PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andy Askren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marko Falconi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Askren
vs
Falconi

193 cm
25
213 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

189 cm
25
194 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Andy Askren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Marko Falconi!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Michael Johnstone and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Falconi misses with a jab, cross combination.

Askren shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Askren was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Askren tries to advance to mount but can't.
Askren misses with the ground and pound.
Askren sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Falconi is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
The strikes coming from Askren are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Askren decides to stand back up. Askren steps back and let's Falconi get back to his feet.
Falconi throws a series of punches but Askren avoids them all with ease.
Askren throws a big counter combination but Falconi scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Falconi looks winded!

Askren drops Falconi with a beautiful combination! Falconi stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Askren is looking for the KO!

It looks like Marko Falconi has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Falconi looks to land a combination but Askren avoids it well.
Askren is looking for a counter combo.

Askren shoots in and bounces Falconi off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Falconi is rocked!

Askren gets to his feet - Falconi follows without any prompting.
Falconi is still on wobbly legs! Can Askren finish him?
Askren throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Falconi seems to have recovered his senses.
Marko Falconi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Falconi misses with a double jab.

Askren closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Falconi did well to prevent Askren getting side control.
Askren wants to free his trapped foot but Falconi is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Falconi is trying to stand.
Askren throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Askren wants to free his trapped foot but Falconi is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Askren wants to lay and pray for a moment but Falconi keeps working.

Askren seems to be looking for submissions.
Askren thows a huge punch but Falconi dodges it nicely.
Askren is trying to control the action in half guard but Falconi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Falconi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Askren.
Askren trying to mount his opponent but Falconi defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren stops Falconi from getting back to his feet.
Askren is trying to control the action in half guard but Falconi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Falconi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Falconi is trying to stand.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Falconi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Askren shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Falconi manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Askren wants to control from the top but Falconi keeps moving.
Falconi wants to stand and escape but Askren is having none of it.
Falconi keeping moving, preventing Askren from controlling successfully.
Askren wants to pass the guard but Falconi is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren trying to control the position from guard on top but Falconi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Askren shoots for a double leg takedown but Falconi sprawls well. He's pushed Askren's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Askren fails with the takedown.
Falconi fails to land with a series of punches.

Askren gets a double leg takedown into Falconi's guard.
Falconi keeping moving, preventing Askren from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren passes Falconi's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Falconi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Askren.
Askren not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Askren is keen to just control but Falconi is a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Falconi is trying to stand.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Askren changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Falconi looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Askren looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Askren wants to lay and pray for a moment but Falconi keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andy Askren dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Marko Falconi's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Falconi throws a right and a left that Askren avoids nicely.
Askren changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Askren moves into the clinch.
Askren manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Askren pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Askren fails with a takedown attempt.
A punch combination from Falconi misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Falconi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Askren trying to control but Falconi is working from the bottom.
Falconi is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Andy Askren overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Askren throws a big right hand that misses.
Askren sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Falconi's guard.
Falconi wants to get back to his feet.
Askren seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Falconi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A combination from Falconi does no damage.

Askren gets a clinch.

Askren successfully pulls guard.

Askren working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Falconi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Falconi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Askren is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Askren missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Falconi keeping moving, preventing Askren from controlling successfully.
Askren is stalling in the full guard.

Falconi scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Falconi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Falconi is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Askren tries to pull guard but Falconi forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Askren pulls Falconi into guard.

Askren is looking for a triangle but Falconi pushes his legs off easily.
Falconi wants to stand but Askren is controlling his posture from full guard.
Askren is trying to keep Falconi in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Askren is trying to control the position but Falconi postures up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Askren looking for a sweep. Not yet Askren, not yet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Andy Askren is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Askren takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Askren shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Falconi defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andy Askren. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Falconi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Askren circles away quickly and effectively.

Askren scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Askren trying to control the action but Falconi is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Andy Askren will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Marko Falconi's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Askren is trying hard to land a takedown here. Falconi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Falconi lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Falconi misses with a looping left.
A combination from Falconi does no damage.
Marko Falconi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Askren misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Falconi.
Askren shoots for a double leg takedown but Falconi sprawls well. He's pushed Askren's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Askren tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Falconi swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andy Askren. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Askren tries a head kick but it misses.
Askren is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Falconi can do to turn this around?
Falconi closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Askren tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Falconi defends well and Askren ends up having to push Falconi into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Falconi is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Falconi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Falconi leaves Askren with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Falconi gets caught napping as Askren dives in and scores a takedown. Falconi manages to retain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren is looking to work some ground and pound but Falconi has wrist control.
Askren stops Falconi from standing up.
Askren pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Falconi is keeping the position for now.
Askren trying to control the position from guard on top but Falconi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Askren looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Falconi is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Askren presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Askren misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Askren changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Falconi fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left and a right from Falconi both land. Nice combination.

Askren shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Askren showed some decent athleticism there.
Askren prevents Falconi from standing back up.

Askren is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Askren trying to control the action but Falconi is working from the bottom.
Falconi tries to kick Askren off but Askren keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Falconi is refusing to be controlled, as Askren sits in half guard.

Askren is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Askren wants to free his trapped foot but Falconi is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Falconi is not content to let Askren control the position.
Marko Falconi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Askren passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Falconi!
Falconi flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Askren looking to control but Falconi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Falconi throwing hammer fists to the chest of Askren. What's that going to do exactly?
Askren can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Falconi is looking to escape.
Falconi throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

Askren is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Falconi is surviving well by controlling Askren's body position as best he can.
Falconi wants to try and get back to his feet.
Askren thowing shots but they're missing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Askren trying to control but he's not successful this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marko Falconi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Andy Askren!