PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Aziz Ansari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brendan Conlon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ansari kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Taro. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Ansari
vs
Conlon

172 cm
40
143 lbs
14 - 13 - 0

160 cm
25
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

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 14 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Aziz Ansari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brendan Conlon!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, George Francis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ansari shoots in but no luck this time.
Conlon throws a looping overhand right but Ansari ducks down to avoid it.
Ansari shoots for a double leg takedown but Conlon sprawls well. He's pushed Ansari's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Conlon drives through and clinches with Ansari against the ropes.

Conlon is trying to trip Ansari. He has hold of a leg but Ansari is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Conlon persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Conlon wants to control from the top but Ansari keeps moving.
Conlon stopping the sweep attempt from Ansari.
Ansari keeping full guard, as Conlon tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Conlon controlling from the top position.

Ansari is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conlon is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Conlon distracts Ansari with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Conlon wants to stand and escape but instead Ansari has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Conlon wants to stand up but Ansari is controlling him.
Conlon is trying to keep Ansari in close.
Conlon keeping moving, preventing Ansari from controlling successfully.

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.
Ansari is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Conlon can't keep his opponent in guard - Ansari advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Ansari wants to take a breather but Conlon is having none of it.
Conlon wants to control but Ansari is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ansari thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Ansari is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Conlon sees it coming and defends easily.
Conlon moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Conlon working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Ansari has passed into half guard!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Conlon is staying active underneath Ansari, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ansari is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Conlon is trying to stand back up but Ansari is controlling him
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Ansari seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Conlon does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ansari tries to score a power double leg takedown but Conlon sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ansari somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aziz Ansari. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Conlon shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Ansari is trying to defend but Conlon finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Conlon trying to mount his opponent but Ansari defends it.
Conlon prevents Ansari from improving his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Conlon wants to take a breather but Ansari is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brendan Conlon dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ansari shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Ansari was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Conlon wants to get back to his feet but Ansari drags him back down.
We've been hearing that Ansari has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Conlon tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ansari wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Conlon gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Conlon pushes Ansari off looking to stand but Ansari dives back in and keeps control.
Conlon is trying to get back to full guard.
Ansari wants to free his trapped foot but Conlon is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Aziz Ansari overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Conlon actively working from the bottom here.
Conlon is refusing to be controlled, as Ansari sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conlon wants to improve his position but Ansari is controlling well.
Ansari thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Conlon trying to control from the bottom.
Conlon is not content to let Ansari control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ansari moves out of range of the strikes.
Ansari wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Conlon has managed to clinch.

Ansari has hold of one of Conlon's legs. Conlon is fighting the takedown attempt but Ansari gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Ansari wants to control from the top but Conlon keeps moving.
Ansari is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Conlon keeping moving, preventing Ansari from controlling successfully.
Ansari works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Conlon is concentrating on defense, preventing Ansari from advancing position.
Conlon has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ansari is working away from the top position though.
Ansari thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Conlon tries to get to full guard but Ansari has control of the leg.
Conlon regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conlon wants to stand up but Ansari is controlling him.

Conlon working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Ansari has passed into half guard!
Conlon lands one or two decent shots to the body here. Although from his own half guard, he's not going to be causing too much damage.
Ansari controlling the action here.
Conlon trying to control from the bottom.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ansari wants to control but Conlon is keeping him busy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ansari is trying hard to land a takedown here. Conlon sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Conlon is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Conlon is looking to clinch but Ansari is avoiding it.

Conlon rushes Ansari and presses him up against the ropes.
Ansari looking for a takedown.
Conlon looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ansari tries to pull guard but Conlon won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aziz Ansari. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Conlon stops a takedown attempt from Ansari.

Conlon turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Conlon working the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Conlon tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Ansari struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Aziz Ansari 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. This is the final round!

Ansari shoots in for a takedown but Conlon shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ansari fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Conlon fails with a takedown attempt.

Ansari closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Conlon's guard.
Conlon wants to sweep here but Ansari controlling him for the moment.
Ansari tries to free his leg and advance position but Conlon is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Conlon is trying to keep Ansari in close.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Conlon holds on and takes a little breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ansari sitting in guard here, content to control.
Ansari stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Conlon swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ansari is pushing down on Conlon's leg trying to pass to half guard. Conlon is fighting to maintain full guard but Ansari has managed to sneak the leg through.
Conlon trying to control from the bottom.
Ansari sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Conlon gets back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Conlon seems keen to control Ansari's posture.
Conlon controls Ansari momentarily but Ansari frees himself.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Conlon tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ansari swivels and escapes.

Conlon clinches with his opponent.
Conlon fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Aziz Ansari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brendan Conlon.

Ansari has clasped his hands together around Conlon's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Conlon wants to control but Ansari postures up.

Ansari tries for a kimura but Conlon is defending well.
Conlon can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ansari throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Ansari wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Conlon, who protects the arm well.
Conlon is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Ansari is controlling him well.
Conlon struggling a bit here.
Conlon is trying to get back to his feet.
Conlon is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Ansari's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

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.

Ansari seems to be looking for submissions.
Conlon is looking to control Ansari's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Conlon avoid being mounted?

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ansari fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Conlon tries to counter by closing the distance.
Ansari shoots in for a takedown but Conlon shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Conlon throws a jab when Ansari was well out of range.
As Conlon tries to get set, Ansari tries to push him back and clinch up but Conlon manages to avoid the attempt.
Ansari throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Conlon's waist but Conlon gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ansari off to one side.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Conlon displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ansari.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aziz Ansari showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ansari 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!