PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Steve Asap (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Jo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alexander Jo looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Asap
vs
Jo

180 cm
25
180 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

225 cm
27
190 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

Decent wrestler
Dangerous knees
Very strong

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Steve Asap!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Alexander Jo!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Josh West and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jo staying out of range there.
Jo checks a low kick from Asap.
Asap tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jo takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Jo instigates a clinch.
Asap unloads a knee to the mid-section. Jo lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Asap using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Jo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Asap using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Jo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Asap obliges.
Asap unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Jo looks winded!
Asap is stalling here.
Asap throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Jo blocks it with crossed arms.
Asap prevents a takedown attempt there.
Asap using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Jo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Jo goes for a takedown in the clinch but Asap prevents it.
Asap throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Jo blocks it with crossed arms.
Jo is looking for a takedown.
Steve Asap has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Jo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asap with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Jo is looking for a takedown.
Asap tries to stall but Jo uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Jo's coach down at The Dojo was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Jo's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Asap displaying some good clinch control by pressing Jo up against the cage.
Asap tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Jo has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Asap after a bit of a struggle.
A knee to the head by Asap.
Asap will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Jo up against the cage.
Jo goes for a takedown attempt but Asap pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Jo clinches.
Jo tries to score a body lock takedown but Asap shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Jo tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jo takes a knee right on the jaw!
Asap is pressed up against the cage. Jo has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Asap down to the mat. Asap avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Asap fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Jo has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
A leg kick checked by Jo.
Jo is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Asap misses with a low kick.

Jo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Jo drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Asap is struggling to control the position.
Jo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Jo takes a knee to the side of the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Asap tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Asap with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Asap is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Asap with a knee to the head.
Asap lands a good knee to the midsection. Jo won't want to take too many of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Asap tries a knee to the head but Jo blocks it.
Jo is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Asap content to slow the pace in the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Jo throws an elbow but misses.
Asap tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Asap prevents a takedown attempt there.
Asap tries a knee to the head but Jo blocks it.
Jo tries for a takedown. No joy.
Asap connects with a knee to the head.
Jo stalling the fight.
Jo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Asap is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Asap misses with a knee to the head.
Jo is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Asap using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jo takes a knee right on the jaw!
Jo is looking to take this one to the mat.
Asap lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Asap is pressed up against the cage. Jo has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Asap down to the mat. Asap avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Asap goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Jo clinches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Asap looking to throw knees to the head but Jo is blocking nicely.
Jo changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Asap fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Jo takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Jo moves into the clinch successfully.
Jo is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Asap tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Jo misses with a punch on the inside.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Asap dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Jo drives through and clinches with Asap against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Asap.
Asap throws a knee to the head but misses.
Asap stalling in the clinch but Jo improves position.
Jo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Jo takes a knee right on the jaw!
Asap putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Jo in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Asap has Jo pressed against the cage.
Asap wants to stall.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Steve Asap.
Asap tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Jo is able to avoid easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jo rushes Asap and presses him up against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jo takes a knee to the side of the body.
Asap is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Jo letting Asap take a breather here.
Asap wants to stall.
Steve Asap has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jo drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Asap gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Jo as Asap tries to tie him up.
Asap is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Jo can do to turn this around?
Knees in the clinch landing for Asap.
Asap tries to land a knee to the head but Jo blocks with his arms.
Asap with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Asap throws a knee to the head but misses.
Jo has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Asap after a bit of a struggle.
Steve Asap has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Jo.
Jo drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jo has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Asap avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Jo takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asap with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Asap with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Asap is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Jo wants to take the fight to the mat but Asap manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Asap lands a knee to the body.
Asap throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Jo blocks it with crossed arms.
Asap letting Jo take a breather here.
Asap stalling in the clinch.
Asap with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Jo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Asap is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Jo is defending well for now.
Jo wants a takedown.
Asap tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Asap gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Jo.
Asap using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Jo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jo tries to score a body lock takedown but Asap shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Asap looking to slow down the pace here.
Asap looking to throw knees to the head but Jo is blocking nicely.
Jo is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Asap pulls him back up using the underhooks.
A knee to the head by Asap.
Asap trying to land knees to the body.

Jo has picked Asap up - he's going for a ride! Jo dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Asap is refusing to be controlled, as Jo sits in half guard.
Jo is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Jo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Asap pushes Jo off but Jo dives into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jo works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Jo working the head with strikes.
Asap taking punishment in the form of punches.
Jo grinds an elbow into Asap's temple.
Asap knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Jo on the ground.
Asap taking a bit of punishment here - Jo scoring with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jo scoring with punches and elbows.
Jo prevents Asap from escaping the position.
Jo working the head with strikes.
Jo lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Asap down.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jo lands some shots froms side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Asap dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Jo rushes Asap and presses him up against the cage.
Jo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Asap stalling in the clinch but Jo improves position.
Asap can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
Asap with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Jo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Asap lands a good knee to the midsection. Jo won't want to take too many of those.
Asap tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Jo wants a takedown but no success here.
Jo wants to take the fight to the mat but Asap manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Asap scores with a knee to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Asap tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Asap looking to throw knees to the head but Jo is blocking nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Asap misses with a knee strike.

Jo works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Jo with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jo landing some decent shots from guard.
Jo won't allow Asap to get back to his feet.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Jo's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Jo postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Jo lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Jo postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Jo scoring with some ground and pound.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Jo moves into the clinch.
Jo is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Asap gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Steve Asap has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Jo.
Asap is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Jo misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asap will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Jo up against the cage.
Asap tries to stall but Jo uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Asap gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Jo.
Jo letting Asap take a breather here.
Asap throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Jo blocks it with crossed arms.
Jo is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Asap pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Asap using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Jo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Jo tries for a takedown. No joy.
Jo is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Asap pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Jo has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Asap avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Asap blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asap unloads a knee to the mid-section. Jo lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Asap tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Jo wants to take the fight to the mat but Asap manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Jo is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Asap gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Asap has Jo pressed against the cage.
Jo is looking to take this one to the mat.
Asap putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Jo in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Jo is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Asap landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Asap is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Jo is keeping busy.

Jo has picked Asap up - he's going for a ride! Jo dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Jo lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Jo slips a nice elbow through Asap's hands, connecting with Asap's forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Alexander Jo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Asap is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Jo scores with a couple of nice shots.
Jo landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Asap tries to kick Jo off but Jo keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Jo sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Asap pushes Jo off looking to stand but Jo dives back in and keeps control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Steve Asap is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jo closes the distance and clinches up with Asap, looking for a takedown. Jo pushes Asap against the cage but Asap circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jo blocks the body kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Jo is defended easily by Asap.
Alexander Jo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jo misses with a wild combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Steve Asap.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Asap, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Asap!
Steve Asap was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.