PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Khan Asparuh (ranked 4169 p4p, 4170 weight class) and Yuan Shikai (ranked 197 p4p, 199 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Asparuh
vs
Shikai

177 cm
18
155
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
18
205
0 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Khan Asparuh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Yuan Shikai!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Daniel Bishop and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Asparuh clinches.
Shikai drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Asparuh gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Shikai breaks the clinch.

Shikai changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Asparuh looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Shikai tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Shikai working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Asparuh is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Shikai is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Asparuh avoids a series of strikes thrown by Shikai.
Asparuh is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Asparuh wants to hold on but Shikai pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shikai throwing strikes here but Asparuh is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Asparuh tries to buck Shikai off but he can't manage it.
Shikai takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Shikai jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Asparuh is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Asparuh and Shikai has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Shikai working the ground and pound but Asparuh is defending the strikes.
Asparuh tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Shikai wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Asparuh can't do much from the bottom here.
Asparuh is looking for a sweep.

Shikai decides to stand up, so the ref orders Asparuh to his feet.
Asparuh takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Shikai shoots in and drives through. Asparuh sprawls well.
Asparuh tries to counter with a takedown but Shikai is quick to defend against it.
Asparuh avoids the head kick by Shikai.

Asparuh dives in and scores a takedown into Shikai's guard.

Shikai pushes Asparuh off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asparuh closes this distance looking for a takedown but Shikai circles away.
Asparuh fails with an attempt to clinch.
Asparuh keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Khan Asparuh has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yuan Shikai.

Asparuh drives through and clinches with Shikai against the cage.

Shikai turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Shikai trying to control the action but Asparuh is working from the bottom.
Asparuh is being controlled here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asparuh tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Shikai wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Shikai gets to mount! Asparuh was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Asparuh is squirming around, avoiding Shikai's attempts to control the action.
Shikai throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yuan Shikai dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

A head kick misses from Shikai.
Shikai has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Shikai walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Shikai tries to clinch up but Asparuh circles away and keeps his distance.
Asparuh throwing a counter right hand but Shikai manages to avoid it.
A punch combination from Shikai misses.
Asparuh tries to counter with a takedown but Shikai is quick to defend against it.

Asparuh moves into the clinch successfully.

Asparuh decides to pull guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Asparuh is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Shikai defends well.
Shikai stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Asparuh swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Asparuh manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shikai trying to stall but Asparuh improves his position.
A body shot lands from Asparuh.
Asparuh can't get the takedown.

Asparuh escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Asparuh throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Shikai tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Asparuh is in Shikai's guard.
Shikai is trying to keep Asparuh in close.
Asparuh wants to stand and escape but instead Shikai has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Shikai throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Asparuh works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Shikai trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asparuh wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Shikai is now in half guard.
Shikai drops an elbow to the side of Asparuh's head.
Asparuh regains full guard. Nicely done.
Shikai engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Asparuh pulls Shikai in to control the position.
Asparuh striking off his back but it's not causing Shikai any problems.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shikai looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Asparuh might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Asparuh throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Shikai escapes and throws Asparuh's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Asparuh trying to control but Shikai flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Asparuh is keeping busy.
Asparuh trying to control the action but Shikai just sinks the hooks in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asparuh wants to get back to his feet.
Asparuh is really stuck here.
Asparuh staying busy and making it hard for Shikai to control.
Shikai avoiding Asparuh 's attempts to control his hands.
Asparuh is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shikai trying to control.
Asparuh trying to survive by controlling the hands.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Yuan Shikai will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Asparuh's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Asparuh looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Shikai moves into full guard.
Shikai trying to control the position here.
Shikai lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Asparuh controls Shikai momentarily but Shikai frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shikai gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Shikai decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Asparuh makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Sloppy strikes from Asparuh. Those never looked like landing.
Shikai tries to counter by closing the distance.

Shikai shoots in and bounces Asparuh off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shikai wants to control from the top but Asparuh keeps moving.
Asparuh is trying to control the position but Shikai postures up.
Asparuh knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Shikai on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Asparuh is working an open guard so Shikai takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Shikai tries to close the distance and clinch up but Asparuh swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shikai ducks under a wild hook from Asparuh.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Asparuh is defended easily by Shikai.
Shikai wants to counter with a clinch but Asparuh pushes him away.

Asparuh scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Shikai explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Asparuh has his takedown stuffed
and Asparuh takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shikai with a poor takedown

and Asparuh counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Shikai wants to stall.

Asparuh has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Shikai uses from the top position.
Shikai trying to control but Asparuh is working from the bottom.
Shikai wants to pass the guard but Asparuh is keeping the position.
Shikai stands and throws Asparuh's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Shikai is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Asparuh has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asparuh is trying to get back to half guard.
Asparuh is not content to let Shikai control the position.
Asparuh manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Shikai is looking to control Asparuh's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Shikai avoid being mounted?

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Yuan Shikai.
I've got Shikai winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yuan Shikai!
Yuan Shikai bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.