PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jon Askren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris White (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). White has chosen Fugees - Ready or not as his entrance music. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Askren
vs
White

177 cm
34
185 lbs
24 - 6 - 0

180 cm
30
182 lbs
14 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition
Highland Clothing

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 24 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Jon Askren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chris White!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Chris Edwards and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Askren scores with a takedown into White's guard.
White wants to get back to his feet but Askren is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Askren trying to control but White is working from the bottom.
White wants to get back to his feet but Askren is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
White being controlled here, momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askren seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down White for as long as he can get away with.
Askren trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren is looking to work some ground and pound but White has wrist control.
Askren throwing strikes but missing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Askren lands a lovely overhand right.
Askren loads up on a big right hand but White slips the punch.

Askren shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. White is trying to defend but Askren finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
White is looking to get back to is feet but Askren passes into side control.
Askren throws a strike aimed at the side of White's head but White avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren is chipping away with strikes.
Askren cracks White with an elbow. That is naaassty.
White tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
This has been an exciting period of action!
White is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Askren slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
White is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
The referee is taking a good look at White as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Askren!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Askren lands strikes to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
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.
Can White hold on?! Askren is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
White really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Askren. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Askren throwing sloppy strikes.
White avoids the strikes from Askren.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
White takes a big shot to the side of the head.
White trying to get back to his feet but Askren is in full control for now.
Askren throwing wild punches that miss their target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Askren's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
What can White do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Askren struggling to keep hold of the position.
White covering up well under a series of strikes from Askren.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Askren trying to control.
Askren punches White on the ear.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Askren 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.

White lands with a nice body kick.
White doesn't manage to clinch there - Askren circles away.

White closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Askren quickly recovers to half guard.
Askren is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that White can do to turn this around?
Askren manages to get to full guard.
Askren looking to control.
Askren bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in White's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
White preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Askren looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Askren missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren chips away with some ground and pound.
Askren postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Askren passes into half guard.
Askren missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Askren lands a nice short elbow.
Askren is looking to take a break and control but White is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Askren takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed White's head.
Askren is keen to just control but White is a slippery customer.
Askren controlling the action here.
Askren sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. White defending well though.
Askren slips a nice elbow through White's hands, connecting with White's forehead.
Jon Askren overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Askren lands a nice short elbow.
Askren is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
White is staying active underneath Askren, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if White can do anything to dispel that myth.
Askren working White over with strikes.
Askren wants to pass to mount but White is defending the position.
Askren looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren tries to pass to full mount but White defends it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Askren wants to take a breather but White is having none of it.
Askren lands strikes from half guard.
White is not content to let Askren control the position.
White avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Askren.
Askren working over White with some ground and pound. White looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Still in half guard, Askren seems content to control.
Askren is looking to pass White's guard but actually White recovers to full guard.
Askren working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of White's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Askren dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Askren lands with a good body shot.
Askren swinging wildly here.

Askren moves into the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for White.
Askren looking to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Askren gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
White keeping moving, preventing Askren from controlling successfully.
White can't keep his opponent in guard - Askren advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on White's thigh. White counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Askren's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Askren trying to control but White is working from the bottom.
Askren slips nicely into half guard.

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.
Askren not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Askren trying to control from half guard but White is working away.
Askren trying to advance position but White counters by regaining guard.
White keeping moving, preventing Askren from controlling successfully.
Askren pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. White is keeping the position for now.
Jon Askren is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
White shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Askren as he avoids it easily.
Askren throws a hook but White avoids it easily.

Askren has managed to clinch.
White fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Askren goes for a takedown in the clinch but White prevents it.
Askren will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning White up against the cage.
Askren's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
White has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Askren after a bit of a struggle.
Askren takes a shot to the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
White is looking to take this one to the mat.
Jon Askren has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris White.
White goes for a takedown in the clinch but Askren prevents it.
Chris White has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A short left from Askren.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jon Askren showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Askren has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jon Askren!
In his post fight interview, Jon Askren started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.