PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ben Askren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gemini No Saga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saga has chosen Pegasus fantasy as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Askren
vs
No Saga

194 cm
22
212 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

190 cm
27
220 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ben Askren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Gemini No Saga!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Jeff Smith and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Saga dives in and scores a takedown into Askren's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Saga throws a big right hand that misses.

Askren had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Saga defends it easily.
Saga tries to free his leg and advance position but Askren is retaining full guard.
Askren keeping moving, preventing Saga from controlling successfully.
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 wants to sweep here but Saga controlling him for the moment.

Askren is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Saga is aware though and is defending well.

Askren is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Saga keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Askren's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Saga forces his way into half guard.
Askren is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Askren looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Saga wants to lay and pray for a moment but Askren keeps working.
Saga blocks the strikes from Askren.
Saga wants to control but Askren is keeping him busy.
Askren is trying to stand up here but Saga is controlling him well.
Askren manages to get to full guard.
Saga missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Askren escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Saga gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saga forces his way into half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Askren regains full guard. Nicely done.
Askren wants to sweep but no luck.
Saga working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Askren wants to stand up but Saga is controlling him.
Saga has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Saga trying to control but Askren is working from the bottom.

Askren working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Saga doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Saga manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Saga looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Askren has his foot on Saga's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Saga works his way back into a safe position though.
Saga lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Askren throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Askren has an active guard here but Saga has managed to pass into half guard.
Saga is keen to just control but Askren is a slippery customer.
Askren is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Askren looks like he's trying to stand up.
Saga is looking to take a break and control but Askren is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Saga.
Saga seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Askren is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Saga pulls his head out easily.
Askren throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Askren tries to roll over but Saga keeps him under control.
Askren is working hard here to advance position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Askren actively working from the bottom here.

Askren looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ben Askren will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Saga closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Saga lands in his opponent's guard.
Saga trying to control but Askren is working from the bottom.

Askren looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Askren is trying to control the position but Saga postures up.

Askren is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Saga wants to stand but Askren has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Askren keeping moving, preventing Saga from controlling successfully.

Saga avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saga wants to control from the top but Askren keeps moving.
Saga preventing the sweep.
Askren keeping moving, preventing Saga from controlling successfully.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Gemini No Saga has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Askren shoots in for a double leg but Saga sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ben Askren is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Askren shoots in looking for a takedown. Saga tries to sprawl out of it but Askren keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Saga manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Saga drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Saga wants to control but Askren is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren tries to bench press Saga off him but Saga keeps the position.
Saga wants to lay and pray for a moment but Askren keeps working.
Askren is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Saga lands a few punches from side control.
Askren is trying to control Saga's posture but Saga avoids it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Saga wants to lay and pray for a moment but Askren keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saga thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Askren is trying to get back to half guard.
Askren is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Saga working away.
Askren looking for a sweep but Saga has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Saga unloading with bombs!
Saga wants to control the pace but Askren is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren tries to lock up and control but Saga gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Saga with good strikes from the mount here!
Askren is looking to get to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Askren takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Askren wants to control but Saga is having none of it.
Askren is squirming around, avoiding Saga's attempts to control the action.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Saga prevents Askren from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gemini No Saga showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Askren drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Askren creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Saga sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Askren sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Saga is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Askren is looking to take a break and control but Saga is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Saga is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Saga's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Askren is working Saga over with some ground and pound from side control.
Askren lands a few punches from side control.
Askren scoring with punches from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Saga wants to get back to his feet but Askren drags him back down.
Askren is chipping away with strikes.

Askren tries for a kimura but Saga is defending well.
Saga manages to work his way to half guard, despite Askren's best efforts.
Askren not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Askren working over Saga with some ground and pound. Saga looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Askren is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Saga is just riding it out for now. Askren eventually gives up the hold.
Saga wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren is nestled in close to Saga, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Askren thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Saga's head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Saga keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Askren working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Saga has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Askren is working away from the top position though.
Askren working over Saga with some ground and pound. Saga looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Askren scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Askren working the head and body with strikes.
Saga trying to hold on to Askren's head to control him but Askren postures up.
Askren thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saga has hold of Askren's hands but Askren slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Askren is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Saga trying to control here.
Askren with the ground and pound but Saga uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Saga is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Askren is controlling him.
Askren slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Askren trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren lands a couple of elbows.

Saga working for a triangle but Askren defends it easily.
Saga wants to control the position but Askren says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Askren working Saga over with strikes.

Askren is looking for a kimura here.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Nice strikes from Askren there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Saga wants to control but Askren is keeping busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Askren showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Askren has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Askren!
Ben Askren tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.