PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ben Askren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Castellaneta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Askren
vs
Castellaneta

179 cm
22
153 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

179 cm
22
165 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Daniel Castellaneta!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Russell Pearce and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Askren looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Askren pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Askren takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Castellaneta misses with a takedown

and Askren counters with a shoot takedown. Castellaneta fights it but they end up in guard.

Castellaneta looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Askren passes into side control.
Castellaneta is trying to improve his position.
Castellaneta sneaks back into half guard.
Castellaneta is looking for a sweep. Askren is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Castellaneta looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Askren wants to stand up but Castellaneta has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Castellaneta manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Castellaneta keeping moving, preventing Askren from controlling successfully.
Castellaneta is looking to stand up but Askren isn't so interested in that idea.
Castellaneta keeping moving, preventing Askren from controlling successfully.
Castellaneta looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Askren would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Castellaneta looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Askren has picked Castellaneta up and slammed him! Castellaneta can't keep hold of the triangle and Askren manages to pass to side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Castellaneta manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Castellaneta is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Askren has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Castellaneta is trying to work for a kimura but Askren is defending well.
Askren is trying to stand.
Askren controlling the position for now.
Castellaneta tries to stand and escape but Askren is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Castellaneta is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Askren sees it coming and defends easily.

Castellaneta is working for a submission of some sort.
Askren is trying to get back to full guard.

Castellaneta is working for a kimura but Askren is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Askren is looking to control Castellaneta's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Askren avoid being mounted?

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

Castellaneta is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Castellaneta is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Askren is looking to escape.
Askren knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Castellaneta on the ground.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Castellaneta is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Askren sees it coming and defends easily.

Castellaneta wants to work for an arm triangle but Askren is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Askren is trying to stand back up but Castellaneta is controlling him

Castellaneta is working for a submission of some sort.

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

Castellaneta is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's six 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.
Castellaneta stops Askren from getting back to his feet.
Askren wants to get back to full guard.

Castellaneta is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Askren sees it coming and defends easily.

Askren is defending against the submission attempts here by Castellaneta.
Askren moves into full guard.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Askren has Castellaneta pulled in close to control his posture.

Castellaneta 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!
Castellaneta tries to improve position but can't.
Castellaneta gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Castellaneta throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Castellaneta is looking for a sweep. Askren is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's eight 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.
Castellaneta moves into full guard.
Askren wants to get up but he can't break Castellaneta's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Castellaneta is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Askren kicks off Castellaneta and gets to his feet.
Askren fails with an attempt to clinch.

Askren clinches up against the ropes.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Askren creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Askren throws an elbow but it misses.

Askren manages to break the clinch.

Castellaneta scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Castellaneta wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Askren, who protects the arm well.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Askren tries to bench press Castellaneta off him but Castellaneta keeps the position.

Castellaneta tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Castellaneta has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Askren struggling a bit here.
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.
Askren is trying to buck Castellaneta off.

Castellaneta has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Askren is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Castellaneta yanks on the arm and Askren is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Castellaneta.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 9:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Daniel Castellaneta!