PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dzhabar Askerov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Duffy McRoast (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Askerov
vs
McRoast

176 cm
21
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Likes ground

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dzhabar Askerov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Duffy McRoast!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Askerov keeps the fight on the outside.

Askerov moves into range and clinches up with McRoast.
McRoast takes a knee right on the jaw!
Askerov lands a hook that snaps the head of McRoast backwards.
Askerov connects with a knee to the head.
Askerov misses with a knee to the head.

Askerov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McRoast rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Askerov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from McRoast.
Askerov tries to clinch but McRoast is having none of it.
McRoast throws a one two combo.
McRoast looks to land a left hand but Askerov moved out of range nicely.

Askerov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Askerov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Askerov has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but McRoast regains guard immediately.
McRoast wants to sweep but no luck.
Askerov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for McRoast on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McRoast is pulling down on Askerov's head. It's preventing any offense from Askerov, at least for the moment.
McRoast is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Askerov won't allow McRoast to get back to his feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Askerov clinches with his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
McRoast tries for a takedown. No joy.
McRoast looks gassed!
Askerov prevents the takedown attempt.
McRoast is trying to break the clinch but Askerov has him pressed against the cage.
A knee to the head by Askerov.
Askerov tries to land a knee to the head but McRoast blocks with his arms.
McRoast jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Askerov walks away with a smile on his face. McRoast gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Dzhabar Askerov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Duffy McRoast.
McRoast throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Askerov clinches up against the cage.
Askerov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McRoast has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Askerov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Askerov with a knee to the head.
McRoast is looking to break free of the clinch but Askerov has double underhooks.
McRoast goes for a takedown in the clinch but Askerov prevents it.
Askerov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Askerov landing knees to the head.
McRoast is trying to drag Askerov to the mat but Askerov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Askerov scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Askerov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Askerov darts in trying to clinch

and McRoast counters with a shoot takedown. Askerov fights it but they end up in guard.
McRoast trying to control the position from guard on top but Askerov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Askerov is pulling down on McRoast's head to control his posture.
Askerov keeping moving, preventing McRoast from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askerov seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
McRoast trying to control but Askerov is working from the bottom.
McRoast throwing strikes but missing.
Askerov controls McRoast momentarily but McRoast frees himself.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by McRoast.
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 Dzhabar Askerov 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.

Askerov closes the distance and clinches.

Askerov ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Askerov no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
McRoast lands a couple of digs.

McRoast stands up and waves to Askerov to follow him.
McRoast tries to clinch up
and Askerov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
McRoast takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Nice takedown defense from Askerov. No joy for McRoast on that attempt.

McRoast darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Askerov is controlling McRoast's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askerov wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McRoast wants to control but Askerov is keeping him busy.
McRoast sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Askerov defending well though.
McRoast is looking to advance position but Askerov won't allow it.
McRoast is trying to control. Askerov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Askerov is trying to stand.
McRoast missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Askerov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Askerov connects with a nasty looking knee right to McRoast's face.
Askerov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
McRoast can't break the clinch.
Askerov tries to land a knee to the head but McRoast blocks with his arms.
Askerov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McRoast blocks it with crossed arms.
McRoast wants a takedown.
Askerov tries to land a knee to the head but McRoast blocks with his arms.
Askerov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McRoast blocks it with crossed arms.
Askerov with a knee to the head.
McRoast wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Askerov has him pressed against the cage.
Askerov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McRoast blocks it with crossed arms.

Askerov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McRoast circles away from the clinch attempt.

McRoast shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Askerov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Askerov tries to get out of the position.

Askerov isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. McRoast stacks Askerov on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by McRoast!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McRoast decides to stand back up.
McRoast fails with a takedown attempt.
Dzhabar Askerov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Duffy McRoast.
Askerov shoots in looking for a takedown. McRoast tries to sprawl out of it but Askerov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. McRoast manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from McRoast.
McRoast circles away from the clinch attempt.
McRoast misses with a takedown attempt

and Askerov holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askerov scores with a knee to the head.
Askerov misses with a knee to the head.
Askerov tries to land a knee to the head but McRoast blocks with his arms.
Askerov with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Askerov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Askerov slips a jab and a cross from McRoast.
McRoast lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Askerov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McRoast paws at him with a jab and circles away.
McRoast scores with a nice right hand.
Askerov tries to clinch up

and McRoast counters by moving into the clinch.
McRoast is trying to drag Askerov to the mat but Askerov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
McRoast can't break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Duffy McRoast 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!

Askerov closes the distance and pushes McRoast back into the cage.
Askerov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Askerov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
McRoast has had enough of the clinch but Askerov keeps him there for the moment.
McRoast has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Askerov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
McRoast tries for a takedown. No joy.
McRoast wants a takedown.
Dzhabar Askerov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Duffy McRoast.
Askerov misses with some punches.
McRoast takes a knee right on the jaw!

Askerov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dzhabar Askerov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Askerov lands with a thumping leg kick.

McRoast feints and as Askerov raises his hands in defense, McRoast changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McRoast working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McRoast pushing down on Askerov's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
McRoast trying to control the action but Askerov is working from the bottom.
Askerov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from McRoast.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McRoast throwing shots but Askerov is blocking nicely.
Askerov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
McRoast wants to lay and pray for a moment but Askerov keeps working.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
McRoast not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
McRoast throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Askerov tries to close the distance and clinch up but McRoast swats him away and circles back towards the center.

McRoast scores with a takedown into Askerov's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askerov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst McRoast is controlling him.
McRoast postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
McRoast wants to control from the top but Askerov keeps moving.
Askerov has McRoast pulled in close to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McRoast looking to sit in guard and control but Askerov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
McRoast 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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Askerov fails with an attempt to clinch.
McRoast wants to clinch.

Askerov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now McRoast is on top in guard.
McRoast wants to stand but Askerov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
McRoast has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
McRoast throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Askerov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
McRoast is looking to work some ground and pound but Askerov has wrist control.
McRoast trying to control but Askerov is working from the bottom.
McRoast forces his way into half guard.

McRoast looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Duffy McRoast.
I think McRoast 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Duffy McRoast!