PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Matt Askren (ranked 1147 p4p, 1581 weight class) and Dropkick Flexy (ranked 160 p4p, 216 weight class). Flexy has chosen Big Thing as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. This should be fireworks!

Askren
vs
Flexy

175 cm
34
180
16 - 5 - 2

180 cm
28
170
17 - 7 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 5 - 2, fighting out of Hilo, Matt Askren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dropkick Flexy!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Askren scores with a nice strike.

Flexy gets a takedown into half guard.

Flexy wants to work for an arm triangle but Askren is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Askren is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Flexy pulls his head out easily.
Askren is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Askren has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Flexy is working away from the top position though.

Flexy is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Askren has managed to free his arm - good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Askren actively working from the bottom here.
Askren is trying to maintain the position but Flexy is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Flexy is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Flexy is trying to work for a kimura but Askren is defending well.

Flexy is looking for a kimura but Askren is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Flexy to get the leverage.

Flexy is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Askren defends it well.

Flexy is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Askren defends it well.
Askren keeping control of the position.
Flexy is looking to stall here but Askren recovers full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Askren trying to keep a closed guard but Flexy is proving a slippery customer.
Flexy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Askren swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Flexy postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Askren is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Flexy, into his guard.

Askren looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren continues to stall.

Flexy working for a triangle but Askren defends it easily.
Askren with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Askren stays in close to Flexy's body and controls the position.

Flexy has an active guard here but Askren has managed to pass into half guard.
Flexy wants to improve his position but Askren is controlling well.
Flexy trying to get back to full guard but Askren takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren controlling the position easily from mount.
Askren lands a big shot there that rocks Flexy but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Askren looking to control and managing it successfully.
Askren lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Flexy hang on?
Flexy is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Flexy in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Askren lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Flexy hang on?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Askren with shots to the head and body - Flexy looks very uncomfortable down there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Askren dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Flexy keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Askren is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Flexy can do to turn this around?

Flexy shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Askren manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Flexy drops back, looking for a kneebar! Askren looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Askren looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Askren!

We've been informed that Flexy has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Matt Askren overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Askren wants to control but Flexy is keeping him busy.
Askren landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Flexy is looking for a sweep.
Askren remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askren advances nicely into full mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Flexy manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Flexy looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flexy has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Askren is working away from the top position though.

Flexy looking for submissions off his back.
Askren trying to control the pace.
Flexy flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Still in half guard, Askren seems content to control.

Flexy looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Still in half guard, Askren seems content to control.

Flexy is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Askren pulls his head out easily.

Flexy looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Askren slows the pace down in half guard.
Askren wants to pass to mount but Flexy is defending the position.
Askren is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Flexy is refusing to be controlled, as Askren sits in half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Flexy was well out of range. Poor timing from Askren.
Flexy looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Flexy moves away from the strike by Askren.
Askren looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Askren throws out a leg kick but Flexy moves out of range and Askren only half commits.
Jab, jab by Askren - just one landing.
Askren throws a leg kick that is checked

and Flexy counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Askren!
Askren is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Askren manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Flexy is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Askren defends it well.

Askren looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren wants to control but Flexy is keeping busy.

Flexy is looking for a kimura but Askren is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Flexy to get the leverage.

Flexy is trying to work for a kimura but Askren is defending well.

Askren looking for submissions off his back.
Flexy wants to lay and pray for a moment but Askren keeps working.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Askren looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Askren dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Flexy takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Askren scores with a hook to the body. Flexy takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Askren wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Askren swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Askren throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Askren keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askren displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Flexy.
Askren scores with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren throws a push kick but Flexy slaps the foot to one side.
Askren fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Flexy manages to avoid it.
And Flexy tries to counter it with a takedown but Askren pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Flexy avoids the body shot from Askren.
Flexy takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Flexy misses with a takedown
and Askren counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Matt Askren has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dropkick Flexy.

Askren closes the distance and clinches.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Askren.
Askren tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Flexy's elbow.
Askren goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Askren misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren misses with a punch to the body.
Flexy tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Askren smiles and moves away.
Flexy shoots in looking for a takedown. Askren tries to sprawl out of it but Flexy keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Askren manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A right-left combo lands from Askren.
Askren scores with a nice strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Askren tries to work over Flexy's front leg with a kick but Flexy checks it.
Askren swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Askren moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Askren has Flexy up against the cage in a clinch.
Flexy tries to pull guard but Askren forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Flexy blocking some punches.
Askren softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Flexy tries to pull guard but Askren won't allow it.
A left hand lands to the body for Askren.
Askren lands a right hand.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Askren scores with a nice hook to the head.
Flexy tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Flexy tries to pull guard but Askren holds him up against the cage and eventually Flexy drops back down to his feet.
Nice body punch from Askren.
Flexy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Askren lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flexy takes a shot to the head.
Flexy tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Askren just stands there and leans against the cage.
Askren lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Flexy backwards.
Askren struggles to land a body shot inside as Flexy controls his hands.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Askren can't find room to land a body shot as Flexy controls the action.
Askren scores with a nice hook to the head.
Askren gets through Flexy's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Flexy fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Dropkick Flexy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Askren makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Flexy tries to pull guard but Askren forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Askren lands a hook that snaps the head of Flexy backwards.
Askren lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Flexy.
Flexy is trying to pull guard but Askren turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Matt Askren has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Askren presses Flexy against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Askren breaks from the clinch.
Askren fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Askren showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Askren has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:26
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:26
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Askren!
A very excited looking Matt Askren made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.