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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Aku Serronen (ranked 246 p4p, 36 weight class) and Matt Askren (ranked 383 p4p, 58 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.
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| 185 cm
24
180 lbs
10 - 3 - 0 |
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175 cm
24
180 lbs
9 - 2 - 2 |
Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible |
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Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aku Serronen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
9 - 2 - 2, fighting out of London, Matt Askren!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Stewart Dunkirk and Chris Downing.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Serronen misses with a head kick.
Askren changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Serronen scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Askren doesn't seem bothered though.
Askren fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Serronen manages to avoid it.
Serronen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Askren.
Askren wants to clinch.
Serronen throws a hook but Askren blocks it.
Askren feints the counter takedown.
Serronen turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Serronen will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Askren rushes Serronen and presses him up against the ropes.
Askren struggles to land a body shot inside as Serronen controls his hands.
I was talking to Serronen's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Askren trying to stall but Serronen improves his position.
Serronen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Askren goes for a double leg but Serronen avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the ropes as Serronen continues to drive forward.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Serronen misses with an uppercut.
A slapping leg kick lands for Askren.
A shot to the body from Askren misses
enabling Serronen to counter with a crisp jab.
Serronen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The fighters circling - Askren throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Askren is looking to clinch but Serronen is avoiding it.
Askren jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Askren has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Serronen finds it's way round the side to connect with Askren's head.
Askren uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Serronen.
Aku Serronen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Serronen misses with a hook. Askren ducked under it nicely.
Serronen is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Serronen misses with a left hand
and Askren decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Serronen's guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Serronen keeping moving, preventing Askren from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Askren accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Serronen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Askren is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Askren trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Askren has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Serronen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Serronen working a defensive guard but Askren passes into half guard.
Serronen is trying to get back to full guard.
Serronen trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Askren manages to pass to mount!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Askren.
Askren avoids the attempt from Serronen to control.
Askren lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Askren throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Serronen tries to lock up and control but Askren gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Askren landing strikes, looking to finish!
Serronen can't escape the position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Serronen hang on?
Serronen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Askren pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Serronen is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Askren landing shots from mount.
Serronen is looking to improve his position but Askren isn't that keen on the idea.
Askren landing strikes, looking to finish!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Matt Askren dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Askren smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Askren gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Serronen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Askren uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Serronen.
Askren misses with a low kick.
Serronen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Askren.
Askren takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A good leg kick by Serronen.
Serronen connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Serronen fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Askren has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Serronen has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Askren finds it's way round the side to connect with Serronen's head.
Serronen throws a body shot but no joy.
Askren with the counter takedown but Serronen avoids it easily.
Askren has Serronen up against the ropes in a clinch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Serronen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Serronen throws out a loose jab but Askren uses good head movement to avoid it.
A swing and a miss from Serronen.
Askren drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Serronen defends it well.
Askren rushes Serronen and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Askren breaks from the clinch.
Askren throws a body shot but no joy.
Askren closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Serronen sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Askren thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Askren is nestled in close to Serronen, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Askren is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Askren working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Askren not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Serronen trying to control here.
Serronen taking some punishment here, with Askren in his half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Serronen wants to control but Askren is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Askren is looking to take a break and control but Serronen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Serronen is trying to maintain the position but Askren is very close to passing his half guard.
Serronen tries to get to full guard but Askren has control of the leg.
Askren scoring with strikes to the body and head.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren is trying to control the action in half guard but Serronen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Serronen is looking to improve his position.
Serronen wants to control but Askren is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Askren throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Askren content to control rather than advance.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Serronen is not content to let Askren control the position.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Serronen throws a jab when Askren was well out of range.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Askren looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Serronen!
Askren working the head with strikes.
Serronen regains half guard.
Serronen has his hands clasped together around Askren's back. He's all about the action.
Askren scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Askren is looking to take a break and control but Serronen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Askren is looking to advance position but Serronen won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Matt Askren will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
A big left from Serronen misses.
Askren misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Serronen.
A jab from Serronen does it's job there.
Serronen loads up on a big right hand but Askren slips the punch.
Serronen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Askren.
Serronen throws a hook to the side of Askren's head but Askren sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Serronen connects with the punch.
Askren bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Serronen tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Serronen is bucking up trying to escape but Askren cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Askren lands a heavy elbow.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren working the ground and pound effectively.
Serronen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Askren scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Serronen tries to hold on but Askren postures up.
Askren pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Serronen tries to lock up and control but Askren gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Askren lands with some strikes.
Askren lands a couple of good shots and Serronen has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Serronen looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Askren is not going to allow Serronen to sit and survive in this position.
A lull in the action here.
Serronen covering up well under a series of strikes from Askren.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Askren.
