PBP Commentary

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

Askren
vs
Sock

177 cm
27
183 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

175 cm
27
195 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

GREEN!160
V-Mask Clothing (10%)

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 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Jon Askren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jack Sock!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Colin Fotheringham and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Askren misses the jab.
Sock drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Askren defends it well.
Askren keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Askren wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Jack Sock seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sock misses with a lunging right hand
and Askren counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Sock looks to land a right hand but Askren moved out of range.
Sock doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sock takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Askren 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askren slips under a jab from Sock.
Sock missing with a left hand there. Askren was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Askren changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Sock lands with a good body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Askren slips a straight right by Sock.
Askren keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sock.
Sock's jab looks to have found its range, popping Askren under the eye.

Askren looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sock keeping full guard, as Askren tries to pass.
Askren landing with the ground and pound.
Askren engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We've been hearing good reports from Askren's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Askren looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Askren stopping the sweep attempt from Sock.
Askren tries to free his leg and advance position but Sock is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren advances to half guard.
Sock manages to get to full guard.
Askren in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Askren postures up and lands a big shot to Sock's brow.
Askren engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Askren makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sock swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Askren trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Askren has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Askren is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Askren moves out of range of the strikes.
Askren slips under a jab.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sock throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sock scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Askren doesn't seem bothered though.
Sock tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Askren was well out of range. Poor timing from Sock.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Askren dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sock takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Sock fails with a takedown attempt.

Askren shoots in and bounces Sock off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Askren wants to control from the top but Sock keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askren stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sock swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Askren passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren scores with a couple of short elbows.
You can see the frustration on Sock's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sock is letting Askren control him for a moment.
Askren is putting a hurting on Sock here, landing some big shots from side control.
Sock is looking to regain half guard here but Askren keeps moving and retains side control.
Askren scoring with punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren controlling the position from side mount.
You can see the frustration on Sock's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Sock's face as Askren controls the position.
Askren lands an elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Askren wants to control but Sock is keeping him busy.
Sock is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren is looking to take a break and control but Sock is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
An elbow from Askren crashes against the mat.
Askren working the body and head with strikes.
Sock taking a bit of punishment here - Askren scoring with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sock being controlled for a moment.
Askren is chipping away with strikes.
Askren working away.
Askren is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Sock will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Askren works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Askren controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Askren dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sock works the jab nicely.
Sock with a hook.
Sock throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Askren sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Askren throws a head kick but Sock moves out of range.
Sock with the counter takedown but Askren avoids it easily.
A jab from Sock misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sock lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Sock throws a body shot but no joy.
Sock steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Askren.
Askren swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Sock counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sock.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sock working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sock throws a strike but Askren rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Askren is stalling in the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sock is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Askren is aware though and is defending well.
Askren is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sock can do to turn this around?
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Askren's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Askren slips nicely into half guard.
Askren moves into full mount! Sock won't be happy about that!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sock taking shots to the head.
Askren controlling from the full mount.
Sock takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Sock keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Askren looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Jon Askren is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren controlling from the full mount.
Sock tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Askren with a couple of short strikes.
Askren takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Askren working Sock over with strikes here.
Askren looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jon Askren overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Askren has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Askren seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Sock for as long as he can get away with.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jon Askren showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Askren, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 James Glass scores the fight 30:26
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:26
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jon Askren!
In his post fight interview, Jon Askren started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.