PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Shahram Sheikhan (ranked 2896 p4p, 1932 weight class) and Koos Van Asch (ranked 0 p4p, 124 weight class). 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.

Sheikhan
vs
Van Asch

170 cm
34
146
10 - 10 - 0

167 cm
35
143
25 - 18 - 3

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Experienced

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shahram Sheikhan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 18 - 3, fighting out of New York, Koos Van Asch!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Sergei Dronov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sheikhan dodges the punch combination from Van Asch.

Sheikhan closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Van Asch pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sheikhan showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Van Asch.
Van Asch moves away from the strike by Sheikhan.
Van Asch has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sheikhan.
Van Asch blocks a jab.
Sheikhan misses the body punch
and Van Asch cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sheikhan misses with a body kick.
Shahram Sheikhan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sheikhan ducks under a wild hook from Van Asch.
Van Asch has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Sheikhan.
Van Asch scores with a nice body kick.
Sheikhan throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Van Asch fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sheikhan manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheikhan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Van Asch was well out of range. Poor timing from Sheikhan.
Van Asch now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Sheikhan throws a leg kick that misses.
Van Asch is looking for the big counter here.
Sheikhan is looking to clinch.
Sheikhan connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Van Asch throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Van Asch lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Sheikhan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Van Asch avoids the head kick by Sheikhan.
Sheikhan tries to clinch up but Van Asch circles away and keeps his distance.
Sheikhan tries to clinch up.
Sheikhan misses the shot to the body.
Van Asch slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Van Asch takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Sheikhan fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Van Asch checks it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Van Asch.
Van Asch defending well as Sheikhan loads up on a big left hand.
Sheikhan blocks a head kick by Van Asch.
Van Asch lands with a kick to the ribs.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van Asch moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
A shot to the liver by Sheikhan. Beautiful body shot.
Van Asch throws a jab when Sheikhan was well out of range.
Van Asch with a nice calf kick.
Sheikhan scoring well with a low kick there.
Van Asch scores with a decent looking hook.
The fighters circling - Sheikhan throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Van Asch let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Sheikhan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Van Asch moves away.
Sheikhan lands a jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sheikhan. Van Asch does a little dance to reset his feet.
Van Asch is trying to counter with his kicks.
Van Asch throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheikhan looks to land a combination but Van Asch avoids it well.
Van Asch throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Van Asch misses with a series of wild punches.
Sheikhan throws a body punch but Van Asch moves out of range.
Sheikhan lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Van Asch misses with a body kick.
As Van Asch tries to get set, Sheikhan tries to push him back and clinch up but Van Asch manages to avoid the attempt.
Van Asch fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sheikhan manages to avoid it.
A good leg kick by Sheikhan.
Van Asch lands with a shot to the body.
Sheikhan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Van Asch was well out of range. Poor timing from Sheikhan.
Sheikhan lands a nice shot to the body.
Van Asch connects with a solid leg kick.
Van Asch lands a glancing blow to the side of Sheikhan's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Asch throws a front kick aimed at Sheikhan's knee but Sheikhan avoids it well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sheikhan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Van Asch.
Sheikhan darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Van Asch connects with a leg kick.
A punch combination from Van Asch misses.
Van Asch just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromSheikhan.
A shot to the body from Sheikhan misses
and Van Asch cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Sheikhan is rocked!
Sheikhan waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Van Asch.
Oh Sheikhan is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Van Asch swinging wildly here.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sheikhan. Van Asch does a little dance to reset his feet.
Van Asch measures up his opponent and throws a superman punch that connects to the jaw! Down goes Sheikhan! The ref steps in, and that's the ball game folks!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:39 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Superman Punch). Koos Van Asch!
Koos Van Asch decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.