PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Van Kelly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Askren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kelly comes to the cage accompanied by Stir It Up. This should be fireworks!

Kelly
vs
Askren

181 cm
24
167 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

179 cm
22
153 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Good knees
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Van Kelly!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ben Askren!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Alyssa Summers and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Kelly. Askren does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kelly misses with a body shot.
Kelly misses with a wild body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kelly. Askren does a little dance to reset his feet.

Askren throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kelly tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Askren is in Kelly's guard.

Kelly throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Askren trying to control but Kelly is working from the bottom.
Kelly utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Askren avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Kelly is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kelly utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kelly is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Askren is aware though and is defending well.
Askren throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kelly works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Askren keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kelly's head.

Kelly has his foot on Askren's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Askren works his way back into a safe position though.
Kelly working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Askren.
Kelly is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Kelly is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Askren must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Askren accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Askren stays in close to Kelly's body and controls the position.
Kelly working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Askren.

That's two 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.
Kelly is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Askren won't allow Kelly to sweep him here.
Kelly looking to control.
Askren wants to stand but Kelly has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Kelly working a defensive guard but Askren passes into half guard.
Askren missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kelly is looking for a sweep. Askren is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kelly is trying to maintain the position but Askren is very close to passing his half guard.
Askren looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Kelly taking some punishment here, with Askren in his half guard.
Askren throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Askren thows a huge punch but Kelly dodges it nicely.
Kelly trying to control from the bottom.
Kelly is not content to let Askren control the position.
Kelly is trying to control but can't.
Askren is looking to take a break and control but Kelly is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kelly is looking for a sweep. Askren is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Askren working over Kelly with some ground and pound. Kelly looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Askren is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Askren trying to control the action but Kelly is working from the bottom.
Kelly is looking for a sweep. Askren is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Askren there.
Askren working the head and body with strikes.
Askren wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kelly keeps working.
Kelly trying to hold on to Askren's head to control him but Askren postures up.
Kelly is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Askren's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Askren's back!
Askren is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Kelly off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Askren 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.

Ben Askren dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Askren fails with an attempt to clinch.
Askren tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Kelly counters with a left to the body.
Kelly keeps the fight on the outside.
A slow jab from Kelly misses its intended target.
Kelly takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Kelly misses with a left hand

and Askren counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kelly won't be happy with that.
Askren throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Askren grinds an elbow into Kelly's temple.
Check out the look on Askren's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Askren tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Kelly is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Askren's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kelly trying to control here.
Askren thows a huge punch but Kelly dodges it nicely.
Askren wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kelly keeps working.
Kelly is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Askren's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Askren's back!
Even with his hooks in, Kelly manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Kelly missing with strikes from the back.

Kelly looking to break Askren's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Askren remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Kelly will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

That's two 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.

Kelly working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Kelly controlling from the back.
Askren controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

Kelly working for the rear naked choke here. He's got one arm under but Askren is defending well. A couple of punches soften him up though and Kelly has tightened the hold! This one could be all over! It is! Askren taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Van Kelly!
Van Kelly retains his lightweight title!