PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ben Askren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vinnie Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ben Askren is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Askren
vs
Smith

180 cm
25
180 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
169 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ben Askren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Vinnie Smith!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Peter Branson and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Askren tries to score a power double leg takedown but Smith sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Askren somewhat.

Smith gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Askren to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Smith is looking to stand up but Askren isn't so interested in that idea.
Askren postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Smith is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Askren stays in close to Smith's body and controls the position.
Smith lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Askren!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Smith not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Askren desperately trying to maintain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Askren is defending against the submission attempts here by Smith.
Askren wants to improve his position but Smith is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Askren is looking for a sweep. Smith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Askren keeping control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ben Askren has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Askren.
Smith is trying to buck Askren off.
Smith is looking to reverse the position.
Askren looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Smith is avoiding damage well.
Askren controls the position.
Askren throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Askren working the head and body with strikes.
Askren is chipping away with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren working the ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Askren working the body and head with strikes.
Smith manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Smith thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Askren gets back to full guard.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Askren is retaining full guard.
Smith looks winded!
Smith won't allow Askren to sweep him here.
Askren controlling Smith's posture.
Askren looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Smith has gone for a leg lock! Askren slips out almost immediately though and dives into Smith's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Askren throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Smith works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Askren dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Askren shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Askren shoots in and gets a takedown into Smith's guard.
Askren working some strikes from top position.
Smith avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Smith escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Askren gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Askren has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Askren loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Askren stays in close to Smith's body and controls the position.
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Askren!
Askren is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Smith with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Askren slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Askren is pressing down on Smith's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ben Askren overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smith is pushing down on Askren's leg trying to pass to half guard. Askren is fighting to maintain full guard but Smith has managed to sneak the leg through.

Smith is trying to work for a kimura but Askren is defending well.
Askren is doing well to control the position and prevent Smith from advancing to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren is trying to get back to full guard.
Smith throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Smith is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Askren is controlling Smith's trapped leg to prevent Smith from advancing to side control.
The fighters are battling for position here. Askren manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Smith manages to get himself to full guard.
Askren is looking to work some ground and pound but Smith has wrist control.
Askren seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Askren is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Askren advances to half guard.
Askren working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Askren slips a nice elbow through Smith's hands, connecting with Smith's forehead.
Askren is controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren moves into full mount! Smith won't be happy about that!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee warns Smith that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Smith taking shots to the head.
Smith is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Askren is landing with some decent strikes but Smith is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Askren dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Askren closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Askren trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
Askren lands a nice forearm strike.
Askren cracks Smith with a big right hand but Smith just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Smith takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

Smith is rocked!
You can see the frustration on Smith's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Askren landing a few strikes.
Smith is still in real trouble! Can Askren finish him?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Askren remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Smith seems to have recovered his senses.
Smith takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren laying and praying for a moment but Smith takes advantage and regains half guard.
Smith has hold of Askren's hands but Askren slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Smith is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Askren's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Askren's back!
Askren has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Askren tries to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Askren is defending well though. Smith let's go of the attempt for now.
Askren tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Askren regains half guard.
Askren gets back to full guard.
Smith won't allow Askren to sweep him here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Askren is on top in guard.
Askren keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Smith's head.
Askren with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren working some strikes from top position.
Askren postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Askren is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Askren is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Smith can do to turn this around?
Askren loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Askren pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
Askren sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Smith's guard.
Askren slows the pace down in half guard.
Smith has hold of Askren's hands but Askren slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Askren 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.
Vinnie Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Askren looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Askren showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Askren 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:27
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Askren!
During a confident post fight interview, Ben Askren thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.