PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Benny Askren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexey Juravlev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Askren kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is wave after wave mr probs. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Askren
vs
Juravlev

166 cm
27
288 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

182 cm
28
240 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Benny Askren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexey Juravlev!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Glass and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Askren takes one on the button.
Juravlev lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Juravlev misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Askren.
Askren tries to close the distance and clinch but Juravlev swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Askren gets cracked there but stands up to it.

It looks like Benny Askren has been cut.
Juravlev is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Juravlev. Askren does a little dance to reset his feet.
Alexey Juravlev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab from Juravlev misses.
Askren has been working on his boxing with his coaches at English Top Team - THE Hybrid Gym (11 ELITE ) in the buildup to the fight.
Juravlev lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Juravlev.

Juravlev sends Askren crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Juravlev is motioning to the referee to let Askren up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!

Askren is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Juravlev bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Askren's head backwards.
Oh Askren is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Askren uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Juravlev.
Askren throwing a counter right hand but Juravlev manages to avoid it.
Askren seems to have got his legs back now.
The fighters circling - Askren throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Askren uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Juravlev.
A telegraphed right hand from Juravlev misses the target.
Askren tries to clinch up but Juravlev circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab by Juravlev.
Askren closes the distance but Juravlev moves to the side
and Juravlev counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Juravlev has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Juravlev throws an off balance right hand
and Askren counters with a stiff right hand.

It looks like Alexey Juravlev has been cut.
Askren keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Juravlev ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Askren moves away.
Juravlev changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Juravlev with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Juravlev keeps the fight on the outside.
Juravlev looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Juravlev bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Juravlev lands a jab to the head.
Juravlev fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Juravlev connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Askren momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Juravlev finds it's way through Askren's defenses.
Juravlev cracks Askren with a right hand to the side of the head.
Askren tries to clinch up but Juravlev circles away and keeps his distance.
Jab from Juravlev.
Juravlev lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Askren at a distance.
Askren is breathing heavily.
Juravlev scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Juravlev connects with the punch.

Juravlev cracks Askren with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Askren looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Juravlev finish him?

Askren closes the distance and pushes Juravlev back into the cage.

Juravlev manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Juravlev sends Askren crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Juravlev is motioning to the referee to let Askren up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!
Juravlev throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Askren sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Juravlev takes a swing at Askren's ribcage but misses.
It looked like Askren wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Juravlev connects with a body shot that sends Askren's belly button to the back.
Juravlev uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Askren gets clipped by a big right hand and goes down spinning to the canvas! Juravlev gets the back mount and begins to drop bombs on his rocked foe! Askren is too out of it to defend against the strikes and the referee jumps in to save him from the beatdown!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:30 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Alexey Juravlev!
Our winner, Alexey Juravlev, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.