PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Peter Taphorn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Ashton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Ashton's choice of entrance music: Lynyrd Skynyrd - Simple Man. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Taphorn
vs
Ashton

170 cm
26
157 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

170 cm
31
155 lbs
17 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Dangerous knees
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Vandal Fight Boutique & Laundry
Reaper Combatwear

Fury Nutrition Inc.
Vandal Fight Boutique & Laundry

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 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Peter Taphorn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rick Ashton!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, William Peck and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ashton misses with a takedown attempt
and Taphorn counters with a thumping low kick.
A thudding body kick lands there by Taphorn!
Ashton takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Ashton misses with a combination
and Taphorn counters with a nice leg kick.
Ashton changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Taphorn tries to avoid it but Ashton manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Taphorn to the ground. Taphorn escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ashton closes the distance and clinches up with Taphorn, looking for a takedown. Ashton pushes Taphorn against the cage but Taphorn circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Peter Taphorn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Ashton.
Taphorn listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Nice straight punches there by Taphorn. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Taphorn.
Taphorn uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ashton.
Ashton throws a series of punches but Taphorn avoids them all with ease.
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!
Ashton throws a right and a left that Taphorn avoids nicely.
Rick Ashton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ashton with a lazy takedown attempt
and Taphorn counters with an inside leg kick.
Ashton misses with a few strikes there.
Taphorn definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Ashton looks winded!
Ashton throws a looping overhand right but Taphorn ducks down to avoid it.
Taphorn keeps Ashton at a distance using the push kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ashton is defended easily by Taphorn.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ashton misses the shot to the body.
Taphorn lands with a cross.
Taphorn dodges the punch combination from Ashton.
Taphorn keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Taphorn punishes Ashton's body with a nice straight punch.
Taphorn is looking to slow Ashton down with leg kicks.
Ashton throws a series of punches but Taphorn avoids them all with ease.
Ashton misses with a takedown
and Taphorn counters with a slapping leg kick.
Taphorn clobbers Ashton with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Taphorn scores with the left hand. Ashton knows he should have avoided that one.
Ashton throws a nice looking combination but Taphorn bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Taphorn explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Ashton is trying desperately to land a takedown but Taphorn is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Ashton.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A combination from Taphorn does no damage.
Taphorn ducks under a wild hook from Ashton.

Taphorn decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Taphorn trying to control the action but Ashton is working from the bottom.
Taphorn controlling the action here.

Taphorn seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ashton wants to get back to full guard.
Ashton is trying to control but can't.
Taphorn is taking a breather. Ashton says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Rick Ashton hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Taphorn, right into the meat.
Ashton tries to bum rush Taphorn with a series of wild strikes but Taphorn uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ashton shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Taphorn pinned against the cage. Taphorn gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ashton takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Taphorn fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Ashton has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Ashton fails to land the takedown.
Taphorn slaps away a takedown attempt from Ashton, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ashton throws a series of punches but Taphorn avoids them all with ease.
Ashton misses with a combination
enabling Taphorn to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Taphorn lands a slapping body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ashton fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Taphorn thows a body kick. Ashton tries to catch it but that hurt him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Peter Taphorn dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Taphorn tests Ashton's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Taphorn fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Ashton to the ground. Taphorn is now in Ashton's guard.
Taphorn is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Taphorn prevents Ashton from getting back to his feet.
Taphorn passes Ashton's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Ashton makes his way to full guard, as Taphorn worked for a kimura.
Taphorn cracks Ashton with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taphorn is stalling in the full guard.
Taphorn trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ashton is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ashton wants to stand up but Taphorn is controlling him.
Taphorn passes Ashton's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Ashton trying to control here.
Taphorn thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taphorn wants to take a breather but Ashton is having none of it.
Ashton avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Taphorn.
Ashton trying to control here.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Rick Ashton hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Ashton throws a nice looking combination but Taphorn bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A right-left combo lands from Ashton.
Taphorn fakes the leg kick and cracks Ashton in the body.
Ashton takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Ashton takes one on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Ashton.
Ashton looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Taphorn looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ashton uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taphorn.
Ashton shoots in looking for a takedown but Taphorn manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ashton's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rick Ashton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taphorn fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sloppy strikes from Ashton. Those never looked like landing.
Ashton is breathing heavily.
Good leg kick by Taphorn there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Taphorn wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ashton tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Taphorn moves into the clinch successfully.
Ashton blocks a body shot from Taphorn.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Peter Taphorn dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Ashton steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Taphorn. That one must have hurt.
Taphorn explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

Taphorn fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Ashton to the ground. Taphorn is now in Ashton's guard.
Taphorn stays in close to Ashton's body and controls the position.
Ashton is trying to keep Taphorn in close.
Taphorn advances to half guard.
Taphorn trying to control from half guard but Ashton is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ashton manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Ashton is looking to stand back up but Taphorn counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Ashton.

Taphorn is working for a submission of some sort.
Taphorn throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ashton is staying active underneath Taphorn, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Taphorn misses with a head shot. Ashton uses the momentum to regain guard.
Ashton working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taphorn trying to control the position from guard on top but Ashton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taphorn postures up in Ashton's guard and throws a big left but Ashton blocks it.
Taphorn trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Peter Taphorn is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ashton controls Taphorn momentarily but Taphorn frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rick Ashton has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
A slapping leg kick lands for Taphorn.
Ashton fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Taphorn manages to avoid it.
Taphorn slaps away a takedown attempt from Ashton, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Taphorn swinging wildly here.
Ashton's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Ashton looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rick Ashton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ashton takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Taphorn, right into the meat.

Taphorn shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taphorn works his way into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Peter Taphorn showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Taphorn has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Peter Taphorn!
Peter Taphorn managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Reaper Combatwear, into his post fight interview.