PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yen Askren (ranked 1423 p4p, 193 weight class) and Dan Tasker (ranked 2555 p4p, 288 weight class). Askren comes to the cage accompanied by Hello from the Askren Side. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Askren
vs
Tasker

178 cm
21
185 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

183 cm
22
173 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Freebok (85% Laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yen Askren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dan Tasker!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Jeff Smith and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Askren moves into range and connects with a jab.
Askren jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Tasker will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nice sprawl there from Askren as Tasker shoots in.
Askren is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Tasker tries to close the distance and clinch up but Askren swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tasker shoots in looking for a takedown but Askren manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Tasker's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Yen Askren has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Tasker.
Tasker shoots in for a takedown but Askren shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Tasker has his takedown stuffed
and Askren counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Askren lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Askren throws a big shot that misses.

Tasker closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Askren to the mat! Askren manages to get full guard.
Tasker preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Askren is working hard here to advance position.
Askren wants to get back to his feet but Tasker is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Askren had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tasker defends it easily.
Tasker controls from within his opponent's guard.
Askren knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tasker on the ground.
Tasker tries to free his leg and advance position but Askren is retaining full guard.
Tasker controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Tasker drops back looking for a leg! Askren is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Askren manages to kick Tasker off! Tasker jumps back into Askren's guard.
Askren wants to sweep here but Tasker controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Tasker slips nicely into half guard.

Tasker seems to be working for a kimura but Askren defends the submission attempt.
Askren is looking to escape.
Tasker looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tasker is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren is not content to let Tasker control the position.
Askren trying to control from the bottom.
Tasker thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Askren's head.
Askren is looking to escape.
Tasker has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Tasker throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Tasker trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tasker working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Askren stops Tasker from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.

Tasker is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Askren has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Tasker takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Askren defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Tasker.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Askren slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Askren tries to get to full guard but Tasker has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dan Tasker will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Askren lands with an overhand left.
Tasker shoots in but no luck this time.
Tasker is looking to clinch but Askren is avoiding it.
Askren dips to his left and cracks Tasker with an uppercut!

Tasker throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Askren was covering up waiting for the punch and Tasker finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Tasker wants to control from the top but Askren keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askren looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Askren wants to stand but Tasker is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tasker tries to free his leg and advance position but Askren is retaining full guard.
Askren is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tasker is controlling him.
Tasker stays in close to Askren's body and controls the position.
Askren wants to get back to his feet but Tasker is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Tasker ducks under a wild hook from Askren.
Tasker misses with a few strikes there.
Tasker shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Askren counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Tasker fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Yen Askren has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Tasker.

Tasker bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren tries to buck Tasker off but Tasker is having none of it.
Tasker tries to move into full mount but can't pass Askren's legs.
Askren is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Tasker is controlling him well.
Tasker tries to advance to mount but can't.
Tasker trying to control the action but Askren is working from the bottom.
Tasker tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Tasker trying to control the action but Askren is working from the bottom.
Askren is letting Tasker control him for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tasker tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Tasker is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Askren knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Tasker wants to control but Askren is keeping him busy.

Tasker is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Askren has escaped the position, nice work there.
Askren can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Askren manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Askren has his hands clasped together around Tasker's back. He's all about the action.
Tasker is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Tasker is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tasker is keen to just control but Askren is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dan Tasker will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tasker.
Tasker has a takedown stuffed.
Tasker shoots in and drives through. Askren sprawls well.
Yen Askren has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Tasker.
Tasker tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dan Tasker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tasker shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Askren but Askren pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tasker gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Askren counters with a stiff right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askren misses with an uppercut.
Nice shot by Askren.
Tasker gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Yen Askren is winning the standup battle so far.
A looping hook to the body misses from Askren. Tasker does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've been told by Askren's head coaches at Boomerang!! PURE ELITE COACHES and Sparring Center that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Tasker dives in and grabs Askren's left leg, looking for a takedown. Askren pushes down on Tasker's head and hops out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren misses with a straight left.
Tasker tries for a takedown but Askren circles away easily
and Askren connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tasker takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Askren connects with a right hand. Tasker shakes it off.
Askren misses with a looping left.
Tasker feints the counter takedown.
Tasker shoots in looking for a takedown. Askren tries to sprawl out of it but Tasker keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Askren manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Askren is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tasker can do to turn this around?
Tasker closes this distance looking for a takedown but Askren circles away.
Tasker dives in for a single leg takedown but Askren sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Askren misses with a hook.
Tasker uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Askren.
Tasker fails with the takedown.
It looked like Askren wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tasker misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Askren to counter with a crisp jab.
Dan Tasker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tasker tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Askren defends well and Tasker ends up having to push Askren into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Tasker moves in looking to clinch but Askren pushes him off.
Askren throws a hook but Tasker avoids it easily.
Good standup being displayed there by Askren as he connects with a hook.
Askren jabs at Tasker's body.
Askren is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Askren misses with a hook. Tasker ducked under it nicely.
Askren works Tasker's body with a nice hook.
Askren stuns Tasker with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Askren misses with a hook.
Tasker changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Askren lands an overhand right.
Tasker shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Askren pinned against the cage. Askren gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren misses with a looping right.
Tasker tries to bum rush Askren with a series of wild strikes but Askren uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Askren throws a right and a left that Tasker avoids nicely.
Tasker lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Tasker ducks under a wild hook from Askren.
Tasker shoots in for a takedown but Askren shows good takedown defense.
Askren throws a big shot that misses.
Yen Askren is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Askren comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Askren throws a hook but Tasker blocks it.
Askren lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Tasker will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Tasker keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Askren.
Askren lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tasker avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Askren stuns Tasker with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Tasker fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tasker with a poor takedown
and Askren counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Askren pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Askren ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Tasker slips a jab from Askren.
Askren ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tasker moves away.
Askren throws a hook but Tasker avoids it easily.
Nice takedown defense from Askren. No joy for Tasker on that attempt.
A big right from Askren misses.
Askren looks to throw the jab but Tasker is out of range.
Yen Askren has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dan Tasker is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Tasker bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yen Askren showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Tasker has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 28:28
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:28
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:28

The fight is ruled a draw!