PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Claus Haba (ranked 1935 p4p, 850 weight class) and Dave Ashbourne Jr (ranked 117 p4p, 49 weight class). Ashbourne Jr is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Vertical Horizon - You're A God. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Haba
vs
Ashbourne Jr

150 cm
26
138
13 - 4 - 1

170 cm
24
143
8 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 1, fighting out of London, Claus Haba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dave Ashbourne Jr!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Ackerman and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Ashbourne Jr. Haba does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ashbourne Jr punishes Haba's body with a nice straight punch.
Ashbourne Jr cracks Haba with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Haba slips a straight right by Ashbourne Jr.

Haba looking to score a takedown here. Ashbourne Jr is defending well but Haba drives through and ends up in Ashbourne Jr's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ashbourne Jr can do anything to dispel that myth.
Haba pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ashbourne Jr is keeping the position for now.
Ashbourne Jr wants to stand but Haba is controlling the position.
Haba stays in close to Ashbourne Jr's body and controls the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ashbourne Jr keeping full guard, as Haba tries to pass.
Haba trying to control but Ashbourne Jr is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haba pushes down on Ashbourne Jr's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Haba is looking for a kimura but Ashbourne Jr is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Haba to get the leverage.
Ashbourne Jr has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

Haba is looking for a kimura but Ashbourne Jr is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Haba to get the leverage.

Haba is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ashbourne Jr is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Haba is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ashbourne Jr doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Haba.
Ashbourne Jr is not content to let Haba control the position.

Ashbourne Jr manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Haba shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ashbourne Jr defends it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ashbourne Jr misses with a wild body shot.
Haba attempts a counter takedown but Ashbourne Jr avoids it well and moves away.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Ashbourne Jr, as that shot connected.
Ashbourne Jr works over Haba's head and body with a nice combination.
Ashbourne Jr misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Haba.
Ashbourne Jr pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Dave Ashbourne Jr is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Haba ducks under a wild hook from Ashbourne Jr.
Haba shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ashbourne Jr now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Haba gets cracked there but stands up to it.

It looks like Claus Haba has been cut.

Haba changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ashbourne Jr looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Haba tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Haba wants to control but Ashbourne Jr is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ashbourne Jr is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Haba is controlling him well.
Haba is looking to take a break and control but Ashbourne Jr is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Haba is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ashbourne Jr knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Haba trying to control the position but Ashbourne Jr is working away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Ashbourne Jr dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Claus Haba's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Haba takes one on the button.
Ashbourne Jr has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Haba shoots in but no luck this time.
Ashbourne Jr has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Ashbourne Jr with a nice cross.
Dave Ashbourne Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ashbourne Jr gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Haba wants to control from the top but Ashbourne Jr keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haba stands and throws Ashbourne Jr's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Haba looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ashbourne Jr is trying to control Haba's posture but Haba avoids it.

Haba looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Haba goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Ashbourne Jr rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Haba's guard! Nice work there by Ashbourne Jr!
Claus Haba overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ashbourne Jr slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Haba escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ashbourne Jr gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ashbourne Jr slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Haba working for a triangle but Ashbourne Jr defends it easily.

Ashbourne Jr avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ashbourne Jr is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Haba had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ashbourne Jr defends it easily.
Ashbourne Jr wants to control from the top but Haba keeps moving.
Ashbourne Jr wants to stand but Haba has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Ashbourne Jr wants to stand and escape but instead Haba has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Haba preventing the sweep.
Haba controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Ashbourne Jr keeping full guard, as Haba tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haba slips nicely into half guard.
Ashbourne Jr moves into full guard.
Haba controls from within his opponent's guard.
Ashbourne Jr is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Claus Haba will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Claus Haba's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Haba shoots in and drives through. Ashbourne Jr sprawls well.
Ashbourne Jr is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Ashbourne Jr throws an overhand right that lands on Haba's shoulder, as Haba tries to avoid the shot.
Ashbourne Jr moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Dave Ashbourne Jr seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Haba slips a straight right by Ashbourne Jr.
Haba shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ashbourne Jr as he jumps to the side.
Nice body punch from Ashbourne Jr.
Ashbourne Jr slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haba shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Claus Haba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Haba shoots for a takedown but Ashbourne Jr saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ashbourne Jr lands a nice looking body shot.
Ashbourne Jr looks to score with a jab to the body but Haba is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ashbourne Jr keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ashbourne Jr lands a slapping body shot.
Haba fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Haba shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Haba takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Ashbourne Jr throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Haba appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Haba shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ashbourne Jr but Ashbourne Jr pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ashbourne Jr connects with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haba ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ashbourne Jr throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Haba sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ashbourne Jr connects with a crisp jab.
Ashbourne Jr throws a looping overhand right but Haba ducks down to avoid it.
Haba misses with a takedown attempt - Ashbourne Jr sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
As Haba backs off Ashbourne Jr throws a huge counter combo but Haba manages to avoid it all.
Haba takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ashbourne Jr connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Haba momentarily.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Ashbourne Jr, as that shot connected.
Horrible takedown attempt by Haba or perhaps it was just good defense by Ashbourne Jr, which made it look bad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ashbourne Jr connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Haba is rocked!
Ashbourne Jr drops Haba with a naaaaasty hook - Haba is in real trouble here! Ashbourne Jr dives in to side control and pounds out his opponent for a TKO victory! The crowd goes nuts!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Dave Ashbourne Jr!
Dave Ashbourne Jr spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.