PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ben Askren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bill Davies (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bill Davies has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Askren
vs
Davies

179 cm
20
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

170 cm
24
159 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Good kicks
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ben Askren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bill Davies!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Columbo Gatti and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Davies rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Askren moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Davies fails with a takedown attempt.
Davies tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Askren swivels and escapes.
Davies shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Askren as he avoids it easily.
Ben Askren has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bill Davies.
Davies changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Askren tries to avoid it but Davies manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Askren to the ground. Askren escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Askren drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Askren working the ground and pound from side control.
Askren landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Askren landing strikes.
Askren lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Askren grinds an elbow into Davies's temple.
Askren lands a nice forearm strike.
Davies tries to buck Askren off but Askren is having none of it.
Davies is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Askren's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Davies looks like he's trying to stand up.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Askren connects with a nice short shot to Davies's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Askren lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Davies looking for submissions off his back.
Davies looks gassed!

Davies looking for submissions off his back.
Askren takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Davies on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Askren is nestled in close to Davies, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Askren seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Davies is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Askren scores with a couple of nice shots.
Askren lands with a punch from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren working over Davies with some ground and pound. Davies looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Askren prevents Davies from standing back up.
Davies is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Askren scores with a couple of nice shots.
Askren lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Davies looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Askren slips a nice elbow through Davies's hands, connecting with Davies's forehead.
Askren takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Askren lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Davies wants to get back to his feet.
Askren working Davies over with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Askren seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Davies looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Askren working Davies over with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Davies on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Askren drops an elbow to the side of Davies's head.
Askren landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Askren drops an elbow to the side of Davies's head.
Davies is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Askren scores with a couple of nice shots.
Askren landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Nice strikes from Askren there.
Davies is looking for a sweep. Askren is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Askren lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Davies slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Askren won't allow Davies to get back to his feet.
Askren postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Askren landing with the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Davies wants to get back to his feet but Askren is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Davies looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Askren knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Davies on the ground.
Askren is working Davies over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Askren with a nice head shot there.
Askren cracks Davies with a solid left hand.
Askren lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Askren chips away with some ground and pound.
Davies looking to hit a scissor sweep but Askren is one step ahead there.
Askren prevents Davies from getting back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Askren connects with a couple of short punches.

Davies is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Askren won't allow Davies to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Askren dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Askren shoots in and bounces Davies off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Askren is working Davies over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Askren throws a big right hand that misses.

Davies working for a triangle but Askren defends it easily.
Davies tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Askren cracks Davies with a solid left hand.
Askren stopping the sweep attempt from Davies.
Davies is breathing heavily.
Askren distracts Davies with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Askren working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Davies's head.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Askren's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davies working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Askren.
Askren keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Davies's head.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Askren distracts Davies with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Davies is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Askren distracts Davies with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Askren with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Askren scoring with punches to the head and body.

Davies pushes Askren off and scrambles back to his feet.
Askren shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Davies counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Davies throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Davies prevents Askren from getting back to his feet.
Davies working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren wants to sweep but no luck.
Askren wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Davies stops Askren from standing up.
Davies throws a big right hand that misses.
Davies throws a big right hand that misses.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Askren shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Davies escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Askren gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Askren lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Askren's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Davies utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Davies 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 landing with the ground and pound.
Askren is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Davies kicks Askren off and gets to his feet.
Davies throws a big shot that misses.

Davies 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.
Davies with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ben Askren overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Davies has gone for a leg lock! Askren slips out almost immediately though and dives into Davies's guard.
Askren distracts Davies with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren stands up over Davies, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Askren's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Davies lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Askren!
Davies working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but Askren slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.
Askren is staying active underneath Davies, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Askren looks like he's trying to stand up.

Davies looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Bill Davies will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Davies gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Askren to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Askren chips away with some ground and pound.
Davies manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Askren manages to get himself to full guard.
Davies throws a strike but Askren rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Davies is looking to stand up but Askren isn't so interested in that idea.
Davies takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Davies working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Askren.
Askren postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Davies has his feet on Askren's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Davies moves in looking to clinch but Askren pushes him off.
Davies misses with a takedown attempt

and Askren counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Askren drops an elbow to the side of Davies's head.
Askren working over Davies with some ground and pound. Davies looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ground and pound from Askren.
Davies is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Askren scores with a couple of nice shots.

Davies looking for submissions off his back.
Askren working Davies over with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nice strikes from Askren there.
Askren is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Davies tries to get to full guard but Askren has control of the leg.
Askren takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Davies tries to kick Askren off but Askren keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Askren takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Davies is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Askren scores with a couple of nice shots.
Askren seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Davies tries to roll over but Askren keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Askren scores with a takedown into Davies's guard.
Askren trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Davies wriggles free and stands up.
Davies uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Askren.
Askren shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Davies but Davies pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Davies with a poor takedown

and Askren decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Davies's guard.
Askren has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Askren avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Davies wants to get back to his feet but Askren is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Askren lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren landing some decent shots from guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Davies is on top in guard.
Askren on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Askren tries to get out of the position.
Davies tries to free his leg and advance position but Askren is retaining full guard.
Askren is looking to stand up but Davies isn't so interested in that idea.
Davies pushes down on Askren's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Askren taking some punishment here, with Davies in his half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Askren!