PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ben Askren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stevie Diamond (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Stevie Diamond enters the cage!

Askren
vs
Diamond

179 cm
22
153 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

180 cm
24
153 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
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 6 - 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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stevie Diamond!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Jonathan Paton and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diamond throws a right hand that misses
and Askren counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Askren tries to move into range but Diamond moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Diamond throws a lazy right hand but Askren sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Diamond misses with a combination
and Askren connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Diamond.
Askren uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Diamond.
Diamond fails to land with a series of punches.
A jab from Diamond does it's job there.
Diamond throws a left and a right that both miss
and Askren counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren shoots in for a double leg but Diamond sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Diamond rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Askren counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Diamond's guard now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Askren thows a big elbow that misses.
Askren throwing strikes but missing.
Askren thows a big elbow that misses.
Askren working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Askren postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Askren throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Diamond working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Askren.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diamond preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Askren trying to control but Diamond is working from the bottom.
Diamond really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Askren. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Askren throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Diamond works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Askren in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Askren in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Diamond avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Askren throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Diamond works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Askren in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Askren trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Askren missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Askren postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Diamond because Askren loaded up on that one.
Askren landing strikes from the mount and Diamond is in trouble!
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 round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Askren closes this distance looking for a takedown but Diamond circles away.
Diamond scores with a jab to the body.
Diamond misses with a right hand

so Askren counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Askren throwing strikes from guard but Diamond blocks nicely.
Askren working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Diamond is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Askren is controlling him.
Askren is looking to work some ground and pound but Diamond has wrist control.
Askren trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Diamond working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Askren.
Askren is looking to work some ground and pound but Diamond has wrist control.
Askren trying to control the position from guard on top but Diamond is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Askren working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Askren throwing strikes but missing.
Askren loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Diamond is looking to stand up but Askren isn't so interested in that idea.

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 in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Askren postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Askren thows a big elbow that misses.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Diamond can do anything to dispel that myth.
Askren throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Diamond works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Askren throwing strikes but missing.
Askren wants to control from the top but Diamond keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren stands up over Diamond, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Askren throws a big right hand that misses.
Diamond is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Askren looking to sit in guard and control but Diamond gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Askren is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Diamond preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Askren missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Askren lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Askren missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Askren in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Diamond preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Askren dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Askren closes this distance looking for a takedown but Diamond circles away.
Diamond dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Diamond swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Askren fails with a takedown attempt.
Stevie Diamond seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Askren fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Askren. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diamond misses with a double jab

and Askren counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diamond looks like he's trying to stand up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Askren looks to land a strike but Diamond avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Diamond keeping moving, preventing Askren from controlling successfully.
Askren working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Diamond is looking to stand up but Askren isn't so interested in that idea.
Askren working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Askren controls from within his opponent's guard.
Ben Askren overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Askren throwing strikes from guard but Diamond blocks nicely.
Askren postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Askren throwing strikes from guard but Diamond blocks nicely.
Askren postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Askren has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Askren stops Diamond from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Askren throwing strikes but missing.
Askren missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ben Askren is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Askren trying to control the position from guard on top but Diamond is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Askren sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Diamond's guard.
Askren seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Diamond tries to kick Askren off but Askren keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Diamond takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Askren is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Diamond has hold of Askren's hands but Askren slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Askren throwing shots but Diamond is blocking nicely.
Askren throwing shots but Diamond is blocking nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Diamond is trying to stand back up but Askren is controlling him
Askren keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Stevie Diamond has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Askren thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Diamond's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Askren showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27

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