PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ser Potter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bekjan Askaraliev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Askaraliev comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Yerbolat- Men Kazakhpyn kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Bekjan Askaraliev has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Potter
vs
Askaraliev

180 cm
25
215 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
24
212 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Solid chin

Beast Body

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ser Potter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bekjan Askaraliev!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Valeri Chadov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Potter tries for a takedown but Askaraliev circles away easily

and Askaraliev counters with a single leg into guard. Potter didn't expect that.

Potter has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Askaraliev can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Askaraliev throws a big right hand that misses.
Askaraliev is looking to work some ground and pound but Potter has wrist control.
Potter avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Potter is on top in guard.
Potter postures up.
Potter stays in close to Askaraliev's body and controls the position.
Askaraliev trying to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potter wants to pass the guard but Askaraliev is keeping the position.
Potter missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Askaraliev working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Potter doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Potter manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Potter trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Askaraliev trying to keep a closed guard but Potter is proving a slippery customer.

Askaraliev has his foot on Potter's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Potter works his way back into a safe position though.
Askaraliev trying to strike off his back.
Askaraliev is pulling down on Potter's head to control his posture.
Potter throws a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Askaraliev is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Askaraliev has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Askaraliev looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Potter has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Potter loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Potter is breathing heavily.
Potter being controlled here momentarily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Askaraliev escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Potter gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Askaraliev controls Potter momentarily but Potter frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askaraliev pulls Potter in close to prevent any damage.
Potter has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Askaraliev is proving hard to escape from.

Askaraliev is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Potter could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Askaraliev drags the fight down to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Askaraliev looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Askaraliev looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Askaraliev is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Askaraliev is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Potter is aware though and is defending well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Askaraliev had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Potter defends it easily.

Askaraliev is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Potter frees his head nicely. Oh but Askaraliev has switched to an armbar! Potter is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:45 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Bekjan Askaraliev!
Post fight, an emotional Bekjan Askaraliev said 'What does not destroy me, makes me stronger'.