PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dwayne Deneal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andy Askren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Deneal
vs
Askren

193 cm
18
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

193 cm
25
213 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Dwayne Deneal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Andy Askren!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Peter Branson and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Askren closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Deneal quickly recovers to half guard.

Deneal has one foot on Askren's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Deneal gets tackled into the cage by Askren. Askren maintains the clinch.
Deneal tries to stall but Askren uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Deneal is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Askren is defending well for now.
Deneal tries to break the clinch but Askren is controlling the position.
Askren is working for takedown but Deneal is calmly controlling the position for now.
Askren goes for a takedown attempt but Deneal pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Deneal fails with an attempt to clinch.
Askren slaps away a takedown attempt from Deneal, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Askren tries to counter with a clinch but Deneal shakes him off and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Deneal tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Askren swivels and escapes.
Deneal shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dwayne Deneal. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Askren decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Deneal is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Askren is looking for a kimura here.
Askren wants to stand but Deneal has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Askren missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Askren wants to stand up but Deneal has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Askren is working for a kimura but Deneal is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Askren trying to control from half guard but Deneal is working away.
Deneal looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Askren is working for an americana but Deneal has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Askren was thinking about the submission.
Askren trying to control the position from guard on top but Deneal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Askren tries to land a body kick
and Deneal counters with a nice uppercut.

It looks like Andy Askren has been cut.
Askren swats away the attempt to clinch by Deneal.
Askren raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Askren fails to land the takedown.
Deneal fails to land the takedown.
Deneal pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren misses with a head kick.
A head kick misses from Askren.
Deneal shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Deneal tries to clinch but Askren is having none of it.
Deneal tries to clinch but Askren moves away

and Askren counters with a nice double leg into side control. Deneal won't be happy with that.

Deneal bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

Askren has closed the distance and engaged Deneal in a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A bit of stalling here from Askren.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Askren drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Deneal gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Askren creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Deneal's defenses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andy Askren dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Andy Askren's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Deneal fails in his attempt to clinch.

It looks like Dwayne Deneal has been cut.

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

Askren is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Deneal is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Deneal has escaped and now he's on top!
Deneal wants to pass the guard but Askren is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Askren is looking for a triangle but Deneal pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Deneal pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Askren is keeping the position for now.

Askren is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Askren looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Askren can do anything to dispel that myth.
Askren keeping moving, preventing Deneal from controlling successfully.
Askren wants to stand up but Deneal is controlling him.
Deneal trying to control but Askren is working from the bottom.

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.
Askren not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Askren throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Deneal works a leg free and moves into half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Deneal tries a head kick but it misses.
Askren shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Deneal as he avoids it easily.
Deneal fails to land the takedown.
Askren avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Deneal swings for the body but Askren moves out of range.
A punch combination from Askren misses.
As Askren looks to move away, Deneal throws a big counter combo bu Askren just gets out of the way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Askren.

Deneal sneaks out the side door and pushes Askren away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Deneal tries to close the distance and clinch but Askren swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Askren with the counter takedown but Deneal avoids it easily.

Askren bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Deneal is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Askren is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Deneal is wriggling around trying to escape.
Askren looking to control but Deneal is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Deneal keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Askren jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Deneal manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Askren working the ground and pound but Deneal is defending the strikes.
Askren blocks the strikes from Deneal.
Askren throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Askren wants to control but Deneal is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andy Askren showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Askren shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Deneal as he avoids it easily.
Deneal is looking to counter with head kicks.
Deneal leaves Askren with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Deneal feinted with a counter takedown.

Deneal drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Askren is looking to get back to his feet here but Deneal is keeping cool and he's managed to take Askren's back.
Andy Askren has got the better of the ground game so far.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askren trying to control the position but Deneal manages to sink in the hooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren staying busy and making it hard for Deneal to control.
Askren is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Deneal working for the choke.
Deneal has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Askren's body.
Deneal is trying to stick to Askren's back but Askren is turning into Deneal. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Deneal's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Askren.

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.
Deneal is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Deneal wants to sweep here but Askren controlling him for the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Askren has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Askren throws a head kick but Deneal moves out of range.
Deneal shoots in but Askren avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Askren steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Deneal.

Askren gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Deneal decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Deneal with a lazy takedown attempt

and Askren counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Deneal jumps guard but Askren turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dwayne Deneal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Askren has Deneal pressed against the cage.
Deneal is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Deneal wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Askren has him pressed against the cage.
Askren fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Askren has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Deneal is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Askren keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Deneal's efforts to push away.
Deneal is trying to break the clinch but Askren is controlling him.
Deneal drops down looking for an ankle pick but Askren pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Deneal works over Askren's head and body with a nice combination.
Deneal looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Askren is fending him off so far but Deneal persists. Nope, Askren circles away and we're back to standing.
Deneal fails in his attempt to clinch.

Askren takes the fight into the clinch.

Askren decides to pull guard.
Askren not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Askren escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Deneal gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Dwayne Deneal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Andy Askren is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Askren is trying to keep Deneal in close.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dwayne Deneal showed his dominance in that final round.
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 David Hoff scores the fight 28:29
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andy Askren!