PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Denver Washington (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Ashnault (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Washington comes to the cage accompanied by Gaff's Eulogy by Andrew Bayer. Denver Washington has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Washington
vs
Ashnault

189 cm
21
182 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

180 cm
20
170 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Denver Washington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Anthony Ashnault!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Steve Montenegro and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Washington tries to sprawl but Ashnault drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Washington is looking to improve his position.
Ashnault keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Washington trying to hold on to Ashnault's head to control him but Ashnault postures up.
Ashnault is nestled in close to Washington, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Ashnault has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ashnault not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ashnault seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Ashnault not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ashnault performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ashnault missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ashnault moves into full mount! Washington won't be happy about that!
Ashnault misses with a head shot.
Ashnault tries to control but Washington wriggling away.
Washington is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Washington is wriggling around trying to escape.
Washington is bucking up trying to escape but Ashnault cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Washington tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ashnault lands a heavy elbow.
Ashnault postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Washington looks a forlorn figure.
Washington is squirming around, avoiding Ashnault's attempts to control the action.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ashnault working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Ashnault looking to control but Washington is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Ashnault scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Washington?
Washington tries to hold on but Ashnault postures up.
Washington is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ashnault tries to control but Washington wriggling away.
Washington is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Ashnault punishing his opponent with strikes.
Ashnault tries to control but Washington wriggling away.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Ashnault cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ashnault pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Ashnault content just to control the position here.
Ashnault wants to control the pace but Washington is squirming around nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ashnault lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ashnault putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Ashnault dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ashnault misses with a hook.
Washington misses with a straight left.
Ashnault jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A telegraphed right hand from Ashnault misses the target.
A head kick misses from Washington.
Washington walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Ashnault shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Washington defends it nicely.
Ashnault fails with the takedown.
Ashnault throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Washington sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Washington slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Ashnault throws a shot to the body.
Ashnault throws out a loose jab but Washington uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Washington loads up on a big right hand but Ashnault slips the punch.
Ashnault throws a hook but Washington avoids it easily.
Washington looks to score with a jab to the body but Ashnault is just out of range.
Washington slips under a jab from Ashnault.
Ashnault tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Washington swivels and escapes.
Denver Washington has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Ashnault.
Washington on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Ashnault throws the left hand but Washington avoids the punch easily.
Ashnault throws a jab but it's blocked by Washington.
Washington throws a lazy uppercut
and Ashnault counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Washington throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ashnault.
Ashnault defending well as Washington loads up on a big left hand.
Washington leaves Ashnault with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Washington uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ashnault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Washington.
Washington throws an overhand right that lands on Ashnault's shoulder, as Ashnault tries to avoid the shot.
Ashnault might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Washington slips a jab from Ashnault.
Washington ducks under a wild hook from Ashnault.
Anthony Ashnault seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Washington slips a straight right by Ashnault.
Washington cracks Ashnault with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Washington moves out of range as Ashnault strikes.
Washington throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ashnault lands a nice looking body shot.
Ashnault throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ashnault lands a jab to Washington's midsection.
Washington misses with a head kick.
Washington steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ashnault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ashnault misses with a looping left.
Ashnault moves out of range as Washington strikes.
Ashnault connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Ashnault swinging wildly here.
Washington keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ashnault.
Ashnault rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Washington moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A jab from Ashnault misses.
Ashnault staying out of range there.
Washington ducks under a wild hook from Ashnault.
Ashnault misses with a hook
and Washington counters with a stiff right hand.
Ashnault keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Washington.
Ashnault throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Washington sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Washington misses with the combination.
Washington scores with a sloppy right hand. Ashnault should have avoided that one.
Nice straight punches there by Washington. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Washington.
Ashnault with a nice cross.
Washington keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ashnault.
Washington throws an overhand right that lands on Ashnault's shoulder, as Ashnault tries to avoid the shot.
Ashnault is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ashnault moves out of range as Washington strikes.
Ashnault throws a right and a left that Washington avoids nicely.
Washington moves out of range as Ashnault strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ashnault displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Washington throws out the jab.
Denver Washington is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ashnault misses with a body shot.
Ashnault connects with a nice looking jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Anthony Ashnault will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Washington's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Washington jabs Ashnault to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Ashnault avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Washington throws a body punch but Ashnault moves out of range.
Washington keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Washington jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A telegraphed right hand from Washington misses the target.

Ashnault is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Washington's half guard.
Washington is looking to get back to is feet but Ashnault passes into side control.
A lull in the action here.
Washington is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Ashnault's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Washington keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ashnault throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ashnault throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ashnault is trying to control. Washington wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Washington knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ashnault on the ground.
Washington tries to get to full guard but Ashnault has control of the leg.
Anthony Ashnault has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ground and pound from Ashnault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ashnault looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ashnault is controlling the pace.
Washington is not content to let Ashnault control the position.
Ashnault lands strikes from half guard.
Washington is trying to get back to full guard.
Ashnault stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Washington tries to roll over but Ashnault keeps him under control.
Ashnault perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Ashnault is keen to just control but Washington is a slippery customer.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Ashnault throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Washington trying to get back to full guard but Ashnault takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Ashnault connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Washington on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Washington tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ashnault working Washington over with strikes here.
Washington is in a horrible position here. Ashnault smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Ashnault lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ashnault controlling from the full mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Washington is trying desperately to improve position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ashnault looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony Ashnault comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ashnault has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anthony Ashnault!