PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Benny Askren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jamezdin Shraf (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Askren comes to the cage accompanied by wave after wave mr probs. Shraf has chosen O.C. - time's up as his entrance music. 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
Shraf

166 cm
31
274 lbs
15 - 11 - 0

190 cm
28
212 lbs
16 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 15 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Benny Askren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jamezdin Shraf!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Askren takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Shraf digs a good body shot into Askren's ribs.
Askren is breathing heavily.
Askren throws a sloppy head kick and Shraf moves out of range easily.

Askren clinches up with Shraf and pushes him back against the cage.
A short right from Shraf.
Shraf lands a hook that snaps the head of Askren backwards.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Shraf has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Askren tries to pull guard but Shraf forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Shraf throws a punch but it's blocked by Askren.
Askren's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Askren has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Shraf after a bit of a struggle.
Shraf tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Shraf is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Askren gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Shraf.
Shraf tries to throw a body punch but Askren avoids it by throwing Shraf back against the cage.
Shraf misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Shraf fails to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Askren.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Shraf takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Shraf breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shraf takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Shraf. Askren does a little dance to reset his feet.
Askren takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Askren closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Askren is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Shraf scores with a punch to the head.
Askren throws a lazy head kick
and Shraf counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Shraf catches Askren with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Shraf jabs at Askren's body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shraf rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Askren moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Askren half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Askren takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Shraf connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Shraf lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Shraf lands a jab-cross combination.
Shraf lands with a shot to the body.
Askren looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Shraf with a nice cross.
Shraf lands a jab to the nose.
Shraf connects with a nice looking jab.

Askren is rocked!
Shraf is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Askren had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Shraf lands with a nice body punch.

Oh, that's a big right hand from Shraf and Askren goes tumbling to the canvas! Shraf follows him to the ground and looks to finish from half guard.
Oh Askren is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Shraf is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Askren is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Jamezdin Shraf!
Jamezdin Shraf decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
Benny Askren spoke after the fight, saying 'My chin is glass '.