PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Abu Rock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alak Aksornpan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aksornpan is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Thai National Anthem - . Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rock
vs
Aksornpan

182 cm
28
195 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

185 cm
27
195 lbs
14 - 8 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Abu Rock!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alak Aksornpan!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Rock.
Aksornpan is looking for the big counter here.
A left lands for Rock.
Rock closes the distance and clinches up with Aksornpan, looking for a takedown. Rock pushes Aksornpan against the cage but Aksornpan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Aksornpan misses with a few strikes there.
Rock doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Rock throws a big shot that misses.
Aksornpan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rock waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Aksornpan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aksornpan scores with a one two! Rock had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Rock blocks a low kick nicely.
Rock on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Aksornpan scores with a takedown into Rock's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rock looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Aksornpan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rock is keeping the position for now.
Rock tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rock working a defensive guard here.

Rock has his foot on Aksornpan's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Aksornpan works his way back into a safe position though.
Aksornpan stopping the sweep attempt from Rock.
Rock is working hard here to advance position.

Rock working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Aksornpan doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Aksornpan manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rock thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Aksornpan seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Aksornpan trying to control the position from guard on top but Rock is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aksornpan stopping the sweep attempt from Rock.
Aksornpan throwing strikes but missing.
Rock working a defensive guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Aksornpan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rock throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rock keeps the fight on the outside.
Rock looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Aksornpan displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
A low kick from Aksornpan is predictable there

and Rock counters with a single leg into guard. Aksornpan didn't expect that.
Rock trying to control but Aksornpan is working from the bottom.

Aksornpan throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rock working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Aksornpan's head.
Rock works over Aksornpan with some ground and pound from guard.
Rock works over Aksornpan with some ground and pound from guard.
Rock trying to control but Aksornpan is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rock is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rock lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rock content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rock postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rock postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rock wants to control from the top but Aksornpan keeps moving.

Aksornpan looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rock working some strikes from top position.
Rock stays in close to Aksornpan's body and controls the position.
Aksornpan thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alak Aksornpan will probably get the nod.
That's time! Rock's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Aksornpan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rock paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rock misses with a two punch combination.
Rock comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Rock fails with a takedown attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Rock. No joy for Aksornpan on that attempt.
Aksornpan looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
No joy there for Aksornpan, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Aksornpan slips under a jab.
It seemed like Aksornpan was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rock waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Aksornpan.
Rock blocks the body kick.
Aksornpan gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Rock.
Aksornpan looks for a takedown but Rock sprawls well.
Rock half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Aksornpan.
It seemed like Aksornpan was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Aksornpan throws a right hand that Rock ducks under and follows up with a left that Rock also avoids with ease.
Rock tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Aksornpan is able to avoid easily.
Rock catches Aksornpan with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Alak Aksornpan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aksornpan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rock.
Aksornpan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rock drops down looking for a counter takedown but Aksornpan sprawls and moves away.
Rock doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Aksornpan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Aksornpan moves away from the strike by Rock.
Aksornpan misses with a two punch combination.
Rock tries to counter with a takedown but Aksornpan is quick to defend against it.
Aksornpan attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Aksornpan misses with a low kick as Rock jumps back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aksornpan lands with a hook. Rock tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A punch combination from Rock misses.
Aksornpan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rock manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rock drops down looking for a counter takedown but Aksornpan sprawls and moves away.
Aksornpan misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rock throws a low kick but Aksornpan avoids it.
Despite the aggression on Aksornpan's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rock showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Aksornpan.
A low kick from Aksornpan misses

and Rock counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rock lands a couple of digs.
Aksornpan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rock keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Aksornpan's head.
Rock is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rock looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rock working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rock with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rock throws a big elbow that misses.

Aksornpan is looking for a triangle but Rock pushes his legs off easily.
Rock connects with a couple of short punches.
Aksornpan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rock.
Rock postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Abu Rock overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rock stands up over Aksornpan, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rock postures up in Aksornpan's guard and throws a big left but Aksornpan blocks it.
Rock engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Rock with a flurry of punches that miss.
Aksornpan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Aksornpan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rock.
Aksornpan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rock.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Aksornpan misses with a kick to the body.
Rock is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Rock throws a body punch but Aksornpan moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abu Rock dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Aksornpan throws a right and a left that Rock avoids nicely.
Rock fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Aksornpan unleashes a big counter combination but Rock bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Rock misses with a straight right.
Rock drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Aksornpan gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Aksornpan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rock working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Aksornpan's head.
Rock wants to control from the top but Aksornpan keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rock stopping the sweep attempt from Aksornpan.
Aksornpan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rock throws a strike but Aksornpan rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rock is on top in guard.

Aksornpan is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rock defends well.
Rock postures up and lands a big shot to Aksornpan's brow.
Aksornpan has momentary wrist control but Rock slips an elbow through the middle.
Rock stands up over Aksornpan, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rock is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rock throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Aksornpan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rock postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rock postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rock accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rock with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rock trying to control but Aksornpan is working from the bottom.
Rock with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rock works over Aksornpan with some ground and pound from guard.
Rock wants to control from the top but Aksornpan keeps moving.
Rock has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rock slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rock's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Aksornpan connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Rock scrambles back to his feet.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rock.
Aksornpan is looking to clinch.
Aksornpan scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Aksornpan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rock moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rock feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Aksornpan misses with a few strikes there.
Aksornpan waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rock.
Rock looks to land a combination but Aksornpan avoids it well.
Aksornpan throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Rock counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rock working Aksornpan over with strikes.
Aksornpan moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rock controlling from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rock in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rock is working Aksornpan over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rock looking to sit in guard and control but Aksornpan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Aksornpan trying to control the position from guard on top but Rock is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rock tries to land a sweep but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abu Rock showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rock has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abu Rock!
During a confident post fight interview, Abu Rock thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.