PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dexter Leigertwood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Askren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Ben Askren was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Leigertwood
vs
Askren

190 cm
26
179 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

180 cm
26
180 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

Atlantis

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Dexter Leigertwood!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ben Askren!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Daniel Franklin and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Askren fails with the takedown

and Leigertwood counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Askren!

Leigertwood wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Askren, who protects the arm well.
Askren is trying to improve his position.

Leigertwood looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Askren is looking to regain half guard here but Leigertwood keeps moving and retains side control.
Askren felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Leigertwood is looking to take a break and control but Askren is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Leigertwood tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Askren wants to get back to his feet.
Leigertwood landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Leigertwood trying to control the position but Askren is working away.
Askren is trying to improve his position.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Leigertwood tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leigertwood trying to control the action but Askren is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Askren keeping his opponent close.
Leigertwood advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leigertwood controlling from mount.
Leigertwood with good strikes from the mount here!
Leigertwood trying to control but Askren is having none of it.
Leigertwood avoids the attempt from Askren to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Leigertwood wants to finish this one by submission but Askren is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Leigertwood.
Leigertwood wants to control the pace but Askren is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren is in all sorts of trouble here.
Leigertwood fails to move to back control.
Leigertwood avoids the attempt from Askren to control.
Askren working to try and regain half guard.
Askren tries to hold on but Leigertwood postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Leigertwood looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Askren with a poor takedown
and Leigertwood counters with a nice uppercut.
Askren shoots and misses
and Leigertwood counters with a left to the body.
Askren avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Askren closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Leigertwood's guard.
Leigertwood seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Askren throwing strikes but missing.
Askren missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Leigertwood keeping full guard, as Askren tries to pass.
Askren wants to control from the top but Leigertwood keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Leigertwood preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Askren trying to control but Leigertwood is working from the bottom.
Askren working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Leigertwood can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Askren controls the pace.
Leigertwood keeping moving, preventing Askren from controlling successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Askren cracks Leigertwood with a solid left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leigertwood looking to control.
Askren is in close to Leigertwood's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Askren landing with the ground and pound.
Askren trying to control the position from guard on top but Leigertwood is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Askren is looking to work some ground and pound but Leigertwood has wrist control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Askren stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Leigertwood swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Askren is looking to work some ground and pound but Leigertwood has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Leigertwood's head.
Leigertwood preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Askren accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Askren trying to control but Leigertwood is working from the bottom.
Leigertwood is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Askren slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Askren looking to sit in guard and control but Leigertwood gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leigertwood stands and throws Askren's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Leigertwood tries to advance to mount but Askren denies him.
Askren is looking to reverse the position.
Askren has one of Leigertwood's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Ben Askren has got the better of the ground game so far.
Leigertwood trying to control the position but Askren is working away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Askren manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Askren showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Askren drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Askren works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Askren working the ground and pound from side control.
Askren misses with the ground and pound.
Askren controls the position from side control.
Askren throwing strikes but Leigertwood manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

Leigertwood tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Leigertwood has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Leigertwood tries to advance to mount but Askren denies him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren is trying to get back to half guard.
Askren gets back to half guard.
Leigertwood moves into full mount! Askren won't be happy about that!
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.
Askren moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Leigertwood advances to half guard.
Askren is staying active underneath Leigertwood, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leigertwood trying to mount his opponent but Askren defends it.
Askren holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Leigertwood is keen to just control but Askren is a slippery customer.
Leigertwood wants to pass to mount but Askren is defending the position.
Askren controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Askren bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Askren throwing strikes but Leigertwood manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Askren is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Leigertwood is controlling him well.
Leigertwood trying to control the position but Askren is working away.
Leigertwood throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Askren works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren is staying active underneath Leigertwood, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Leigertwood wants to pass the guard but Askren is defending well.
Askren is controlling Leigertwood's trapped leg to prevent Leigertwood from advancing to side control.
Askren is trying to get back to full guard.
Leigertwood is trying to control. Askren wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Leigertwood wants to work for an arm triangle but Askren is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Leigertwood trying to mount his opponent but Askren defends it.
Askren is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leigertwood seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Askren does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Askren wants to improve his position but Leigertwood is controlling well.
Leigertwood prevents Askren from standing back up.

Leigertwood seems to be working for a kimura but Askren defends the submission attempt.
Askren keeps control of the position for the meantime.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Leigertwood tries to pass to full mount but Askren defends it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Askren comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Askren 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Askren!
Ben Askren decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.