PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Scott Askham (ranked 4632 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rashid Rubson (ranked 4654 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Askham
vs
Rubson

190 cm
23
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Scott Askham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rashid Rubson!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Sandra Marshall and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rubson steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Askham. That one must have hurt.

Askham shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rubson's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Askham accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rubson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rubson has a closed guard, preventing Askham from standing up.
Askham throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Askham has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rubson is controlling Askham's posture.
Rubson wants to sweep here but Askham controlling him for the moment.
Askham loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rubson seems keen to control Askham's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askham pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rubson is keeping the position for now.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Askham preventing the sweep.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Rubson rushes Askham and presses him up against the cage.
Askham gets underhooks to prevent Rubson's takedown attempt.
Askham gets underhooks to prevent Rubson's takedown attempt.
Rubson looks winded!
Rubson takes a shot to the head.
Askham lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Rashid Rubson has been cut.

Rubson tightens his grip and picks Askham up, before dumping him to the ground. Askham manages to land in guard.

Askham manages to escape and get back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Askham cracks Rubson with a good jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askham fakes the leg kick and cracks Rubson in the body.

Askham closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Askham.
Askham working hard to break the clinch.
Askham connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rubson's face.
Rubson trying to stall but Askham improves his position.
Askham wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Askham working hard to break the clinch.
Askham scores with a knee to the head.

Askham escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Askham scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Askham stands up and beckons Rubson to his feet.
Askham wants to clinch up but Rubson keeps it at a distance.

Askham rushes Rubson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askham managing to block the knees to the body from Rubson.

Askham gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Rubson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rubson is trying to get back to full guard.
Askham has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rubson wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Askham.
Askham throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Askham looking to control but Rubson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rubson tries to reverse the position but Askham maintains control.
Askham unloads with some shots from mount but Rubson bucks and avoids them well.

Askham has hold of Rubson's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Rubson manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Rubson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rubson tries to lock up and control but Askham gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Askham looking to ground and pound but Rubson is blocking nicely.
Askham throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Askham thowing shots but they're missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Askham dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rashid Rubson's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rubson moves into the clinch.
Askham with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Askham turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Askham wants to stand but Rubson is controlling his arm.
Rubson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Rubson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Askham with a flurry of punches that miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Askham drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rubson looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rubson looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rubson!

Rubson is breathing heavily.
Rubson is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Askham's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askham regains half guard, as Rubson was trying to land strikes.
Askham wants to control but Rubson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rubson wants to pass to mount but Askham is defending the position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Rubson drops an elbow to the side of Askham's head.
Rubson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rubson sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Askham is looking to control Rubson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Askham avoid being mounted?
Rubson controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Askham keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Scott Askham overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rubson throwing shots but Askham is blocking nicely.
Rubson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Rubson scores with a takedown into Askham's guard.
Askham wants to get back to his feet but Rubson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rubson connects with a couple of short punches.
Askham trying to strike off his back.
Rubson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Askham utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rubson throws a big elbow that misses.
Rubson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rubson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Rubson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Askham pushes Rubson off and gets back to his feet.
Scott Askham is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Askham instigates a clinch.

Rubson has Askham pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Rubson pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Askham tumbling to the mat - Rubson dives into Askham's guard.
Rubson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rubson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Askham wants to stand but Rubson is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rashid Rubson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Rashid Rubson's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Askham looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Askham scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Askham looks up at the clock and then as Rubson takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Askham smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Askham misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Rubson gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Askham throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rubson moves into full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Askham preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rubson wants to control but Askham passes easily into half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rubson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Askham throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rubson is staying active underneath Askham, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rubson is looking to improve his position.
Rubson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Askham.
Rubson is pressing down on Askham's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Askham throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rubson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rubson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Rubson lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askham utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Askham bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rubson's guard.

Askham tries to free his leg and advance position but Rubson is retaining full guard.

Askham gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Rubson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Askham's waist but Askham gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rubson off to one side.

Askham shoots in and bounces Rubson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rubson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Rubson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rubson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rubson wants to sweep but no luck.
Askham would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Askham loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Askham trying to control but Rubson is working from the bottom.
Askham throws a big elbow that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Askham moves into the clinch successfully.
Askham is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rubson can do to turn this around?
Rubson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Askham gets the underhooks and prevents it.

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.
Askham is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Askham prevents the takedown attempt.
Scott Askham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rashid Rubson.
Askham lands a knee to the body.
Askham stalling in the clinch but Rubson improves position.

Askham ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Askham no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Rubson sitting in guard here, content to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Let's hope that Rubson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Rubson connects with a couple of short punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Scott Askham showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Askham 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 29:28
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Scott Askham!