PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kustarbek Ashimov (ranked 2400 p4p, 0 weight class) and Syco Souirrel (ranked 2333 p4p, 0 weight class). Syco Souirrel is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Ashimov
vs
Souirrel

173 cm
25
157 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

185 cm
27
159 lbs
9 - 20 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kustarbek Ashimov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 20 - 0, fighting out of New York, Syco Souirrel!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, John Kavanagh and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Souirrel looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ashimov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ashimov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Souirrel sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ashimov takes an elbow to the temple.
Ashimov goes for a takedown in the clinch but Souirrel prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kustarbek Ashimov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The referee is keeping an eye on Ashimov - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ashimov tries to pull guard but Souirrel forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Ashimov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Souirrel pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Ashimov avoiding damage as Souirrel throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Souirrel has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Ashimov uses from the top position.
Ashimov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ashimov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Souirrel is keeping the position for now.
Ashimov controlling from the top position.

That's two 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.

Souirrel is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Ashimov presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Souirrel tries to circle away but Ashimov has him pinned against the cage.

Souirrel manages to break the clinch.
Ashimov is looking to clinch.
Souirrel unleashes a big counter combination but Ashimov bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Souirrel misses with a takedown attempt - Ashimov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Souirrel throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Souirrel defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ashimov.
Souirrel is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ashimov misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ashimov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Souirrel avoids it really well and circles away.
Ashimov throws a lazy uppercut
and Souirrel makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Souirrel fails with the takedown.
Ashimov looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Souirrel looks winded!

Ashimov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Ashimov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Souirrel is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Ashimov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Souirrel's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ashimov lands a couple of digs.
Ashimov wants to stand but Souirrel is controlling his posture from full guard.
Ashimov chips away with some ground and pound.
Ashimov slips nicely into half guard.
Ashimov keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ashimov lands strikes from half guard.
Souirrel has hold of Ashimov's hands but Ashimov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Syco Souirrel 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.

Souirrel gets tackled into the cage by Ashimov. Ashimov maintains the clinch.
Ashimov tries to stall but Souirrel uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Souirrel is looking for a takedown.
Souirrel tries to pull guard but Ashimov forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Ashimov misses with a body punch.
Souirrel fails to pull guard.
Kustarbek Ashimov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Syco Souirrel.
Souirrel tries for a takedown but Ashimov manages to get underhooks.
Ashimov fails to pull guard.
Souirrel fails to pull the fight into his guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souirrel avoiding damage as Ashimov throws knees to the body.
Souirrel is breathing heavily.
Souirrel is looking for a takedown.
Ashimov jumps guard but Souirrel turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Ashimov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Souirrel pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ashimov tries for a takedown but Souirrel sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ashimov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Souirrel sprawls well initially but Ashimov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Souirrel has one foot on Ashimov's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Ashimov shoots in for a takedown but Souirrel shows good takedown defense.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ashimov.

Ashimov gets a double leg takedown into Souirrel's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Souirrel looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ashimov is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ashimov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Souirrel is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ashimov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Souirrel keeping moving, preventing Ashimov from controlling successfully.
Ashimov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Ashimov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ashimov distracts Souirrel with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Souirrel not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ashimov trying to control the position from guard on top but Souirrel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ashimov goes for a double leg but Souirrel avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Souirrel continues to drive forward.
Ashimov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sloppy strikes from Ashimov. Those never looked like landing.
Ashimov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kustarbek Ashimov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Souirrel lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ashimov moves in looking to clinch but Souirrel pushes him off.

Souirrel gets caught napping as Ashimov dives in and scores a takedown. Souirrel manages to retain guard.
Souirrel keeping full guard, as Ashimov tries to pass.
Ashimov wants to stand but Souirrel is controlling his posture from full guard.

Souirrel is working an open guard so Ashimov takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ashimov buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ashimov throws a right and a left that Souirrel avoids nicely.
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 Kustarbek Ashimov will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Souirrel fails to land the takedown.

Ashimov gets the takedown into side control.

Ashimov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Souirrel has escaped the position, nice work there.

Ashimov stands up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souirrel fails with the takedown.
Souirrel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Ashimov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ashimov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Souirrel just stands there and leans against the cage.
Souirrel wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ashimov taking a breather.
Ashimov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ashimov as Souirrel tries to tie him up.
Ashimov content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Ashimov fails to pull guard.
Ashimov tries to pull guard but Souirrel forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kustarbek Ashimov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Souirrel changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ashimov fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Ashimov scores with a takedown into Souirrel's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ashimov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Ashimov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ashimov wants to stand but Souirrel is controlling his posture from full guard.
Ashimov sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Souirrel's guard.
Ashimov wants to pass to mount but Souirrel is defending the position.
Ashimov keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ashimov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Ashimov.
Ground and pound from Ashimov.
Ashimov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Ashimov seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Souirrel is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Kustarbek Ashimov!