PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mr Tap (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Askren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mr Tap had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Tap
vs
Askren

175 cm
25
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
182 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Very confident

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mr Tap!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jon Askren!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Phil Schofield and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Tap.
Askren sneaks back into half guard.
Askren is staying active underneath Tap, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Askren moves into full guard.
Tap trying to control the position from guard on top but Askren is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Askren manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tap manages to get himself to full guard.

Tap wants to sweep but no luck.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askren in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Askren lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Askren won't allow Tap to get back to his feet.
Askren is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Let's hope that Askren has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Askren trying to control but Tap is working from the bottom.
Askren looking to sit in guard and control but Tap gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Tap wants to control from the top but Askren keeps moving.
Askren is trying to control the position but Tap postures up.
Askren throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Tap throwing strikes but missing.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Askren is on top in guard.

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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Askren wants to pass the guard but Tap is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren landing some decent shots from guard.
Tap is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Askren throwing strikes from guard but Tap blocks nicely.
Askren controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Tap is looking to stand up but Askren isn't so interested in that idea.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Tap closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Askren sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Askren moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Tap throws a big right hand that misses.
Tap trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Askren manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Askren looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Askren is looking to work some ground and pound but Tap has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jon Askren will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tap changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Askren looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Askren regains half guard.
Askren regains full guard. Nicely done.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Askren is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Askren slows the pace down in half guard.
Askren frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Askren postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Tap looks a forlorn figure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Askren content just to control the position here.
Askren has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Tap's face.
Askren looking to control and managing it successfully.
Askren lands a big shot there that rocks Tap but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Askren landing strikes from the mount.
Tap is desperately trying to improve his position but Askren has a good base and remains in mount.
Askren has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The referee warns Tap that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren lands a nice shot to the head.
Askren can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Tap is looking to escape.
Askren controlling from the full mount.
Askren wants to control the action but instead Tap gets a body lock and reverses into Askren's guard! Nice work!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tap trying to control the position from guard on top but Askren is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Tap wants to control but Askren is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Askren has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Quick Fingers BEST BANG FOR BUCK Gym. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Tap on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Tap tries to get out of the position.

Tap actively working from the bottom here.
Tap wants to improve his position but Askren is controlling well.
Askren looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Askren slips a nice elbow through Tap's hands, connecting with Tap's forehead.
Tap is trying to stand.
Askren controlling the action here.
Tap wants to improve his position but Askren is controlling well.
Askren trying to control the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Askren 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. This is the final round!

Tap pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Tap decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Askren gets back to full guard.
Askren looking to control.
Askren manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tap manages to get himself to full guard.

Askren missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tap is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Askren slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tap wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Askren is now in half guard.
Askren keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Tap looks like he's trying to stand up.
Tap wants to control but Askren passes into side.
Askren tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's two 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.
Askren cracks Tap with a big right hand but Tap just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Askren working the head with strikes.
Tap is not content to let Askren control the position.
Tap is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Askren trying to control the action but Tap is working from the bottom.
Askren happy to just control the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Tap closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Askren did well to prevent Tap getting side control.
Askren makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Askren.
Jon Askren is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren is pulling down on Tap's head to control his posture.
Tap trying to control the position from guard on top but Askren is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Askren has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Askren pulls Tap in close to his closed guard and prevents Tap from doing any damage or advancing position.
Tap throws a big right hand that misses.

Tap drops back, looking for a kneebar! Askren looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Askren looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Askren!

Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Askren is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Tap will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jon Askren comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Askren winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jon Askren!
An out of breath Jon Askren thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.