PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Theron Roark (ranked 3494 p4p, 4520 weight class) and Ben Askrew (ranked 0 p4p, 518 weight class). Roark has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Roark
vs
Askrew

191 cm
26
216
4 - 2 - 0

185 cm
31
217
14 - 14 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Theron Roark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ben Askrew!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Ben Zyskovitsi and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Askrew uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Roark.
And Askrew tries to counter it with a takedown but Roark pushes his down on his head and steps out.
A head kick misses from Roark.
Askrew keeps the fight on the outside.
Roark misses with a combination

and Askrew counters with a takedown into side control.

Askrew wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Roark, who protects the arm well.

Askrew tries for a kimura but Roark is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Askrew is trying to get an arm triangle but Roark is defending well.

Askrew tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Askrew has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Askrew tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Askrew is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Roark knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Askrew working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Askrew tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Askrew is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Roark knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

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.

Askrew tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

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

Askrew thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Askrew is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Roark knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Askrew looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Roark sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Askrew is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Roark defends it well.

Askrew is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Roark is just riding it out for now. Askrew eventually gives up the hold.
Askrew looks winded!

Askrew is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Roark sees it coming and defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four 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.

Askrew looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Roark has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

Askrew is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Askrew is looking for a kimura here.

Askrew seems to be working for a kimura but Roark defends the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Askrew is looking for a kimura here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Askrew dominated that round.
That's time! Roark's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Roark throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Askrew changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Askrew has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Roark throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Askrew counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Askrew is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Roark sees it coming and defends easily.

Askrew is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Roark doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Askrew.

Askrew is looking for a kimura here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Askrew looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Askrew wants to work for an arm triangle but Roark is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Roark is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Askrew's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Askrew's back!
Askrew tries to break free.
Askrew breaks Roark's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Askrew passes Roark's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Askrew seems to be looking for submissions.

Askrew is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Roark defends it well.
Roark is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Askrew is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Askrew is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Roark has managed to free his arm - good work.

Askrew is looking for a kimura here.

Askrew is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The fighters are battling for position here. Roark manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Askrew must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Askrew thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Askrew has gone for a leg lock! Roark slips out almost immediately though and dives into Askrew's guard.

Roark works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Roark moves into full mount! Askrew won't be happy about that!
Askrew is in all sorts of trouble here.

Roark looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Askrew is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askrew is squirming around, avoiding Roark's attempts to control the action.

Roark working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Askrew tries to reverse the position but Roark maintains control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Askrew regains half guard.

Askrew looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ben Askrew will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Roark misses with a jab, cross combination.
And Askrew tries to counter it with a takedown but Roark pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Roark throws a series of punches but Askrew moves out of range.
Roark misses with a few strikes there.
And Askrew tries to counter it with a takedown but Roark pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Roark tries to land a body kick

and Askrew counters with a nice double leg into side control. Roark won't be happy with that.

Askrew tries for a kimura but Roark is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Askrew is trying to get an arm triangle but Roark is defending well.

Askrew is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Roark knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Askrew working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Askrew tries for a kimura but Roark is defending well.

Askrew working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Askrew is trying to get an arm triangle but Roark is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Askrew tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Askrew has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Roark tries to improve position but can't.

Askrew tries for a kimura but Roark is defending well.

Askrew tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Askrew wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Roark, who protects the arm well.
Roark is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Askrew off and has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askrew rolls, trying to escape but Roark keeps control of the position.

Askrew is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Roark gets his way!
Ben Askrew has got the better of the ground game so far.
Askrew is trying to break free.
Askrew turns into Roark and is now in his guard.

Askrew thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Roark not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

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

Askrew drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Roark dives on top into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Askrew has his foot on Roark's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Roark works his way back into a safe position though.

Askrew looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Askrew looking for a guillotine here but Roark defends easily.
Roark trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Roark avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Theron Roark has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Askrew looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Askrew had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Roark defends it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Askrew comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Askrew winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Askrew!
Ben Askrew thanked the fans post fight for their support.