Askren doesn't have the hooks in and Serronen manages to turn into his guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Serronen decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Askren, up you get!
Jab by Askren.
Askren takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Askren throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Askren ducks under a wild hook from Serronen.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Askren is defended easily by Serronen.
Askren chopping away at his opponent's legs.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren avoids the body shot from Serronen.
Nice defenses there by Serronen.
Serronen throws a head kick that misses.
Askren tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Askren throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Serronen stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Serronen lands a lovely overhand right.
Serronen throws a hook but Askren blocks it.
Askren steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Serronen.
Askren has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A swing and a miss from Serronen.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Askren misses the shot to the body.
Serronen feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Serronen throws a nice inside leg kick.
Serronen takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Askren darts in trying to clinch
and Serronen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Matt Askren really dominated that round.
That's time! Serronen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Serronen misses the shot to the body.
Askren feints the counter takedown.
Serronen lands with an uppercut that bounces Askren off the ropes and back into range.
Askren fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Serronen lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Askren bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Askren takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Askren has Serronen up against the ropes in a clinch.
Askren is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askren has Serronen pressed against the ropes, preventing Serronen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Serronen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Serronen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Askren with the counter takedown but Serronen avoids it easily.
The fighters circling - Serronen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Askren avoids the body shot from Serronen.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Serronen wants to slow Askren down by chopping away at his legs.
Serronen loads up on a big right hand but Askren slips the punch.
Serronen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Askren.
A big left from Serronen misses.
And Askren tries to counter it with a takedown but Serronen pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Serronen with a hook.
Askren tries to move into range but Serronen moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Serronen is looking to land body kicks.
Serronen loads up on a big right hand but Askren slips the punch.
Serronen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Askren is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Serronen bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Serronen throws a hook but Askren blocks it.
Askren is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Askren throws a shot to the body.
Askren smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Serronen fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Serronen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Askren shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Serronen defends it nicely.
Askren avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Askren bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Serronen throws a looping overhand right but Askren ducks down to avoid it.
Askren uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Serronen.
Askren tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Serronen throws a body punch but Askren moves out of range.
Serronen throws an overhand right that lands on Askren's shoulder, as Askren tries to avoid the shot.
Askren feints the counter takedown.
A jab from Serronen misses.
Serronen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Askren drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Serronen defends it well.
Askren uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Serronen.
Askren uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Serronen.
Askren feints the counter takedown.
Serronen throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Askren's head.
Serronen misses with a leg kick
and Askren counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Askren throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Askren not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Matt Askren has got the better of the ground game so far.
Serronen pushes Askren off looking to stand but Askren dives back in and keeps control.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Serronen wants to control but Askren is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Serronen taking some punishment here, with Askren in his half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Askren lands a nice short elbow.
Serronen taking some punishment here, with Askren in his half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Askren trying to control the action but Serronen is working from the bottom.
Serronen wants to control but Askren is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Serronen has hold of Askren's hands but Askren slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Aku Serronen had his way with Matt Askren in that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!
Serronen throws a head kick but Askren moves out of range.
Askren scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Askren tries to close the distance and clinch but Serronen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Askren looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Askren uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Serronen.
Askren avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Aku Serronen is winning the standup battle so far.
Serronen connects with a solid leg kick.
Askren blocks a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askren avoids the body shot from Serronen.
A big right from Serronen misses.
Askren drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Serronen defends it well.
Askren avoids the body shot from Serronen.
Good exchange - Askren coming out on top.
Askren is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Serronen rather than just go for the knockout.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Serronen.
Askren walks into a stiff left hand from Serronen.
Askren misses with a wild body shot.
Serronen takes a swing at Askren's ribcage but misses.
Aku Serronen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Serronen gets caught flat footed, as Askren shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Serronen working a defensive guard here.
Serronen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Askren.
Askren works over Serronen with some ground and pound from guard.
Serronen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Askren is one step ahead there.
Serronen being controlled here, momentarily.
Aku Serronen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Serronen's head.
Askren passes Serronen's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Askren moves into full mount! Serronen won't be happy about that!
Serronen wants to control but Askren is having none of it.
Askren looking to control and managing it successfully.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren looking to control but Serronen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Askren putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Matt Askren is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Serronen is trying desperately to improve position.
Askren controlling the pace for now.
Serronen tries to reverse the position but Askren maintains control.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Serronen tries to lock up and control but Askren gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Serronen really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Askren wants to control the pace but Serronen is squirming around nicely.
Serronen is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Serronen wants to hold on but Askren pushes him away.
Serronen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Serronen's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Askren comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Askren has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight for Matt Askren!
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight for Matt Askren!
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight for Matt Askren!
Matt Askren wins by unanimous decision!
Matt Askren is the new welterweight champion!
An out of breath Matt Askren thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
52% |
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