PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Keto Belle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Askren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Belle comes to the cage accompanied by Going Down . These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Belle
vs
Askren

180 cm
28
179 lbs
20 - 3 - 0

177 cm
31
185 lbs
18 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Mohito Fightwear
Bullet Proof System

Voodoo Nutrition
Highland Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Keto Belle!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Jon Askren!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Andrew Berry and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Belle takes a swing at Askren's ribcage but misses.
Askren takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Askren looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
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.

Belle is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Askren is aware though and is defending well.

Belle working for a triangle but Askren defends it easily.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Askren working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Belle is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askren trying to control but Belle postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Askren.
Askren throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Askren wants to sweep but no luck.
Askren is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Belle throws a big right hand that misses.
Belle tries to free his leg and advance position but Askren is retaining full guard.
Askren is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Askren not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Belle slips nicely into half guard.
Askren is looking to improve his position.
Belle takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Askren moves into full guard.
Askren is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Belle avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Askren.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Belle looking for submissions off his back.

Belle looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Belle is pressing down on Askren's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Askren with a flurry of punches that miss.
Askren is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Askren throwing strikes from guard but Belle blocks nicely.
Askren lands a couple of elbows.
Askren working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belle looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Belle has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Askren is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Belle.
Askren looks up at the clock and then as Belle takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Askren smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Askren trying to control the action but Belle is working from the bottom.
Belle is trying to control Askren's posture but Askren avoids it.
Askren working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Belle taking a bit of punishment here - Askren scoring with strikes.
Belle is trying to control Askren's posture but Askren avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Askren dominated that round.
That's time! Belle's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Askren slips a jab from Belle.
Askren thuds a left hand into Belle's body.
Askren bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Belle misses with a body shot
and Askren counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Askren staying out of range there.
A telegraphed right hand from Belle misses the target.
Askren is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Belle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Belle walks into a left hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Belle. Askren does a little dance to reset his feet.

Askren clinches up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Belle as Askren tries to tie him up.
Belle tries to pull guard but Askren forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Askren swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Askren is working for takedown but Belle is calmly controlling the position for now.
Belle working aggressively here.
Belle throws a head punch that misses.
Belle has a couple of punches blocked by Askren.
Belle doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Belle gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Askren.
Belle fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Askren slows down the pace here.
Askren is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belle struggles to land a body shot inside as Askren controls his hands.
Belle misses with a punch on the inside.
Belle misses with some punches.
Belle prevents the takedown attempt.
Keto Belle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jon Askren.

Askren gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Belle wants to get back to full guard.
Askren trying to control the action but Belle is working from the bottom.
Belle has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Askren is working away from the top position though.
Belle is refusing to be controlled, as Askren sits in half guard.
Belle is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Belle actively working from the bottom here.
Askren has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Belle looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Belle is refusing to be controlled, as Askren sits in half guard.
Belle is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Askren scores with a couple of nice shots.
Askren drops an elbow to the side of Belle's head.
Askren trying to control from half guard but Belle is working away.
Belle on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Belle wants to sweep but Askren has passed to side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren wants to lay and pray for a moment but Belle keeps working.
Askren landing a few strikes.
Askren lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Askren throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sloppy strikes there by Askren.
Askren has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Belle tries to buck Askren off but Askren is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Askren showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Askren misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Askren tests Belle's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Askren misses with a takedown attempt - Belle sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Askren connects with a crisp jab.
Belle loads up on a big right hand but Askren slips the punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askren misses with a wild body shot.
Askren's jab looks to have found its range, popping Belle under the eye.
Askren cracks Belle with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belle moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Belle throws a big shot that misses.
Askren swings away with a body shot that misses
and Belle counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Belle misses with an uppercut. Askren saw that one coming.
Belle seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Jon Askren seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Askren walks into a straight right hand from Belle.
Askren dives in and grabs Belle's left leg, looking for a takedown. Belle pushes down on Askren's head and hops out.
Askren scores with a body shot.
Askren scores with a crisp jab that stopped Belle in his tracks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belle ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Askren moves away.
Belle throws out a loose jab but Askren uses good head movement to avoid it.
And Askren tries to counter it with a takedown but Belle pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Jon Askren seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Askren has Belle up against the cage in a clinch.
Belle tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Askren's elbow.

