PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Keke Koravo (ranked 6138 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Ashton (ranked 6135 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Koravo
vs
Ashton

187 cm
24
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Keke Koravo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Michael Ashton!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, David Hoff and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koravo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ashton.
Ashton fails with the takedown.
Ashton looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Koravo is fending him off so far but Ashton persists. Nope, Koravo circles away and we're back to standing.
Keke Koravo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Ashton.
Ashton fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Koravo on the side of the head.
Koravo throws an overhand right that lands on Ashton's shoulder, as Ashton tries to avoid the shot.
Keke Koravo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Koravo scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Koravo scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Koravo misses with a head shot. Ashton uses the momentum to regain guard.
Koravo is looking to work some ground and pound but Ashton has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ashton is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Koravo is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Koravo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Koravo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koravo throws a big right hand that misses.
Koravo throws a big right hand that misses.
Ashton avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Koravo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Koravo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Koravo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ashton avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Koravo lands a couple of elbows.
Ashton throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Koravo connects with a couple of short punches.

Ashton working for a triangle but Koravo defends it easily.
Koravo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koravo is in close to Ashton's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Koravo is pushing down on Ashton's leg trying to pass to half guard. Ashton is fighting to maintain full guard but Koravo has managed to sneak the leg through.
Koravo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Koravo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Koravo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Koravo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Koravo 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.
Koravo thows a huge punch but Ashton dodges it nicely.
Koravo throwing shots but Ashton is blocking nicely.
Ashton is looking to control Koravo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ashton avoid being mounted?
Koravo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ashton's head.
Ashton blocking the ground and pound attempt from Koravo.
Ashton is looking to improve his position.
Koravo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koravo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Koravo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ashton gets back to full guard.
Koravo throws an elbow that misses. Ashton uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Koravo's guard. Nice move by Ashton!

Koravo striking off his back but it's not causing Ashton any problems.
Koravo doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Koravo keeping moving, preventing Ashton from controlling successfully.
Koravo throwing short punches from the bottom.
Ashton is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ashton preventing the sweep.
Koravo throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koravo lands a couple of shots from the bottom.

Koravo is looking for a triangle here but Ashton uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Ashton takes advantage of some sloppy striking from Koravo to pass into mount.
Ashton blocks Koravo's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Koravo is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Koravo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Koravo tries to get out of the position.
Koravo sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Koravo lands with a few short shots to the body.
Koravo gets full guard.
Ashton loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Koravo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ashton manages to get himself to full guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keke Koravo dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ashton throws a push kick but Koravo slaps the foot to one side.
Ashton misses with a body kick.
Ashton lands with a shot to the body.
Koravo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ashton works over Koravo's head and body with a nice combination.
Koravo misses with a takedown
and Ashton connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ashton lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Ashton fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koravo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ashton makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keke Koravo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Koravo takes one to the side of the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ashton tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Koravo shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ashton's guard.
Koravo is working Ashton over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Koravo won't allow Ashton to get back to his feet.
Koravo throwing strikes but missing.
Ashton manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Koravo manages to get himself to full guard.

Ashton trying to control but Koravo is working from the bottom.
Ashton passes into half guard.
Ashton throwing shots but Koravo is blocking nicely.
Koravo is not content to let Ashton control the position.
Koravo is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ashton blocks the strikes from Koravo.
Koravo throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Koravo moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Koravo throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Ashton trying to control but Koravo is working from the bottom.
Koravo throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Koravo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ashton.
Koravo throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Koravo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Koravo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ashton avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Koravo.
Koravo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Koravo throws a strike but Ashton avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Koravo throwing strikes from guard but Ashton blocks nicely.

Koravo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ashton has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Koravo has managed to get both his arms back between Ashton's legs - danger averted.
Koravo is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Koravo cracks Ashton with a solid left hand.
Koravo throws a big right hand that misses.
Koravo lands a couple of digs.
Ashton looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ashton wants to sweep but no luck.
Ashton is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ashton has momentary wrist control but Koravo slips an elbow through the middle.
Ashton trying to keep a closed guard but Koravo is proving a slippery customer.
Koravo throwing strikes but missing.
Koravo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ashton avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Koravo throwing strikes from guard but Ashton blocks nicely.
Koravo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Michael Ashton will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Ashton is looking to chop away at Koravo's legs.
Koravo swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Koravo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Koravo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ashton steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Koravo.
Koravo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ashton's waist but Ashton gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Koravo off to one side.
Michael Ashton seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ashton leaves Koravo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ashton shapes to counter with a head kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keke Koravo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Koravo is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Ashton.

Koravo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ashton trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ashton pulls Koravo in close to prevent any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koravo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Koravo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Koravo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Koravo throwing strikes but missing.
Ashton keeping full guard, as Koravo tries to pass.
Ashton looking to hit a scissor sweep but Koravo is one step ahead there.
Keke Koravo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Koravo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Koravo chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ashton lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Koravo keeping full guard, as Ashton tries to pass.
Koravo looking for a sweep. Not yet Koravo, not yet.
Ashton trying to control but Koravo is working from the bottom.
Koravo trying to strike off his back.
Ashton controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Koravo is looking for a triangle but Ashton pushes his legs off easily.
Ashton trying to control but Koravo is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Koravo throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Ashton escapes and throws Koravo's legs to the side, diving into side control!

Ashton stands up.
Nice sprawl there from Koravo as Ashton shoots in.
Koravo leaves Ashton with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Koravo darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Koravo working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ashton trying to control but Koravo postures up.
Koravo lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Koravo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ashton is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Koravo scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ashton avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Koravo.
Koravo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ashton tries to kick Koravo off but Koravo keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Ashton keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Koravo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Koravo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Koravo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

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 Keke Koravo.
I think Koravo 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keke Koravo!