PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ben Askren (ranked 3806 p4p, 5226 weight class) and Alex King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ben Askren is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Askren
vs
King

188 cm
25
212
1 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
217
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ben Askren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alex King!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Paulo Santos and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Askren goes for a double leg but King avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as King continues to drive forward.
King has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Askren is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
King should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Askren has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by King after a bit of a struggle.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
King has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Askren is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
King is trying to maintain a safe position but Askren gets an underhook and turns King into the cage.
King can't get the takedown.
Ben Askren has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex King.
King prevents a takedown attempt there.

Askren wants the takedown. King is fighting it off but Askren persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in King's guard against the cage.
King 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.

King is looking for a triangle but Askren pushes his legs off easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askren preventing the sweep.

Askren got a little sloppy there for a moment and King has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Askren has managed to get both his arms back between King's legs - danger averted.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if King can do anything to dispel that myth.

Askren drops back looking for a leg! King is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and King manages to kick Askren off! Askren jumps back into King's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
King looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Askren preventing the sweep.
King utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Askren postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Askren preventing the sweep.
Askren throwing strikes from guard but King blocks nicely.
Askren trying to control but King is working from the bottom.
Askren wants to pass the guard but King is keeping the position.
Askren working some strikes from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
King controls Askren momentarily but Askren frees himself.
Askren lands a couple of digs.
King is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
King 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 trying to control but King is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Askren fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Askren defends well and King ends up having to push Askren into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Askren shoots in for a takedown but King shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
King is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Askren looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Askren shoots in and drives through. King sprawls well.
Horrible takedown attempt by King or perhaps it was just good defense by Askren, which made it look bad.
Askren misses with a takedown attempt - King sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
King stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and King wants it to stay on the feet.
Askren is breathing heavily.
Askren tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but King defends well and Askren ends up having to push King into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Askren has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by King after a bit of a struggle.
King has Askren pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Askren manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
King is trying to maintain a safe position but Askren gets an underhook and turns King into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Askren is defending well.
King gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Askren.
King misses with a short punch on the inside.
King gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Askren.

Askren has clasped his hands together around King's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
King is trying to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Askren working away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Askren dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

No luck with that takedown attempt from King.
Ben Askren seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Askren tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but King defends well and Askren ends up having to push King into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Askren as King tries to tie him up.
King swings wildly with an uppercut but Askren uses good head movement to avoid it.
Askren gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from King.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Askren.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
King has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Askren after a bit of a struggle.
Ben Askren has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex King.
Askren is looking to take this one to the mat.
Askren has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. King avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Askren is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. King can't fight it off and eventually Askren manages to take the fight to the floor. King looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King is trying to keep Askren in close.
King keeping moving, preventing Askren from controlling successfully.
King is pulling down on Askren's head. It's preventing any offense from Askren, at least for the moment.

Askren drops back looking for a leg! King is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and King manages to kick Askren off! Askren jumps back into King's guard.
Askren stopping the sweep attempt from King.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Askren with a nice head shot there.
Askren working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Askren distracts King with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Askren trying to control but King is working from the bottom.
Askren passes King's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Askren thows a huge punch but King dodges it nicely.
King trying to hold on to Askren's head to control him but Askren postures up.
Ben Askren overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
King controlling the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
King is staying active underneath Askren, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Askren blocks the strikes from King.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed King's head.

King actively working from the bottom here.
Askren is thwarting King's attempts to control the position.
Askren missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
King missing with punches from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Askren shoots in for a takedown but King shows good takedown defense.
King is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
King fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

King drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Askren explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren stuffs the takedown.
Askren shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts King as he jumps to the side.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

King drives through with a takedown into guard.

Askren has his feet on King's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
King darts in looking for a takedown but Askren gets double underhooks and turns King into the cage.
Askren feinted with a counter takedown.
Askren shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says King as he avoids it easily.

Askren closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. King quickly recovers to half guard.
Askren thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
King is trying to maintain the position but Askren is very close to passing his half guard.
Askren trying to control from half guard but King is working away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Askren dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

King shoots in but no luck this time.
Askren stuffs the takedown.
King shoots and misses

and Askren counters with a nice double leg into side control. King won't be happy with that.
Ben Askren has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex King.

Askren has hold of King's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! King tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Askren cranks the arm and King screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from King, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Ben Askren!