PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jonathan Jon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alan Ashcroft (ranked 0 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.

Jon
vs
Ashcroft

181 cm
22
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
22
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jonathan Jon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alan Ashcroft!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Steve Montenegro and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jon is looking to clinch but Ashcroft is avoiding it.
Ashcroft circles away from the clinch attempt.

Ashcroft scores with a takedown into Jon's guard.
Ashcroft passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The referee asks Ashcroft politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Ashcroft prefers to stall for the moment though.
Let's hope that Ashcroft has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Ashcroft wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jon keeps working.
Ashcroft throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ashcroft is looking to take a break and control but Jon is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ashcroft in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Ashcroft wants to control but Jon is keeping him busy.
Jon is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Ashcroft's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Ashcroft is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Jon trying to hold on to Ashcroft's head to control him but Ashcroft postures up.
Ashcroft not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Jon is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ashcroft seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Jon wants to control but Ashcroft is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ashcroft wants to take a breather but Jon is having none of it.

Despite being in the dominant position, Alan Ashcroft just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jon shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Ashcroft counters with a shoot takedown. Jon fights it but they end up in guard.
Jon controls Ashcroft momentarily but Ashcroft frees himself.
Ashcroft must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ashcroft controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
I looks like Ashcroft might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Ashcroft tries to free his leg and advance position but Jon is retaining full guard.
Jon keeping moving, preventing Ashcroft from controlling successfully.
Ashcroft trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ashcroft looks gassed!
Ashcroft is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Ashcroft sitting in guard here, content to control.
Ashcroft won't allow Jon to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Jon not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Jon has his takedown stuffed

and Ashcroft counters with a nice double leg into side control. Jon won't be happy with that.
Jon tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ashcroft working away.
Ashcroft staying calm.
Ashcroft wants to control but Jon is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Jon's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alan Ashcroft dominated that round.
That's time! Jon's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Jon with a lazy takedown attempt

and Ashcroft counters with a single leg into guard. Jon didn't expect that.
Ashcroft is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Jon wants to sweep here but Ashcroft controlling him for the moment.
Ashcroft is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ashcroft wants to control from the top but Jon keeps moving.
Ashcroft is breathing heavily.
Ashcroft wants to pass the guard but Jon is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Jon is on top in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jon accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Jon pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ashcroft is keeping the position for now.
Jon is looking to work some ground and pound but Ashcroft has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Ashcroft keeping moving, preventing Jon from controlling successfully.

Jon thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Jon trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jon wants to stand but Ashcroft is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jon forces his way into half guard.
Jon wants to stand up but Ashcroft is controlling the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Jon tries to clinch

and Ashcroft counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Jon's guard now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ashcroft trying to control the position from guard on top but Jon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alan Ashcroft has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jon is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ashcroft trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jon is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Jon has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Ashcroft stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jon swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alan Ashcroft showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Jon's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Jon shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Ashcroft counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Jon!
Ashcroft controlling the pace for now.
Jon working to try and regain half guard.
Ashcroft lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Jon tries to hold on but Ashcroft pushes him away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jon is in all sorts of trouble here.
Ashcroft controlling the pace for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jon tries to buck Ashcroft off but he can't manage it.
Ashcroft putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Ashcroft content just to control the position here.
Ashcroft avoids the attempt from Jon to control.
Jon is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Ashcroft is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Alan Ashcroft is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ashcroft takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Jon is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Ashcroft controlling the position easily from mount.
Jon tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ashcroft sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Jon wants to hold on but Ashcroft pushes him away.
Jon is working to get back to half guard.
Jon wants to control but Ashcroft is having none of it.
Ashcroft prevents Jon from getting the reversal.
Ashcroft controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Jon tries to hold on but Ashcroft postures up.
Jon is squirming around, avoiding Ashcroft's attempts to control the action.
Ashcroft sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Despite being in the dominant position, Alan Ashcroft just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jon thumps Ashcroft with a low kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alan Ashcroft comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ashcroft 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alan Ashcroft!