PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between John Phoenix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cal Ashburn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Phoenix
vs
Ashburn

180 cm
19
160 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

177 cm
18
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Phoenix!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cal Ashburn!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Felipe Paraventi and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phoenix closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ashburn circles away.
Phoenix shoots in but Ashburn avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Phoenix fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Phoenix. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ashburn looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Phoenix checks a leg kick.
Phoenix on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A punch combination from Ashburn misses.
Ashburn lands a nice shot that snaps Phoenix's head back.

Phoenix throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Ashburn was covering up waiting for the punch and Phoenix finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Phoenix with a flurry of punches that miss.
Phoenix wants to pass the guard but Ashburn is keeping the position.
Phoenix looking to sit in guard and control but Ashburn gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Phoenix looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ashburn would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Ashburn won't allow Phoenix to sweep him here.

Phoenix is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ashburn defends well.
Ashburn trying to stand up but can't free himself from Phoenix's guard.
Phoenix not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ashburn wants to get up but he can't break Phoenix's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ashburn throws a right hand that Phoenix ducks under and follows up with a left that Phoenix also avoids with ease.
Phoenix shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ashburn as he jumps to the side.
Ashburn lands with an overhand left.
Cal Ashburn is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ashburn throws a leg kick but Phoenix sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Phoenix feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Ashburn wants to stand up but Phoenix is controlling him.
Ashburn 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.
Phoenix stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ashburn swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Phoenix looking to sit in guard and control but Ashburn gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Ashburn has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Phoenix is proving hard to escape from.

Phoenix is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ashburn is aware though and is defending well.

Phoenix working for a triangle but Ashburn defends it easily.
Phoenix is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ashburn wants to get up but he can't break Phoenix's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Phoenix tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ashburn wants to stand but Phoenix has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Phoenix has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ashburn can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ashburn wants to stand but Phoenix is controlling his posture from full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ashburn swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ashburn scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Ashburn changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Phoenix looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Ashburn!
Ashburn tries to buck Phoenix off but he can't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix takes Ashburn's back.
Ashburn can't escape the position.
Ashburn looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Phoenix is looking to control Ashburn but Ashburn is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Phoenix is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Ashburn has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Ashburn is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Cal Ashburn will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Ashburn lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Phoenix has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Phoenix and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Ashburn throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ashburn swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ashburn scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Ashburn stuffs the takedown.
Horrible takedown by Phoenix or perhaps it was just good defense by Ashburn which made him look bad.
Ashburn does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Ashburn tries to work over Phoenix's front leg with a kick but Phoenix checks it.
Phoenix slips a jab and a cross from Ashburn.
Ashburn fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Phoenix looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Ashburn misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Phoenix.
Ashburn throws a leg kick that misses.
Ashburn connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ashburn misses with a looping left.
John Phoenix seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Phoenix looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ashburn is fending him off so far but Phoenix persists. Nope, Ashburn circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Phoenix. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ashburn works over Phoenix's head and body with a nice combination.
Ashburn scores with a sloppy right hand. Phoenix should have avoided that one.
Ashburn stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ashburn wants it to stay on the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix fails with the takedown.
Phoenix avoids the head kick by Ashburn.
Ashburn throws a leg kick but Phoenix checks it.
Phoenix fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Ashburn checks it well.
Phoenix fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ashburn cracks a nice hook into Phoenix's ribs.
Ashburn throws a head kick but Phoenix moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Ashburn.
Phoenix shoots in looking for a takedown. Ashburn tries to sprawl out of it but Phoenix keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ashburn manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Phoenix misses with a two punch combination.
Ashburn attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Phoenix is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Ashburn throws a leg kick but Phoenix sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Phoenix takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Ashburn throws a series of punches but Phoenix moves out of range.
No luck for Phoenix with that takedown attempt.
Phoenix looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Ashburn throws a right hand that Phoenix ducks under and follows up with a left that Phoenix also avoids with ease.
Phoenix shoots in but Ashburn avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ashburn looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A nice combination there by Ashburn.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Phoenix fails with the takedown.
Ashburn throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ashburn stalks Phoenix and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Phoenix's face. Phoenix staggers backwards, shaken.
It's a brutal combination of punches from Ashburn! Phoenix is backing up but he can't get away as Ashburn lands with one final shot to the jaw that drops Phoenix and ends the fight. Great knockout.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Cal Ashburn!