PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eldin Ascalic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cm Punk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Ascalic
vs
Punk

175 cm
19
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Eldin Ascalic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cm Punk!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Ren Mimura and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ascalic misses with a takedown attempt - Punk sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ascalic tries for a takedown but Punk sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Punk stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Punk wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eldin Ascalic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ascalic tries for a takedown but Punk sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ascalic really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Punk shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Ascalic is trying to defend but Punk finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Punk thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ascalic is staying active underneath Punk, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ascalic is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Punk lands with a punch from half guard.
Punk wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ascalic keeps working.

Punk seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Punk is just content to waste time from the top position. Ascalic takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Punk really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ascalic. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ascalic trying to keep a closed guard but Punk is proving a slippery customer.
Punk slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Ascalic wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Punk sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Cm Punk wasn't active enough on the ground.
A combination from Ascalic does no damage.
Ascalic tries to close the distance and clinch but Punk swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sloppy strikes from Punk. Those never looked like landing.
Punk has a takedown stuffed.

Ascalic has managed to clinch.
Ascalic trying to control the position but instead, Punk has worked for underhooks and has pushed Ascalic into the cage.
Punk throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ascalic blocks it with crossed arms.
Punk misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Punk tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Punk tries to land a knee to the head but Ascalic blocks with his arms.
Punk tries to land a knee to the head but Ascalic blocks with his arms.
Ascalic is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Punk tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Punk tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ascalic trying to land knees to the body.
Ascalic misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Punk.
Punk gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ascalic.
Punk looking to throw knees to the head but Ascalic is blocking nicely.
Punk tries to land a knee to the head but Ascalic blocks with his arms.
Ascalic has Punk pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Punk manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Ascalic is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Punk gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Punk tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ascalic has had enough of the clinch but Punk keeps him there for the moment.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Punk misses with a knee strike.
Punk looks winded!
Punk with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Punk misses with a knee to the head.
Punk tries to land a knee to the head but Ascalic blocks with his arms.
Ascalic is looking to control Punk's arms but Punk gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ascalic has his back to the cage.
Ascalic has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Punk is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Punk tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Punk misses with a knee strike.
Punk tries a knee to the head but Ascalic blocks it.

Ascalic pulls guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Punk would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Ascalic is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cm Punk dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ascalic clinches up with Punk and pushes him back against the cage.
Punk tries a knee to the head but Ascalic blocks it.
Ascalic is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Punk gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Punk tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Punk misses with a knee strike.
Punk using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ascalic has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Ascalic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ascalic closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Ascalic attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Ascalic will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Punk displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ascalic.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eldin Ascalic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ascalic throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Punk's waist but Punk gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ascalic off to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ascalic keeps the fight on the outside.
Punk moves out of range of the body kick.
Ascalic shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Punk counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Punk is controlling the pace.

Punk decides to stand up.
Punk tries to clinch but Ascalic is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ascalic with a poor takedown

so Punk counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Punk must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Punk passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Ascalic wants to control but Punk postures up.
Ascalic is looking to reverse the position.
Punk tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Punk happy to just control the position for now.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Punk decides to stand back up. Punk steps back and let's Ascalic get back to his feet.
Punk shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ascalic defends it nicely.

Punk dives in and scores a takedown into Ascalic's guard.
Punk trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Punk stands up and waves to Ascalic to follow him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Punk darts in and clinches Ascalic up against the cage.
Punk misses with a knee to the head.
Punk with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Punk with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Punk misses with a knee to the head.
Ascalic has Punk pressed against the cage.
Ascalic lands a body punch in the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Punk misses with a knee strike.
Punk tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ascalic is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Ascalic looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cm Punk showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Punk leaves Ascalic with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Punk shoots in looking for a takedown. Ascalic tries to sprawl out of it but Punk keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ascalic manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ascalic fails with a takedown attempt.
Punk misses with a right hand

and Ascalic holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Ascalic breaks from the clinch.
Punk fails in his attempt to clinch.
Punk is looking to clinch but Ascalic is avoiding it.

Punk tries to keep at a distance but Ascalic has taken the fight into the clinch.
Punk tries a knee to the head but Ascalic blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Punk tries to land a knee to the head but Ascalic blocks with his arms.

Ascalic manages to break the clinch.

Ascalic moves into the clinch.
Punk tries to land a knee to the head but Ascalic blocks with his arms.
Punk takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ascalic tries to break the clinch but Punk is controlling the position.

Ascalic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ascalic shoots in looking for a takedown but Punk manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ascalic's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eldin Ascalic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ascalic dives in and grabs Punk's left leg, looking for a takedown. Punk pushes down on Ascalic's head and hops out.
Ascalic dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Punk throws a head kick that misses.
Ascalic moves in looking to clinch but Punk pushes him off.
Punk defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ascalic.
Ascalic keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Punk is looking to clinch.
Eldin Ascalic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Punk closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Punk content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Punk is looking to take a break and control but Ascalic is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Punk connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Ascalic some visible discomfort.
Punk grinds an elbow into Ascalic's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Punk is working Ascalic over with some ground and pound from side control.
Ascalic is looking for a sweep.
Cm Punk has got the better of the ground game so far.
Punk controlling from side mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Punk grinds an elbow into Ascalic's temple.
Ascalic is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Punk lands strikes from half guard.
Punk trying to pass the guard but Ascalic defending well.
Punk takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Punk stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Eldin Ascalic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Punk blocks the body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cm Punk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Punk 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight for Cm Punk!
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight for Cm Punk!
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight for Cm Punk!

Cm Punk wins by unanimous decision!
Cm Punk managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Hell's Balls Recovery (160), into his post fight interview.