PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yen Askren (ranked 2232 p4p, 302 weight class) and Didier Misalooba (ranked 1747 p4p, 237 weight class). Askren kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Hello from the Askren Side. Misalooba comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Beyond the Black kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Askren
vs
Misalooba

178 cm
24
185 lbs
11 - 8 - 1

183 cm
23
183 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Freebok (85% Laundry)

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 11 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Yen Askren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Didier Misalooba!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Misalooba lands a head shot.
Askren circles away from the clinch attempt.
Misalooba scores with a nice head shot.
Misalooba fails in his attempt to clinch.
Askren attempts a counter takedown but Misalooba avoids it well and moves away.
Askren bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Misalooba's head.
Misalooba uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Askren.
A jab from Misalooba finds it's way through Askren's defenses.
Misalooba just misses with a punch to the body.
Askren swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Askren throws a hook but Misalooba avoids it easily.
Askren slips a straight right by Misalooba.
Askren steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Misalooba.
Misalooba lands a jab to the nose.

Misalooba rushes Askren and presses him up against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Askren misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Askren fails to land.
Askren is trying to push Misalooba away but Misalooba has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Misalooba manages to break the clinch.
Didier Misalooba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Misalooba throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Askren.
Askren throwing a counter right hand but Misalooba manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Misalooba.
Misalooba misses with a right hand
and Askren connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Misalooba is looking to clinch.
Askren takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A big left from Askren misses.
Askren takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Askren throws a body shot but no joy.
Misalooba uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Askren.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Misalooba! But no joy.
Misalooba wants to clinch up but Askren keeps it at a distance.
Askren fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nice shot by Misalooba.

Askren is rocked!

Misalooba rushes Askren and presses him up against the cage.
Askren is looking for a takedown.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Askren is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Misalooba gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Askren misses with a punch on the inside.
Askren stalling in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Misalooba blocking some punches.

Misalooba manages to break the clinch.
Misalooba tries to clinch but Askren moves away
and Askren counters with a straight right hand.
Askren swats away the attempt to clinch by Misalooba.
Askren swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Askren takes a swing at Misalooba's ribcage but misses.
Misalooba fails with an attempt to clinch.
Askren has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Misalooba finds it's way round the side to connect with Askren's head.
Misalooba cracks Askren with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Oh Askren is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Misalooba cracks Askren on the jaw with a powerful right hand and Askren falls backwards against the cage. Misalooba follows up with more strikes that drop Askren to his knees. Misalooba keeps the pressure on and the referee jumps in to save Askren! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:42 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Didier Misalooba!
A very excited looking Didier Misalooba made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
Yen Askren spoke after the fight, saying 'I blame Bjorn and the Egg.'.