PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Martin Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yen Askren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Askren is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Hello from the Askren Side. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Taylor
vs
Askren

193 cm
19
190 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

178 cm
19
185 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Likes musicals

Freebok (85% Laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Martin Taylor!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Yen Askren!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Ryoma Takatsuka and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Askren ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Askren looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Askren bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Taylor's head.

Askren fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Taylor to the ground. Askren is now in Taylor's guard.
Askren throwing strikes from guard but Taylor blocks nicely.
Taylor knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Askren on the ground.
Askren distracts Taylor with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Taylor is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Askren missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askren throws a big right hand that misses.
Askren with a flurry of punches that miss.
Askren trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Taylor on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Taylor tries to get out of the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Askren's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor keeping moving, preventing Askren from controlling successfully.
Askren missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Askren scoring with some ground and pound.
Askren throwing strikes from guard but Taylor blocks nicely.
Taylor definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Askren loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Taylor misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Askren.
Taylor on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Taylor ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Askren moves away.
Askren scores with a hook.

It looks like Martin Taylor has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Taylor looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Taylor takes one to the chin there.
Askren displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Taylor throws out the jab.
Nice defenses there by Askren.
Taylor swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Askren avoids the body shot from Taylor.
Askren lands a right hook to the body.
Askren works over Taylor's head and body with a nice combination.
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!
Askren slips a jab from Taylor.
Taylor misses with a wild body shot.
Askren misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Taylor appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Taylor takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Taylor misses with a lunging right hand

and Askren counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Taylor!
Askren in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Askren has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Askren is chipping away with strikes.
Askren scores with punches from side control.
Askren scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Taylor to see if he's OK.
Taylor wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Askren sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Taylor is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren grinds an elbow into Taylor's temple.
Askren lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

Taylor is rocked!
Askren cracks Taylor with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Oh Taylor is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Taylor tries to buck Askren off but Askren is having none of it.
Taylor takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Askren lands a strong strike to the head of Taylor. That's dazed him! Askren looking to finish here. Taylor is waving his arms around trying to block but he's hurt badly - Askren lands more strikes and the referee steps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:37 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Yen Askren!
Yen Askren is the new middleweight champion!
Yen Askren managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Freebok (85% Laundry), into his post fight interview.