PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rick Ashton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Franco Arce (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ashton kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Lynyrd Skynyrd - Simple Man. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Ashton
vs
Arce

170 cm
28
155 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

175 cm
26
155 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rick Ashton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Franco Arce!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ashton fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ashton throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Ashton shoots in and bounces Arce off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Ashton wants to pass the guard but Arce is keeping the position.
Ashton won't allow Arce to get back to his feet.
Ashton looking to pass the guard.
Arce is looking to stand up but Ashton isn't so interested in that idea.
Ashton controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ashton throws a series of punches but Arce avoids them all with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ashton throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Arce.
Ashton tries to bum rush Arce with a series of wild strikes but Arce uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Ashton shoots in and gets a takedown into Arce's guard.
Ashton showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Ashton passes Arce's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Arce wants to get back to his feet.
Ashton performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Arce tries to kick Ashton off but Ashton keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Arce looks winded!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ashton content to control rather than advance.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

We're going to have a standup here because Rick Ashton wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Ashton tries to bum rush Arce with a series of wild strikes but Arce uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ashton misses with the combination.

Ashton looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ashton is looking to advance position but Arce won't allow it.
Ashton is working hard here to advance position.

Ashton is working for a submission of some sort.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arce is trying to stand back up but Ashton is controlling him
Ashton is taking a breather. Arce says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Arce pushes Ashton off looking to stand but Ashton dives back in and keeps control.
Arce is looking to get back to is feet but Ashton passes into side control.
Arce tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Arce is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Ashton looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ashton landing strikes from the mount.
Arce's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Ashton controlling the position easily from mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Ashton dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ashton closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ashton lands in his opponent's guard.
Ashton forces his way into half guard.
Arce scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Ashton manages to mount him!
Arce is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Ashton controlling his opponent.
Arce squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Arce is breathing heavily.
Ashton controlling from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arce is trying to stand up.
Ashton controlling from the full mount.
Ashton seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Arce for as long as he can get away with.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Rick Ashton just wasn't active enough.
Some wild striking there from Ashton.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ashton manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Arce on his heels. He'll look to pass Arce's guard now, I'm sure.
Ashton slips nicely into half guard.
Ashton controlling the pace.
Arce is trying to escape back to his feet but Ashton uses the scramble to pass into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A lull in the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ashton has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Arce is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Ashton is controlling him well.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Arce is trying to buck Ashton off.
Arce bucks up and tries to throw Ashton off but instead Ashton has got his back!
Ashton has good solid back control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Arce controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Rick Ashton.

Ashton drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Ashton dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ashton dives in and scores a takedown into Arce's guard.
Ashton prevents Arce from getting back to his feet.
Ashton is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Rick Ashton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ashton postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ashton is standing up over Arce. Arce looks to escape but Ashton dives into side control.
Arce is trying to get back to his feet.
You can see the frustration on Arce's face as Ashton controls the position.
Arce takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arce is looking to get back to his feet here but Ashton is keeping cool and he's managed to take Arce's back.
Ashton slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rick Ashton has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Arce takes a swing at Ashton's ribcage but misses.
Ashton misses with a two punch combination.
Ashton rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Arce moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ashton throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Franco Arce is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Ashton shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Arce wants to get back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ashton passes to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arce squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Franco Arce has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ashton controlling from mount.
Ashton lands a couple of good shots and Arce has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Arce trying to get back to his feet but Ashton is in full control for now.
What can Arce do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Rick Ashton has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Ashton will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Arce takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rick Ashton showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ashton has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick Ashton!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Rick Ashton made sure he mentioned CEC Nutrition Q160, along with how happy he was to win his fight.