PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yen Askren (ranked 2995 p4p, 76 weight class) and Michael MP (ranked 3784 p4p, 138 weight class). Askren comes to the cage accompanied by Hello from the Askren Side. MP has chosen Whitesnake - Is This Love? as his entrance music. Michael MP has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Askren
vs
MP

178 cm
27
185 lbs
13 - 15 - 1

205 cm
26
274 lbs
9 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Freebok (85% Laundry)

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 13 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Yen Askren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael MP!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
MP defending well as Askren loads up on a big left hand.
And MP tries to counter it with a takedown but Askren pushes his down on his head and steps out.
MP keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Askren.
MP with the counter takedown but Askren avoids it easily.
MP moves out of range as Askren strikes.
MP uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Askren.
MP with the counter takedown but Askren avoids it easily.
Askren throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and MP counters with a single leg into guard. Askren didn't expect that.
MP stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Askren swivels though and keeps the full guard.
MP trying to control the position from guard on top but Askren is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Askren has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askren looking to control.
MP postures up and lands a big shot to Askren's brow.
MP throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Askren works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
MP looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MP content to stall in guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Askren has control of MP's left arm, preventing MP from doing any damage.
MP has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Askren avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Askren working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from MP.
MP trying to control but Askren is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Askren is pulling down on MP's head to control his posture.
Askren manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. MP manages to get himself to full guard.

Askren is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Our spies down at at FIERCE - {{$750}} - 15 Elite Coaches inform us that MP has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
MP working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Askren.
Askren trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Askren might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
MP pulls Askren in to control the position.
Askren stays in close to MP's body and controls the position.
MP pulls Askren in close to his closed guard and prevents Askren from doing any damage or advancing position.
Askren working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Askren accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Askren fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Askren keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Askren scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. MP doesn't seem bothered though.
Askren misses the shot to the body.
Askren throws the left hand but MP avoids the punch easily.
Askren lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but MP circles away quickly and effectively.
MP is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Askren lands with a hook. MP tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Askren looks to score with a jab to the body but MP is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
MP takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Askren throws a combination that misses

and MP counters with a nice double leg into side control. Askren won't be happy with that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Askren manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Askren keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

MP is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Askren defends it well.
MP sitting and controlling from the half guard.
MP thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Askren's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
MP working Askren over with strikes.
MP wants to lay and pray for a moment but Askren keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yen Askren dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Askren just misses with a punch to the body.
MP changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Askren misses with a wild combination.
MP avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
And MP tries to counter it with a takedown but Askren pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Askren lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like Michael MP has been cut.
MP uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Askren.
MP with the counter takedown but Askren avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askren misses with a straight right.
And MP tries to counter it with a takedown but Askren pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Askren tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but MP was well out of range. Poor timing from Askren.
MP is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren falls off balance throwing a combination

so MP counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
MP lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Askren seems keen to control MP's posture.
MP is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Michael MP has got the better of the ground game so far.
MP won't allow Askren to sweep him here.
Askren keeping moving, preventing MP from controlling successfully.
Askren wants to stand up but MP is controlling him.
Askren working a defensive guard here.
MP throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MP trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
MP wants to control from the top but Askren keeps moving.
Askren is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that MP can do to turn this around?
MP looking to sit in guard and control but Askren gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

MP is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Askren trying to control but MP is working from the bottom.
Askren content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren is working MP over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Askren trying to control the position from guard on top but MP is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Left hook, right uppercut from Askren.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren works MP's body with a nice hook.
Askren lands a jab.
Askren throws a left and a right that both miss

and MP decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Askren's guard.

Askren kicks MP off and gets to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The fighters circling - Askren throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
MP showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Askren.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
MP walks into a stiff left hand from Askren.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yen Askren dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Michael MP's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Askren throws a lazy right hand but MP sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
MP tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Nice defenses there by MP.
MP changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
MP slips a jab from Askren.
MP feints the counter takedown.
Nice defenses there by MP.
MP tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
MP steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Askren.
MP with the counter takedown but Askren avoids it easily.
Askren just misses with a punch to the body.
MP is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askren cracks MP with a right hand to the side of the head.
Askren with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren throws a combination that misses

and MP counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Askren!
Askren is being controlled here.
MP is chipping away with strikes.
Askren tries to get back to half guard but can't.
MP is looking to take a break and control but Askren is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Askren is looking for a sweep.
Askren takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
MP trying to control the action but Askren is working from the bottom.
Askren struggling a bit here.
MP trying to control the position but Askren is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MP working the ground and pound but Askren is defending the strikes.
MP working the ground and pound but Askren is defending the strikes.
MP wants to control but Askren is keeping him busy.
MP in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Askren manages to work his way to half guard, despite MP's best efforts.
Askren slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
MP stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Askren swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Askren is looking to stand up but MP isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MP loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
MP postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
MP wants to control from the top but Askren keeps moving.
MP throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
MP wants to pass the guard but Askren is keeping the position.
MP loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Askren misses with a straight left.
Askren missing with a left hand there. MP was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Askren misses with a straight left.
MP is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Michael MP has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Jab by Askren.
Askren throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Askren misses the jab.
MP feints the counter takedown.
Askren rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and MP counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Askren!

MP goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Askren has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for MP but great work by Askren.
Askren looking to control but instead MP has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Askren stalling.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Askren throwing shots but MP is blocking nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yen Askren showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Askren, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yen Askren!
Yen Askren very nearly forgot to thank Freebok (85% Laundry) amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.
Michael MP was interviewed post fight and said 'That was unexpected. Give me another 5 minutes and that dude is getting wrecked.'.