PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jon Askren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Massa Hurmaaja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Massa Hurmaaja has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Jon Askren's chin.

Askren
vs
Hurmaaja

177 cm
28
185 lbs
10 - 1 - 0

180 cm
28
197 lbs
17 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Good gas tank

V-Mask Clothing (10%)
GREEN!160

Sun-Tzu
Mohito Fightwear

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 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Jon Askren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Massa Hurmaaja!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Steven Brown and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hurmaaja swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Askren keeps the fight on the outside.
Hurmaaja shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Askren sprawls well. Askren wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hurmaaja gets slowly back to his feet.
Hurmaaja takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A decent looking cross lands there for Askren.
Askren swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Hurmaaja drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Askren defends it well.
Askren looks to score with a jab to the body but Hurmaaja is just out of range.

Askren shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
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.
Hurmaaja is looking to improve his position.
Hurmaaja is looking to control Askren's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hurmaaja avoid being mounted?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hurmaaja gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hurmaaja looking to control.
Askren advances to half guard.

Hurmaaja looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Hurmaaja is looking for a sweep. Askren is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Askren content to control rather than advance.
Hurmaaja wants to control but Askren is keeping busy.
Askren content to control rather than advance.
Hurmaaja tries to get to full guard but Askren has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Askren thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hurmaaja regains full guard. Nicely done.
Askren postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Hurmaaja is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Askren defends well.
Askren throwing strikes from guard but Hurmaaja blocks nicely.
Hurmaaja controls Askren momentarily but Askren frees himself.
Askren working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Askren wants to control from the top but Hurmaaja keeps moving.

Hurmaaja working for submissions but it's allowed Askren to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hurmaaja looking for submissions off his back.
Askren missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Askren wants to pass the guard but Hurmaaja is defending well.
Hurmaaja is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Askren passes to full mount!
Hurmaaja tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren landing shots from mount.

It looks like Massa Hurmaaja has been cut.
Hurmaaja sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Hurmaaja is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Askren scores with a couple of nice shots.
Hurmaaja taking some punishment here, with Askren in his half guard.
Askren is pressing down on Hurmaaja's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hurmaaja is holding on for now.
Askren working the head and body with strikes.
Askren moves nicely into side control.
Askren advances to full mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hurmaaja keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Askren can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hurmaaja is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Askren dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Massa Hurmaaja's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hurmaaja shoots in for a double leg but Askren sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Askren looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Hurmaaja is pressing down on Askren's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Hurmaaja is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Askren sitting in guard here, content to control.
Askren scoring with some ground and pound.
Askren controls from within his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hurmaaja can't keep his opponent in guard - Askren advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Askren is keen to just control but Hurmaaja is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Hurmaaja regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hurmaaja lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Askren looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hurmaaja is one step ahead there.
Askren is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hurmaaja can do to turn this around?
Hurmaaja tries to free his leg and advance position but Askren is retaining full guard.
Askren is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Askren tries to strike from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren trying to control the position.
Hurmaaja wants to control from the top but Askren keeps moving.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hurmaaja's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Askren is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Hurmaaja is looking to improve his position.
Hurmaaja moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Askren loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Askren won't allow Hurmaaja to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hurmaaja controls Askren momentarily but Askren frees himself.
Askren loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hurmaaja controls Askren momentarily but Askren frees himself.
Hurmaaja wants to improve his position but instead Askren has moved into half guard.
Hurmaaja moves into full guard.
Jon Askren overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hurmaaja is adopting a defensive guard.

Hurmaaja is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hurmaaja not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Askren pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hurmaaja is keeping the position for now.
Hurmaaja tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Hurmaaja has his foot on Askren's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Askren works his way back into a safe position though.

Hurmaaja is looking for a triangle but Askren pushes his legs off easily.

Hurmaaja is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Askren is posturing up here but Hurmaaja has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Askren tries to roll out but it's too tight and Askren has to tap! Slick submission there by Hurmaaja!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Massa Hurmaaja!
Massa Hurmaaja thanked the fans post fight for their support.
Jon Askren was interviewed post fight and said 'I'll be back stronger!'.