PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jim Lahey (ranked 2916 p4p, 3724 weight class) and Jake Askren (ranked 283 p4p, 331 weight class). Jake Askren is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Lahey
vs
Askren

184 cm
19
145
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
145
1 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Knock Out Clothing

PWNAGE

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jim Lahey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Jake Askren!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Dillan Fox and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Askren looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Askren wants to clinch up but Lahey keeps it at a distance.
Lahey throws a leg kick that is checked

and Askren counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Askren in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Askren with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lahey looking to control.
Askren in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lahey preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askren connects with a couple of short punches.
Askren trying to control but Lahey is working from the bottom.
Askren showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lahey is pulling down on Askren's head to control his posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Askren is stalling in the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Lahey looks to land a right hand but Askren moved out of range.
Jim Lahey is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lahey misses with a leg kick

and Askren counters with a nice double leg into side control. Lahey won't be happy with that.

Lahey throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Jim Lahey seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lahey connects with a good right hand that stumbles Askren. Askren circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Askren ducks under a wild hook from Lahey.
Askren blocks a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Askren ducks under a wild hook from Lahey.
Askren feints the counter takedown.
Askren takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Askren closes the distance and clinches.
Askren misses with a punch on the inside.
Lahey really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Askren slowing the pace effectively.
Askren continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Lahey being controlled against the cage.
Askren receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Askren stalling against the cage.
Lahey slowing the pace effectively.
Askren's coach down at Arcalimon Top Team was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Askren's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lahey slowing the pace effectively.

Lahey breaks from the clinch.
Lahey jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Askren changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Askren drives through and clinches with Lahey against the cage.

Lahey's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lahey throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Askren decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Lahey's guard.
Askren controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Askren wants to control from the top but Lahey keeps moving.
Askren slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lahey can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Askren controls the pace.
Askren throws a strike but Lahey rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Lahey won't allow Askren to sweep him here.
Askren is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Askren is trying to control the position but Lahey postures up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jim Lahey will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lahey misses with a right hand

and Askren counters with a single leg into guard. Lahey didn't expect that.
Askren throwing strikes from guard but Lahey blocks nicely.
Askren controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Askren is continuing to stall.
Askren postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askren is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Askren sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren being controlled here momentarily.
Askren controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Lahey pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Askren tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Askren slips a jab from Lahey.
Askren with the counter takedown but Lahey avoids it easily.
Askren tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Lahey manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Askren is looking to clinch but Lahey is avoiding it.
It looked like Lahey wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Lahey thows a leg kick but Askren checks it

and Askren counters with a takedown into side control.
Askren is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Lahey will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lahey on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Lahey tries to get out of the position.
Lahey tries to buck Askren off but Askren is having none of it.
Askren has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lahey wants to control but Askren postures up.
Askren 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.
Askren trying to control the action but Lahey is working from the bottom.
Askren in side control, just content to control the action for now.
The ground and pound from Askren seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Lahey is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Lahey is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Shao Kahns Training Facility, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Askren grinds an elbow into Lahey's temple.
Askren wants to control but Lahey is keeping him busy.
Lahey on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Askren misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Askren is staying tight to Lahey's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Askren landing strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lahey is looking for a sweep.
Askren creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Askren working the ground and pound but Lahey is defending the strikes.
Jake Askren has got the better of the ground game so far.
Askren wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lahey keeps working.
Askren lands a decent elbow from side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Askren.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lahey is trying to get back to half guard.
Askren cracks Lahey with an elbow. That is naaassty.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Askren showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Askren is defended easily by Lahey.
Askren fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lahey avoids it really well and circles away.
Lahey misses with a straight right.
Askren with the counter takedown but Lahey avoids it easily.
Lahey misses with a looping left.
Lahey gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Askren tries to clinch up but Lahey circles away and keeps his distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab lands there for Askren.
Lahey throws a shot from downtown. Askren moves away and avoids it.
Lahey throws the left hand but Askren avoids the punch easily.
Lahey connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Askren momentarily.
Askren slips a jab from Lahey.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Askren moves into the clinch.
Askren is pushing Lahey up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Askren avoiding damage.
Come on Askren - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A frustrated look appears on Askren's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Askren effectively controlling the action here.
Askren just leaning against Lahey, taking a breather.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Jake Askren.
Lahey lunges at Askren with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Askren's hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren defending well as Lahey loads up on a big left hand.
Lahey scores with a hook to the body. Askren takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Lahey throws a hook to the side of Askren's head but Askren sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Lahey throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Askren ducks under a wild hook from Lahey.
Askren takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Lahey ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Askren is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lahey.

Askren fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lahey, pushing him back against the cage.

Askren pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Askren blocks a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lahey stuns Askren with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Askren keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lahey throws a right hand that misses

and Askren counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren stalling away here and it's allowed Lahey to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Askren trying to control the position from guard on top but Lahey is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Askren throws a big right hand that misses.
Askren 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.
Askren keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Lahey's head.
Askren wants to control from the top but Lahey keeps moving.
Askren showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

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 trying to control the position from guard on top but Lahey is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Askren closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jim Lahey.
I think Lahey 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jim Lahey!
In his post fight interview, Jim Lahey gave a big smile as he said 'I told you guys the liqour is calling the shots now! Im watching all of you, like a big dirty shit-hawk!'.