PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pete Ashworth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gilligan Obama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Obama has chosen sound of maddness as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Ashworth
vs
Obama

182 cm
20
182 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

185 cm
18
184 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Pete Ashworth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gilligan Obama!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Chad Campbell and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ashworth bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Obama looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Ashworth thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Ashworth moves into full mount!

Ashworth looking to secure an arm triangle but Obama defends it well.
Ashworth is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Obama'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.
Ashworth moves to take his opponent's back.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Ashworth is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Ashworth gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Ashworth gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Ashworth apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Obama stuffs the takedown attempt from Ashworth. Ashworth gets slowly back to his feet.
Ashworth shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Obama as he avoids it easily.
Obama will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obama throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Obama gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Obama keeping moving, preventing Ashworth from controlling successfully.
Ashworth sitting in guard here, content to control.
Ashworth trying to control but Obama is working from the bottom.
Obama wants to stand but Ashworth is controlling the position.
Ashworth with a nice head shot there.
Ashworth slips nicely into half guard.
Ashworth prevents Obama from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Ashworth slows the pace down in half guard.
Ashworth works his foot free and advances to mount.
Ashworth scoring with strikes but Obama is staying in there.

Obama defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Ashworth.
Obama has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.

Ashworth working for the choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Obama looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Obama defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Ashworth trying to control.
Obama holding both Ashworth 's hands and preventing any damage.

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

Obama 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 Ashworth gets his way!

Ashworth working for a choke but Obama is defending well.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Obama preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Ashworth.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Obama 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 Ashworth gets his way!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Obama scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Ashworth misses with a combination
and Obama counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Obama scores with a three punch combo!
No joy there for Ashworth, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ashworth looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Obama is fending him off so far but Ashworth persists. Nope, Obama circles away and we're back to standing.
Pete Ashworth is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Obama stuffs the takedown attempt from Ashworth. Ashworth gets slowly back to his feet.
Some wild striking there from Obama.
Obama lands with a nice combination. Ashworth backs away looking to recover.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice sprawl there from Obama as Ashworth shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pete Ashworth. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Obama as Ashworth shoots in.
Obama throws a one two combo.
Left hook, right uppercut from Obama.
A punch combination from Obama misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obama stuffs the takedown attempt from Ashworth. Ashworth gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nice takedown defense from Obama. No joy for Ashworth on that attempt.

Obama gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Ashworth is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ashworth wants to control from the top but Obama keeps moving.

Obama pushes Ashworth off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Ashworth shoots in and drives through. Obama sprawls well.
Obama misses with a series of wild punches.
Horrible takedown by Ashworth or perhaps it was just good defense by Obama which made him look bad.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ashworth takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Ashworth throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Obama's waist but Obama gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ashworth off to one side.
Ashworth shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ashworth misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ashworth takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Ashworth changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Obama tries to avoid it but Ashworth manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Obama to the ground. Obama escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ashworth fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Obama lands a jab-cross combination.
Obama throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ashworth.
Ashworth shoots in and drives through. Obama sprawls well.
Obama misses with the combination.

Ashworth has managed to clinch.
Obama wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Obama is trying to break the clinch but Ashworth has him pressed against the ropes.
Ashworth tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Obama smiles and moves away.
Ashworth avoids the head kick by Obama.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Obama throws a nice inside leg kick.
Obama throws a leg kick that misses.
Ashworth shoots for a takedown but Obama saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Ashworth has closed the distance and engaged Obama in a clinch.

Ashworth has Obama pressed up against the ropes. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Ashworth pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Obama tumbling to the mat - Ashworth dives into Obama's guard.
Ashworth trying to control but Obama is working from the bottom.
Ashworth stops Obama from standing up.

Obama manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Obama lands with a thumping leg kick.
Obama throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ashworth.
Ashworth throws a head kick but Obama moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Obama.
Ashworth fails to land the takedown.
Obama goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Obama fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ashworth.
Ashworth tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Obama swivels and escapes.
Ashworth stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Obama.
Ashworth will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ashworth.
Ashworth shoots in but Obama avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Obama scoring well with a low kick there.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ashworth.
Obama connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Obama avoids a punch combination nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gilligan Obama showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Obama lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Ashworth shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Ashworth was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Ashworth working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Ashworth trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Obama is trying to get to the ropes to help him get back to his feet.
Ashworth landing shots from mount.

Ashworth working for a submission but Obama is keeping him at bay.
Ashworth won't let Obama get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ashworth fails to move to back control.
Obama is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ashworth unloading with bombs!

Ashworth goes for an armbar but Obama turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Obama.
Ashworth tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Obama is looking to stand up but Ashworth won't let him.

Obama gets to his feet - Ashworth follows without any prompting.
Ashworth closes this distance looking for a takedown but Obama circles away.
Ashworth closes the distance and clinches up with Obama, looking for a takedown. Ashworth pushes Obama against the ropes but Obama circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Obama.
Obama throws a nice inside leg kick.
Obama throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Obama avoids the body shot from Ashworth.
Obama keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pete Ashworth. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Obama does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Gilligan Obama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Obama displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Ashworth shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Obama's guard.
Ashworth wants to pass the guard but Obama is keeping the position.
Ashworth is standing up over Obama. Obama looks to escape but Ashworth dives into side control.
Obama is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Obama is not content to let Ashworth control the position.
Obama is trying to buck Ashworth off.
Pete Ashworth overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ashworth looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Obama scores with a leg kick.
Ashworth shoots in for a takedown but Obama shows good takedown defense.
A solid leg kick lands there for Obama.
Ashworth fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Obama swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ashworth shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Obama but Obama pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Obama throws a leg kick which misses Ashworth's front leg but catches the back leg as Ashworth tries to avoid it.
Ashworth shoots in for a takedown but Obama shows good takedown defense.
Ashworth shoots in for a takedown but Obama shows good takedown defense.
Obama motions for Ashworth to come forward. Obama throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Ashworth looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Ashworth is looking to pass Obama's guard but actually Obama recovers to full guard.
Obama wants to stand and escape but Ashworth is having none of it.
Obama can't keep his opponent in guard - Ashworth advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pete Ashworth showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ashworth has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:27
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:27
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pete Ashworth!