PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andy Askren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leandro Lima (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leandro Lima will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Askren
vs
Lima

193 cm
25
213 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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, Andy Askren!
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, Leandro Lima!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Dirk Anderson and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lima tries to sprawl but Askren drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Lima is trying to control but can't.
Lima trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Askren manages to pass to mount!
Lima wants to control but Askren is having none of it.
Lima blocking the ground and pound.
Lima should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Lima defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Askren.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Askren is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Lima is surviving well by controlling Askren's body position as best he can.
Lima is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lima is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Askren throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Lima because Askren loaded up on that one.
Askren tries to control but Lima wriggling away.
Poor strikes thrown by Askren there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Askren avoids the attempt from Lima to control.
Askren will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Askren throwing strikes here but Lima is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Askren wants to control the pace but Lima is squirming around nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Askren looking for a guillotine from mount but Lima is having none of it.

Askren looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lima squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Askren thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lima tries to lock up and control but Askren gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Askren misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Askren knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lima on the ground.

Askren is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Lima can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Lima looks winded!
Askren can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lima is looking to escape.
Lima wants to hold on but Askren pushes him away.
Askren unloads with some shots from mount but Lima bucks and avoids them well.

Askren is working for a guillotine from mount but Lima frees his head quite easily.

That's four 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 can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lima is looking to escape.
Askren looking to ground and pound but Lima is blocking nicely.
Lima is squirming around, avoiding Askren's attempts to control the action.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lima tries to hold on but Askren pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andy Askren dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Lima gets caught flat footed, as Askren shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Lima keeping moving, preventing Askren from controlling successfully.
Lima working a defensive guard here.
Askren wants to control from the top but Lima keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lima working a defensive guard but Askren passes into half guard.
Askren is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lima can do to turn this around?
Lima is not content to let Askren control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lima tries to clinch

and Askren counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Askren.
Askren trying to control the position from guard on top but Lima is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Askren pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lima is keeping the position for now.
Askren throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Askren wants to control from the top but Lima keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lima is breathing heavily.

Askren avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Askren trying to control the position from guard on top but Lima is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Askren loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Lima tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Askren defends well and Lima ends up having to push Askren into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
It looked like Askren was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren scores with a three punch combo!

Askren shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Askren was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Lima is not content to let Askren control the position.

Askren decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Askren gets a double leg takedown into Lima's guard.
Lima keeping moving, preventing Askren from controlling successfully.
Askren trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lima working for a triangle but Askren defends it easily.

Askren stands and steps away. Lima gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Askren shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Lima manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lima working a defensive guard here.
Askren wants to control from the top but Lima keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andy Askren dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Askren getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Lima fails with the takedown

and Askren counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Lima preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lima controls Askren momentarily but Askren frees himself.
Askren has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Askren stops Lima from standing up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askren is looking to work some ground and pound but Lima has wrist control.
Lima keeping moving, preventing Askren from controlling successfully.
Lima takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Askren stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lima swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Askren trying to control but Lima is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Lima misses with a combination

and Askren holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Askren jumps guard and drags Lima to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Lima throws a strike but Askren rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Askren wants to control from the top but Lima keeps moving.
Askren pushes down on Lima's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren stops Lima from getting back to his feet.

Askren is working for a submission of some sort.

Askren is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Askren thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lima's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren not doing much here.
Askren wants to stand but Lima has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Askren wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lima keeps working.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Askren feints and as Lima raises his hands in defense, Askren changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Lima is looking to stand back up but Askren counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Lima.

That's four 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.
Askren wants to control but Lima is keeping him busy.
Askren sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lima defending well though.
Andy Askren overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Askren thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Askren wants to take a breather but Lima is having none of it.

Askren stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Askren gets the takedown into side control.
Leandro Lima has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Andy Askren is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Askren looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andy Askren showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Askren has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:26
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:25
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 30:25

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