PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Renato Laranja (ranked 3695 p4p, 48 weight class) and Flying Almighty Askren (ranked 6255 p4p, 81 weight class). Renato Laranja has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Laranja
vs
Almighty Askren

185 cm
25
215 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

178 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Self confident

Good wrestler
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Renato Laranja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Flying Almighty Askren!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Andrew Berry and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Askren clinches with his opponent.

Laranja pulls guard effortlessly.
Laranja controls Askren momentarily but Askren frees himself.
Askren slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Askren missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Askren engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Laranja is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askren throws a big elbow that misses.

Laranja looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Askren must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Laranja looking for a sweep. Not yet Laranja, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Askren chips away with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Askren with a flurry of punches that miss.
Laranja is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Askren scoring with punches to the head and body.
Askren pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Laranja is keeping the position for now.
Askren throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Laranja works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Askren lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Askren scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Askren throws an elbow that misses. Laranja uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Askren's guard. Nice move by Laranja!

We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Askren can do anything to dispel that myth.
Askren trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laranja is fighting to break Askren's control of his arms but Askren is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Laranja tries to free his leg and advance position but Askren is retaining full guard.
Laranja slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Askren.
Askren wants to control but Laranja is keeping busy.
Laranja has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Laranja trying to control but Askren is having none of it.
Laranja takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Laranja looking for the RNC.
Askren wants to control his opponent's hands but Laranja gets his hands free.
Laranja is hanging on to Askren's back as he tries to escape.

Laranja is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Laranja has the hooks in. Askren is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Askren turns into Laranja and is now in his guard.

Laranja working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Askren doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Askren manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Askren's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren advances to half guard.
Askren is trying to control the action in half guard but Laranja is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Askren sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Laranja defending well though.

Laranja is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Askren pulls his head out easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Askren slips a nice elbow through Laranja's hands, connecting with Laranja's forehead.
Laranja trying to hold on to Askren's head to control him but Askren postures up.

Askren seems to be working for a kimura but Laranja defends the submission attempt.
Laranja wants to improve his position but Askren is controlling well.
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 Renato Laranja will probably get the nod.
That's time! Laranja's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Askren clinches up with Laranja and pushes him back against the cage.
Askren jumps guard but Laranja stands there with Askren around his waist. Askren gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Laranja slows down the pace here.

Askren jumps guard and drags Laranja to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Askren is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Laranja sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Askren's guard.
Askren misses with some strikes from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laranja works his way into side control.
Askren regains half guard.
Askren gets full guard.
Laranja stands and throws Askren's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Laranja wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Askren is still trying to improve position.
Askren tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Laranja presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

Laranja quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Laranja but it's paid off an Askren is forced to tap! Nice work by Laranja.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Renato Laranja!
Renato Laranja bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.