Belle is fighting off a takedown attempt but Askren is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Belle to the mat. Belle regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Askren postures up.
Askren trying to control the position from guard on top but Belle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Belle not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Belle is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Belle's head.
Askren tries to free his leg and advance position but Belle is retaining full guard.
Belle looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Belle working for a triangle but Askren defends it easily.
Askren chips away with some ground and pound.
Askren postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's four 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.

Belle is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Askren being controlled here momentarily.
Askren scoring with some ground and pound.
Askren scoring with punches to the head and body.
Askren loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Belle keeping full guard, as Askren tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Askren wants to control from the top but Belle keeps moving.
Belle controls Askren momentarily but Askren frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Askren really dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Askren tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Belle was well out of range. Poor timing from Askren.
Belle uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Askren.
A big left from Askren misses.
Belle avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Askren throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Belle. Askren does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Belle swings for the body but Askren moves out of range.
Askren works Belle's body with a nice hook.
Belle comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Belle manages to avoid it.
Belle was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Belle misses with a hook.
Belle avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Belle looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Belle avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Askren falls off balance throwing a combination
and Belle counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Belle throws a looping overhand right but Askren ducks down to avoid it.
Askren lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Askren has closed the distance and engaged Belle in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren throws a head punch that misses.
A hook to the body from Belle.
Askren blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Askren is looking to control Belle's arms but Belle gets an underhook and turns him. Now Askren has his back to the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Askren takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Belle misses with a short punch on the inside.
Askren scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Belle letting Askren take a breather here.
Askren tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Belle misses with a hook to the ribs.
Askren scores with a hook to the body.
Belle doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Askren leaning against his opponent.
Belle throws a head punch that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Askren.
Belle misses with a hook from the clinch.
Askren trying to control the position but instead, Belle has worked for underhooks and has pushed Askren into the cage.
Belle misses with a body punch.
Belle misses with a punch to the body.
Belle tries to throw a body punch but Askren avoids it by throwing Belle back against the cage.
Askren blocks an uppercut.
Askren blocking some punches.

Askren breaks from the clinch.

Askren clinches up with Belle and pushes him back against the cage.
Come on Askren - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Askren has Belle pushed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belle tries to work over Askren's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Askren prevents a body shot from Belle.
Belle misses with some punches.
Askren gets through Belle's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Askren scores with a shoulder strike.
Belle misses with the head strike.

Askren is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Belle can't fight it off and eventually Askren manages to take the fight to the floor. Belle looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Askren trying to control but Belle is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Askren pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Belle is keeping the position for now.
Belle preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Askren dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A big right from Belle misses.
Belle tries to bum rush Askren with a series of wild strikes but Askren uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Askren scores with a hook.
Askren throws a jab when Belle was well out of range.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Askren.
A looping hook to the body misses from Belle. Askren does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Belle avoids the body shot from Askren.
Nice jab there from Belle.
Belle just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Askren tries to clinch but Belle is having none of it.
Askren uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Belle.
Askren connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Belle's hands.

Askren gets the takedown into side control.
Askren scoring with punches and elbows.
Belle is working to avoid the ground and pound but Askren connects with a decent elbow.
Askren looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Belle is avoiding damage well.
You can see the frustration on Belle's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The ground and pound from Askren seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren working the ground and pound.
Askren is putting a hurting on Belle here, landing some big shots from side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Askren is working Belle over with some ground and pound from side control.
Askren is looking to take a break and control but Belle is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Askren creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Askren trying to control the action but Belle is working from the bottom.
Belle is looking to regain half guard here but Askren keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren trying to control the position but Belle is working away.
Belle is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Askren lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Jon Askren is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Askren sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Belle is trying to control but can't.

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.
Askren trying to control the action but Belle is working from the bottom.
Askren prevents Belle from improving his position.

Belle actively working from the bottom here.
Belle wants to control but Askren is keeping busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Askren prevents Belle from improving his position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Keto Belle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nice defenses there by Askren.
Askren is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jon Askren comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Askren has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 45:50
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 45:50
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jon Askren! Jon Askren retains his welterweight title!
Jon Askren seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.