PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Taiga Jim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Ashton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ashton has chosen Zombie Nation as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Jim
vs
Ashton

189 cm
23
197 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

182 cm
24
200 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Sully's Bar & Grill

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Taiga Jim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Eric Ashton!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Glass and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ashton has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Ashton there as he acknowledges the shot.

Jim clinches with his opponent.
Ashton tries to score a body lock takedown but Jim shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ashton has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Jim is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Ashton blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ashton blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Jim fails to land.
Jim misses with a punch to the body.

Ashton breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ashton swats away the attempt to clinch by Jim.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jim scores with a nice right hand.
Taiga Jim seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jim displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ashton throws out the jab.
Jim throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ashton sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jim clinches up with Ashton and pushes him back against the cage.
Jim is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Jim scores with a nice hook to the head.
Jim tries to stall but Ashton uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Jim is struggling to control the position.
A nice right hand lands inside from Jim.
Jim tries to stall but Ashton uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Ashton gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Ashton is looking to work some ground and pound but Jim has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jim can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ashton controls the pace.
My spies in Gorilla Warfare MMA inform me that Ashton has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Ashton wants to pass the guard but Jim is keeping the position.
Jim seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ashton stopping the sweep attempt from Jim.
Ashton's corner is telling him to maintain position.
It looks like Ashton might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Ashton wants to pass the guard but Jim is keeping the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jim misses with the combination.
Ashton looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Jim lands a jab.
Ashton looks to throw the jab but Jim is out of range.
The fighters circling - Jim throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Jim lands a glancing blow to the side of Ashton's head.
Jim paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Jim swinging wildly here.
A little jabbing left from Ashton on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Jim is looking to clinch.
Jim misses with a straight left.
Ashton swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Jim scores with the left hand. Ashton knows he should have avoided that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ashton misses with a left hand
and Jim counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Jim swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Ashton counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jim stalks Ashton and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Ashton's face. Ashton staggers backwards, shaken.
Jim works the jab nicely.
Ashton avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jim throws a poor cross that misses
and Ashton counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Jim digs a good body shot into Ashton's ribs.
Jim tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ashton swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jim is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Ashton takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Jim uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Nice uppercut there from Jim.
Jim uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ashton.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taiga Jim dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Jim slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Jim moves to clinch but Ashton breaks away
and Jim takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Jim connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Jim ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ashton moves away.
Ashton is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Jim lands with an uppercut that bounces Ashton off the cage and back into range.
Jim uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ashton.
Jab, jab by Jim - just one landing.

Jim has taken the fight to the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short left from Jim.
Jim tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Jim goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ashton blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jim tries to work over Ashton's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Ashton tries to score a body lock takedown but Jim shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Jim.
The referee is keeping an eye on Ashton - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Jim misses with a short punch on the inside.
Jim tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Jim swings wildly with an uppercut but Ashton uses good head movement to avoid it.

Ashton wants the takedown. Jim is fighting it off but Ashton persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Jim's guard against the cage.
Ashton trying to control the position from guard on top but Jim is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ashton preventing the sweep.
Ashton trying to control but Jim is working from the bottom.
Ashton stopping the sweep attempt from Jim.
Ashton throwing strikes but missing.
Ashton is working Jim over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ashton pushing down on Jim's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Ashton keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jim is not content to let Ashton control the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
The fighters are battling for position here. Jim manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Jim is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ashton can do to turn this around?
Ashton trying to control the position from guard on top but Jim is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jim is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Jim is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Jim takes a swing at Ashton's ribcage but misses.

Jim moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jim throws a head punch that misses.
Ashton changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Jim fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Jim scores with a sloppy right hand. Ashton should have avoided that one.
Jim looks to land a right hand but Ashton moved out of range.
Ashton is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
A lazy left from Jim finds it's target.
A good leg kick by Jim.
Jim throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ashton swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jim moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Jim takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jim throws a body punch but Ashton moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taiga Jim dominated that second round.
That's time! Jim's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Jim darts in trying to clinch
and Ashton counters with a straight right hand.
Jim cracks a nice hook into Ashton's ribs.
Jim tries to clinch up but Ashton circles away and keeps his distance.
Jim lands an overhand right.
Jim connects with a solid leg kick.
Jim is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Jim throws a nice looking combination but Ashton bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Ashton! But no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jim scores with a shot to the body.
Jim misses with a combination
and Ashton counters with a straight right hand.
Jim takes one on the button.

Jim is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ashton gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Ashton takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Jim gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Jim presses Ashton against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Ashton has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Jim misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ashton has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Jim is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Jim displaying some good clinch control by pressing Ashton up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ashton.
Jim's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Ashton blocks an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jim lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Jim trying to stall but Ashton improves his position.
Jim lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Jim doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Jim misses with a hook from the clinch.
Jim is struggling to control the position.
The referee calls for Ashton to work.
Jim working aggressively here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jim can't find room to land a body shot as Ashton controls the action.
Jim lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ashton backwards.
Ashton tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ashton blocking some punches.
Ashton has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Jim after a bit of a struggle.
Taiga Jim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Ashton.
Ashton has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Jim is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Jim tries a body shot but Ashton blocks it.
Jim lands a body punch.
Jim tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Jim prevents the takedown attempt.
A head punch on the inside from Jim fails to land.
Taiga Jim has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Jim fails to land.
Jim lands a nice uppercut.
Jim tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Jim stalling.
Eric Ashton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jim misses with a punch to the body.
Jim misses with a punch on the inside.
Come on Jim - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Jim tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jim dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Jim misses with the head strike.
Ashton tries a body shot but Jim blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taiga Jim showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Jim, 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 William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taiga Jim!
During a confident post fight interview, Taiga Jim thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.