PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ben Askren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wayne Brown (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Askren
vs
Brown

184 cm
20
189 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

183 cm
29
190 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ben Askren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Wayne Brown!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Nard Betker and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Brown changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Askren looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Askren manages to get back to half guard.
Askren is trying to get back to full guard.
Askren is looking to control Brown's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Askren avoid being mounted?
Brown is pressing down on Askren's thigh, looking to free his foot. Askren is holding on for now.
Askren is controlling Brown's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Askren is defending against the submission attempts here by Brown.
Askren is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Brown is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren is trying to maintain the position but Brown is very close to passing his half guard.

Askren makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Brown fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Askren avoids it really well and circles away.

Askren 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.
Askren wants to pass the guard but Brown is keeping the position.
Brown can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Askren controls the pace.
Askren has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Askren throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Brown works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Brown keeping moving, preventing Askren from controlling successfully.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Brown working for a triangle but Askren defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren wants to pass the guard but Brown is keeping the position.
Askren pushing down on Brown's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Askren trying to pass the guard but Brown defending well.
Brown is refusing to be controlled, as Askren sits in half guard.
Askren wants to pass the guard but Brown is defending well.
Brown tries to roll over but Askren keeps him under control.

Askren is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Brown is just riding it out for now. Askren eventually gives up the hold.

Brown looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Brown manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Askren connects with a couple of short punches.
Askren looking to pass the guard.

Brown is looking for a triangle but Askren pushes his legs off easily.
Brown looks gassed!
Askren passes Brown's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Askren wants to pass to mount but Brown is defending the position.
Askren passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Brown looks a forlorn figure.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Brown is squirming around, avoiding Askren's attempts to control the action.
Askren working Brown over with strikes here.
Brown is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Askren has taken his back.

Askren has managed to slip his arm under Brown's chin. This could be all over... yep, Brown is tapping out! Submission win for Askren.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:48 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Ben Askren!
After the fight, Ben Askren was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.