PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Henderson Cormier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jerwayne Ashley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cormier
vs
Ashley

180 cm
27
223 lbs
11 - 14 - 0

185 cm
29
220 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 11 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, Henderson Cormier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Jerwayne Ashley!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Chris Edwards and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ashley throws a body shot but no joy.

Cormier clinches.
Ashley taking a breather.
Cormier stalling in the clinch.
Ashley keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cormier's efforts to push away.
Cormier is pressed up against the cage. Ashley has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Cormier down to the mat. Cormier avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ashley keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Cormier gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Cormier wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cormier tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ashley's elbow.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ashley as Cormier tries to tie him up.

Cormier manages to break the clinch.
Ashley shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Cormier eats them both and turns towards Ashley to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Ashley shoots in and gets a takedown into Cormier's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier wants to stand but Ashley is controlling the position.
Ashley looking to pass the guard.
Cormier is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at SWF GYM - JUDO 'n' MMA that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cormier wants to stand up but Ashley is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ashley throwing strikes from guard but Cormier blocks nicely.
Ashley looking to pass the guard.
Cormier wants to get back to his feet but Ashley is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cormier keeping moving, preventing Ashley from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A swing and a miss from Ashley.
Cormier takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ashley circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ashley bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Cormier's head backwards.
Ashley lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Cormier backs up against the cage.
Ashley closes the distance but Cormier moves to the side
and Cormier counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cormier tries to close the distance and clinch but Ashley swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cormier wants to clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cormier wants to clinch.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Ashley, as that shot connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cormier gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ashley prevents Cormier from breaking the clinch.
Cormier tries to stall but Ashley uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Cormier misses with a knee to the head.
Cormier tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ashley avoids it.

Cormier escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ashley keeps the fight on the outside.
Ashley scores with a hook.
Cormier is looking to clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cormier moves away from the strike by Ashley.
Cormier tries to clinch but fails miserably

so Ashley counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Ashley looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jerwayne Ashley dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cormier wants to clinch up but Ashley keeps it at a distance.
Ashley misses with a low kick.
Cormier takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Cormier closes the distance looking to clinch
and Ashley counters with a two punch combo.
Ashley closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cormier circles away.
Cormier doesn't manage to clinch there - Ashley circles away.
Cormier throws a right hand that Ashley ducks under and follows up with a left that Ashley also avoids with ease.
Cormier throws a right hand that misses
and Ashley counters with a two punch combo.
Cormier moves out of range as Ashley strikes.
Ashley doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Cormier counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Cormier darts in and clinches Ashley up against the cage.
Cormier is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Cormier is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Cormier is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Cormier tries to break the clinch but Ashley is controlling the position.
Cormier is trying to force a seperation but Ashley has the dominant position.
Cormier is looking to control Ashley's arms but Ashley gets an underhook and turns him. Now Cormier has his back to the cage.
Ashley on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ashley blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cormier is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ashley is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Cormier is defending well.
Henderson Cormier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jerwayne Ashley.

Cormier manages to break the clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Cormier misses the target.
Ashley slips a jab and a cross from Cormier.
Ashley swinging wildly here.
Ashley avoids the body shot from Cormier.
Ashley shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cormier but Cormier pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cormier scores with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ashley throws a sloppy head kick
and Cormier connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Cormier uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ashley.
Ashley shoots in and drives through. Cormier sprawls well.
Ashley shoots in but Cormier avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jerwayne Ashley seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cormier tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Henderson Cormier is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cormier lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ashley circles away quickly and effectively.
Cormier fails to land with a series of punches.
Cormier lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like Jerwayne Ashley has been cut.
Ashley throws a left and a right that both miss

and Cormier counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Ashley prevents Cormier from breaking the clinch.
Cormier struggles to land a body shot inside as Ashley controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cormier stalls.
Cormier is trying to break the clinch but Ashley has him pressed against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cormier is trying to break free.
Ashley drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ashley controlling the action here for a moment.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ashley stalling in the clinch but Cormier improves position.
Ashley goes for a takedown attempt but Cormier pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henderson Cormier dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jerwayne Ashley's cut.
That's time! Cormier's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Cormier moves into the clinch.

Ashley breaks from the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ashley is defended easily by Cormier.
Cormier tries to clinch but Ashley is having none of it.
Cormier tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ashley paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Cormier moves into the clinch.
Cormier dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Cormier has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Cormier's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ashley is working for takedown but Cormier is calmly controlling the position for now.
A right handed body shot lands from Cormier.

Cormier breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ashley darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Cormier tries to clinch but Ashley is having none of it.
Ashley throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cormier's waist but Cormier gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ashley off to one side.
Henderson Cormier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jerwayne Ashley.
Ashley defending well as Cormier loads up on a big left hand.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cormier looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cormier shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Ashley slips a jab from Cormier.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cormier tries to clinch but Ashley moves out of range.
Ashley swats away the attempt to clinch by Cormier.
Ashley misses with a hook
and Cormier counters with a lovely straight right hand!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cormier throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cormier tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ashley swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Horrible takedown attempt by Ashley or perhaps it was just good defense by Cormier, which made it look bad.
Ashley looks to land a left hand but Cormier moved out of range nicely.
Ashley doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ashley takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cormier tries to land a front kick but Ashley steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ashley looks to land a combination but Cormier avoids it well.
Ashley looks to land a combination but Cormier avoids it well.
Ashley might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

Cormier closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Cormier breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cormier doesn't manage to clinch there - Ashley circles away.
Ashley takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Cormier tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ashley manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sloppy strikes from Ashley. Those never looked like landing.
Cormier with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Ashley shoots in but no luck this time.
Cormier cracks a nice hook into Ashley's ribs.
Ashley takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ashley will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cormier misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ashley slips a jab and a cross from Cormier.

Cormier drives through and clinches with Ashley against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cormier wants to get back to striking at distance but Ashley won't allow it.
Ashley is looking to control Cormier's arms but Cormier gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ashley has his back to the cage.
Cormier tries to throw a body punch but Ashley avoids it by throwing Cormier back against the cage.
Cormier is trying to force a seperation but Ashley has the dominant position.
A frustrated look appears on Cormier's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Cormier breaks the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cormier walks into a straight right hand from Ashley.
Ashley fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cormier avoids it really well and circles away.
Henderson Cormier is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cormier tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ashley paws at him with a jab and circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Henderson Cormier showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cormier 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Henderson Cormier!
After the big win, Henderson Cormier made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Bloodlust Horde Fightwear and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.