PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ben Askren (ranked 4321 p4p, 5682 weight class) and Genki Kumo (ranked 516 p4p, 586 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Askren
vs
Kumo

178 cm
22
180
1 - 0 - 0

200 cm
21
172
0 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ben Askren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Genki Kumo!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Donald Grub and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kumo throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Askren stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
We've been hearing reports that Askren has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

Askren decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Kumo wants to get back to full guard.
Askren works his way into full mount!
Askren looking to finish with strikes here!
Kumo is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kumo manages to regain half guard whilst avoiding the strikes.
Kumo felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Askren is pressing down on Kumo's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kumo is holding on for now.
Kumo is trying is best to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren is nestled in close to Kumo, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Askren thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Askren takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Askren working Kumo over with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kumo tries to kick Askren off but Askren keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Askren throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Askren missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren content to control rather than advance.

Askren is looking for a kimura but Kumo is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Askren to get the leverage.
Askren not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Askren 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.
Askren missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kumo misses with a left hand

so Askren counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Askren stays in close to Kumo's body and controls the position.
Askren wants to pass the guard but Kumo is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Askren pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kumo is keeping the position for now.
Askren lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Askren is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Askren pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kumo is keeping the position for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Askren slips a straight right by Kumo.
Askren ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Askren appears to be looking for a big counter.
Kumo misses with a hook to the body
and Askren counters with a left to the body.
Kumo throws a left and a right that both miss

and Askren counters with a takedown into side control.
Kumo looks winded!
Askren tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Kumo is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Askren working the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Askren throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Askren in side control lands a decent elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Askren dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Askren uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kumo.
Askren is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

Askren fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kumo sprawls well initially but Askren persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Kumo scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Askren manages to mount him!
Kumo taking shots to the head.
Askren looking to control and managing it successfully.
Kumo blocking the ground and pound.
Askren throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Askren has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Kumo's face.
Ben Askren overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Askren has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Kumo's face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren 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 punishing his opponent with strikes.
Kumo is breathing heavily.
Askren looking to finish here with some ground and pound. He lands one big shot that has Kumo covering up... and two more big strikes land, forcing the referee to step in and put and end to proceedings! This fight is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:38 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ben Askren!