at Cage Rage 17.
I see this match as a potential passing of the torch, from Weir the old master to Galesic the young lion. In many ways, these are two competitors with very similar styles, and fans can expect a high-impact, fast-paced affair.
Given his tactics in recent battles, it will be interesting to see whether Weir tries to take this match to the floor. Either way, I think this is Galesic's time. Weir will be a hard match, but by the time the second round comes I expect to see Galesic with a pen and paper ready to write the next chapter in the UK middleweight division. Galesic by TKO in the second round.
Wesley Correira (Pictures) vs. Tengiz Tedoradze (Pictures)
Wesley Correira (Pictures) (18-11) is a Hawaiian slugger infamous for his durability and willingness to throw down. "Cabbage" could never be accused of being a graceful and technical fighter but what he brings to the table is exactly what Cage Rage fans tend to crave: a brawler willing to put it all on the line.
The UFC veteran has fought some of the top heavyweight names in the sport, beating UFC veterans Travis Wiuff (Pictures), Jason Lambert (Pictures), Aaron Brink (Pictures), David Abbott and Justin Eilers (Pictures), but losing to Tim Sylvia (Pictures), Andrei Arlovski (Pictures), David Abbott (in their second meeting) and John Marsh.
Tengiz Tedoradze (Pictures) (19-7-1) is a 240-pound transplant from the Republic of Georgia who has been dominant for a long time in the UK circuit, destroying whoever is placed in his path. Tedoradze is more easily judged by his losses than his wins — notably that it has taken high quality opposition to stop him in the shape of Jeff Monson (Pictures) (twice), Fabricio Werdum (Pictures), Edson Drago (Pictures), Dave Dalgliesh and Antonio Silva (Pictures) (the other loss came early in his career against undefeated UK fighter John Thorpe).
It goes without saying that the former Greco Roman champion's strength is his wrestling, and he has an excellent range of suplexes that he utilizes to put opponents on the floor and open them up to his heavy ground-and-pound game.
Like the two main event matches, this fight was originally intended to be something of a slugfest, with British brawler Robert Berry (Pictures) due to face the Hawaiian. But with Berry's withdrawal, the picture has changed, and a lot will depend on whether Tedoradze can take Correira down (undoubtedly) and whether he can finish him when he's down (doubtful).
If Tedoradze fails to finish Correira through ground-and-pound then one of two scenarios is possible: Either Correira scores a lucky punch in a stand-up exchange — entirely possible, as Edson Drago (Pictures) proved in five seconds at Cage Rage 16 — or Tedoradze guts out the decision. I'm picking the latter.
Elvis Sinosic (Pictures) vs. Mark Epstein (Pictures)
Elvis Sinosic (Pictures) (7-9-2) is an almost criminally likeable character, as well as being a fighter who is a lot more skilled and dangerous than his record suggests.
The Australian is a Machado black belt, and despite having worked more on his Muay Thai in recent years Sinosic still clearly favors the ground game. Sinosic is a long-time UFC veteran, having achieved his big break by submitting Jeremy Horn (Pictures) in 2001. Since then he has had some trouble, losing his next five fights in the American promotion, but going 3-1 in fights outside the U.S.
Mark Epstein (Pictures) (12-8) is a mainstay of Cage Rage and one of the UK's most popular fighters. "The Beast" is the very epitome of a brawler. With heavy hands, a chin of granite and a fighting style that is brutally simple, he moves forward and he swings.
If required, Epstein has proven himself to have a decent wrestling game and some rudimentary ground skills, but don't expect anything technical from him. Epstein is happiest when pounding an opponent’s face into mincemeat.
This promises to be quite an interesting clash. As well as marking the return to the UK for an entertainer like Sinosic, who was last here in 2002 for UFC 38, it marks a return to the classic grappler-striker match-ups.
The entire match hangs on the question of whether Sinosic can take Epstein down and, once there, whether he can make the fierce Londoner submit. I'm going to go with my heart and say that he can, probably in the first round.
Daisuke Nakamura (Pictures) vs. Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro
Vitor Ribeiro (Pictures) (16-1) is, hands down, the finest grappler I've ever seen compete in MMA. He's incredible to watch — even in the middle of the fiercest of exchanges the Brazilian's face remains as calm as Zen.
"Shaolin" has fought professionally since 2001, and faced a list of lightweight notables. Ribeiro defeated Ivan Menjivar (Pictures), Tatsuya Kawajiri (Pictures), Ryan Bow (Pictures), Eddie Yagin (Pictures), Joachim Hansen (Pictures), Chris Brennan (Pictures), Gerald Strebendt (Pictures) and Jean Silva (Pictures). His only professional loss came in a rematch against Kawajiri.
He's been dominant since coming to the UK last year, winning all three of his matches and thus becoming the Cage Rage World lightweight champion, a title he aims to defend on Saturday.
Daisuke Nakamura (Pictures) (10-7) is a U-File fighter who has spent the majority of his career in Japan, fighting first in the GCM promotion and then for DEEP before making his way back to the welcoming arms of PRIDE, where he started his professional career.
Nakamura has already made one trip to the UK, for Cage Rage 16, possibly as an interview for his place back in PRIDE Bushido. On that occasion the Japanese showed his submission prowess by making quick work of British striker Michael Johnson (Michael Johnson' class='LinkSilver'>Pictures). It's a pleasing fact that Cage Rage audiences have become more educated with respect to grappling, and Ribeiro's efforts in his last two fights in the UK elicited cheers for every incredible development. Nakamura is a decent grappler in his own right and should prove enough of a challenge to allow the Brazilian to properly strut his stuff. That said, I'll be shocked if Ribeiro doesn't win this, probably in the first round.