PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Carmine Ashley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Saxton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saxton has chosen Burn It To The Ground as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Ashley
vs
Saxton

184 cm
24
162 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

186 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Granite 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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Carmine Ashley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Antonio Saxton!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Frank Dennis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Saxton gets the takedown into side control.

Ashley throws Saxton to one side and escapes!

Saxton rushes Ashley and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ashley changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Saxton fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ashley swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Saxton feints the counter takedown.

Saxton pushes Ashley up against the cage in a clinch.

Saxton drags the fight down to the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ashley throws a big elbow that misses.
Ashley landing some decent shots from guard.
Saxton is adopting a defensive guard.
Ashley stopping the sweep attempt from Saxton.
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.
Saxton is looking to stand up but Ashley isn't so interested in that idea.
Ashley has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Ashley in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Saxton looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ashley postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Saxton has his hands on Ashley's head, controlling the position.
Ashley works over Saxton with some ground and pound from guard.

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

Saxton looking for a guillotine here but Ashley defends easily.
Ashley trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ashley in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Saxton looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Saxton is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ashley throws a sloppy head kick and Saxton moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saxton throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Ashley tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Saxton is in Ashley's guard.
Saxton 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.
Saxton wants to get up but he can't break Ashley's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Ashley scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Saxton closes the distance and clinches.

Saxton manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Ashley throwing strikes from guard but Saxton blocks nicely.

Saxton escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ashley gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ashley is in close to Saxton's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Saxton is adopting a defensive guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ashley in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Carmine Ashley will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Saxton drives through with a takedown into Ashley's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Saxton preventing the sweep.
Saxton trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Saxton is in close to Ashley's body, working some short punches and elbows.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Saxton accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Saxton wants to get up but he can't break Ashley's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ashley wants to sweep but no luck.
Saxton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ashley swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Saxton wants to get up but he can't break Ashley's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saxton looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Ashley on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ashley moves into full guard.

Saxton gets to his feet - Ashley follows without any prompting.

Saxton shoots in and gets a takedown into Ashley's guard.
Saxton content to stall in guard here.
Ashley is looking to stand up but Saxton isn't so interested in that idea.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saxton content to stall in guard here.
Saxton working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ashley has a closed guard, preventing Saxton from standing up.
Ashley being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ashley is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Saxton shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Saxton is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Saxton thows a huge punch but Ashley dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saxton throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Ashley to regain full guard.
Ashley being controlled here, momentarily.
Saxton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ashley swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Saxton looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Saxton with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Saxton 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! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Ashley throws a head kick but Saxton moves out of range.

Ashley gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Saxton to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Ashley has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Saxton off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Saxton looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Ashley wriggles free and stands up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Saxton closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ashley is letting Saxton control him for a moment.
Saxton trying to control the position but Ashley is working away.
A lull in the action here as Saxton stalls from top position.
Ashley tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Saxton wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Saxton lands a nice forearm strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Saxton tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

Saxton swings around for an armbar but Ashley sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Saxton's guard.
Saxton is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Saxton throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Saxton fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ashley sprawls well initially but Saxton persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Ashley kicks Saxton off and gets back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Saxton changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ashley looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Ashley throws Saxton to one side and escapes!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saxton scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Saxton is looking for a kimura but Ashley is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Saxton to get the leverage.
Saxton seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Ashley kicks Saxton off and gets back to his feet.
Saxton is looking to land body kicks.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Ashley enables Saxton to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Ashley manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ashley is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Saxton throwing strikes from guard but Ashley blocks nicely.
Saxton is stalling in the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carmine Ashley showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ashley has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carmine Ashley!