PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ben Askren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jorge Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jorge Taylor told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Askren
vs
Taylor

179 cm
21
153 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

172 cm
24
154 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Good kicks
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 5 - 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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jorge Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Franklyn Lucas and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Askren shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Taylor defends it nicely.

Askren shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Taylor napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Taylor is trying to control Askren's posture but Askren avoids it.
Taylor avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Askren.
Taylor tries to buck Askren off but Askren is having none of it.
Askren working the ground and pound.
Taylor avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Askren.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren scores with a couple of short elbows.
Askren misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The ground and pound from Askren seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Askren working the head and body with strikes.
Askren working the strikes but Taylor uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Askren missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Taylor can do anything to dispel that myth.
Askren is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Askren throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor tries to roll over but Askren keeps him under control.
Taylor taking some punishment here, with Askren in his half guard.
Taylor taking some punishment here, with Askren in his half guard.
Taylor is looking for a sweep. Askren is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Taylor blocking the ground and pound attempt from Askren.
Askren misses with a head shot. Taylor uses the momentum to regain guard.
Askren keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Taylor's head.
Askren is in close to Taylor's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor wants to sweep but no luck.
Askren distracts Taylor with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Askren preventing the sweep.
Askren throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Askren throwing strikes from guard but Taylor blocks nicely.
Taylor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Askren connects with a couple of short punches.
Taylor looking to control.
Askren throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four 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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Askren accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Askren postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Askren scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Taylor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Askren throws a strike but Taylor rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Taylor trying to control the position from guard on top but Askren is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Askren dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Taylor throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Taylor looks to score with a jab to the body but Askren is just out of range.
Taylor connects with a nice looking jab.

Taylor shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Taylor showed some decent athleticism there.
Askren is looking to improve his position.
Askren is trying to maintain the position but Taylor is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Askren tries to roll over but Taylor keeps him under control.
Well, if Taylor is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Askren avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Taylor.
Askren is looking to improve his position.
Askren has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Taylor is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Taylor sitting and controlling from the half guard.

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

Askren throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Taylor was covering up waiting for the punch and Askren finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Askren missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Taylor utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Askren throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren landing some decent shots from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Askren trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Taylor scores with a nice shot.
Askren content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Askren working some strikes from top position.
Askren landing with the ground and pound.
Askren loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Askren scoring with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Askren dominated that second round.
That's time! Askren's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A punch lands to the side of Askren 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Taylor bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Askren shoots in but no luck this time.
Taylor uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Askren.

Askren closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Askren not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Askren with the ground and pound but Taylor uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Askren has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Taylor working a defensive guard here.
Taylor looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Taylor not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Askren accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Taylor looking for a sweep. Not yet Taylor, not yet.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Askren's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Askren scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Taylor bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Askren's guard.
Taylor trying to control the position from guard on top but Askren is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Askren is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Askren is keeping the position for now.
Askren preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Jorge Taylor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren keeping moving, preventing Taylor from controlling successfully.
Ben Askren is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Taylor thows a big elbow that misses.
Taylor pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Askren is keeping the position for now.
Taylor thows a big elbow that misses.

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.
Taylor stands and throws Askren's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Askren is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ben Askren.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Askren, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27

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