PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rick Ashton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andre Rector (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ashton comes to the cage accompanied by Lynyrd Skynyrd - Simple Man. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ashton
vs
Rector

170 cm
27
155 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

150 cm
22
135 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Knockout power

CEC Nutrition Q160 & Loans

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rick Ashton!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Andre Rector!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A decent looking cross lands there for Ashton.
Ashton throws a series of punches but Rector moves out of range.

Rector scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Ashton is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rector controlling the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ashton wants to improve his position but Rector is controlling well.
Well, if Rector is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Rector is looking to take a break and control but Ashton is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Andre Rector was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Rector drives through with a takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ashton keeping moving, preventing Rector from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ashton trying to keep a closed guard but Rector is proving a slippery customer.
Ashton keeping moving, preventing Rector from controlling successfully.
Rector is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Andre Rector has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Ashton shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Rector has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rector tries to score a body lock takedown but Ashton shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Rector is working for takedown but Ashton is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rector is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ashton pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rick Ashton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andre Rector.

Rector wants the takedown. Ashton is fighting it off but Rector persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Ashton's guard against the cage.
Ashton keeping moving, preventing Rector from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ashton has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rector can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rector looking to sit in guard and control but Ashton gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ashton trying to control the position from guard on top but Rector is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ashton postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ashton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rector swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ashton content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rector is looking to stand up but Ashton isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ashton trying to control but Rector is working from the bottom.
Ashton advances to half guard.
Rector regains full guard. Nicely done.

Ashton has gone for a leg lock! Rector slips out almost immediately though and dives into Ashton's guard.
Rector is stalling in the full guard.
Ashton bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rector's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rector wants to sweep here but Ashton controlling him for the moment.
Rector wants to stand up but Ashton is controlling him.
Rector keeping moving, preventing Ashton from controlling successfully.
Rector is looking to stand up but Ashton isn't so interested in that idea.
Ashton throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rector keeping moving, preventing Ashton from controlling successfully.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Ashton pushes down on Rector's leg and manages to get into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Andre Rector will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ashton lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Ashton looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rector is fending him off so far but Ashton persists. Nope, Rector circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice takedown defense from Ashton. No joy for Rector on that attempt.
Ashton throws a body kick that misses.
Rector tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Ashton manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Ashton shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rector manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Ashton trying to control the position from guard on top but Rector is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ashton stands and throws Rector's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Ashton lands a nice forearm strike.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rector can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ashton lands a few punches from side control.
Rector prevents Ashton from moving into mount.
Ashton has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Ashton landing punches.
Ashton controlling the pace for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rector is working to get back to half guard.

Ashton with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Rector can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ashton working Rector over with strikes here.
Rector is controlling an arm, preventing Ashton from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Rector tries to reverse the position but Ashton maintains control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Ashton looking to secure an arm triangle but Rector defends it well.
Ashton has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Rector's face.

Rector is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rector is trying to escape the mount but Ashton keeps good control and instead manages to take Rector's back.
Rector is still in real trouble! Can Ashton finish him?

Rector is trying to defend against the choke here but Ashton has an arm under his chin. This one might not last much longer. Ashton Tightens the hold and Rector taps out furiously! Ashton displays superior BJJ to win the fight.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:21 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Rick Ashton!
Rick Ashton retains his featherweight title!
Rick Ashton managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, CEC Nutrition Q160 & Loans, into his post fight interview.