PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Julius Asug (ranked 6619 p4p, 0 weight class) and Conner Oriley (ranked 7419 p4p, 0 weight class). Conner Oriley is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Asug
vs
Oriley

170 cm
18
130 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

168 cm
21
142 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Julius Asug!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Conner Oriley!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Winston Alpacca and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Asug shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
It looks like Asug is going to stand back up.
Asug blocks the strikes from Oriley.
Asug lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Oriley has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Well, if Asug is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Asug wants to pass the guard but Oriley is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oriley wants to control but Asug is keeping busy.
Asug trying to mount his opponent but Oriley defends it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Asug is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Asug wants to pass to mount but Oriley is defending the position.
Asug is controlling the pace.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Julius Asug seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Asug on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Oriley fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
It looked like Asug was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Oriley!

Asug shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Oriley's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Asug works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Oriley is looking to improve his position.
Asug looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Asug stalling away here and it's allowed Oriley to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Asug wants to pass the guard but Oriley is keeping the position.
Asug not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Oriley keeping full guard, as Asug tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Oriley has his foot on Asug's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Asug works his way back into a safe position though.
Asug tries to free his leg and advance position but Oriley is retaining full guard.
Asug postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Asug postures up in Oriley's guard and throws a big left but Oriley blocks it.
Asug is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Asug working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Asug wants to get up but he can't break Oriley's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julius Asug dominated that round.
That's time! Asug's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Oriley blocks a head kick by Asug.
Oriley misses with a double jab.
Asug wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Asug is trying hard to land a takedown here. Oriley sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Asug shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Oriley pinned against the cage. Oriley gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Oriley's coach down at Island Safe Space was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Oriley's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Asug closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Asug lands in his opponent's guard.
Asug stands up over Oriley, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Asug looking to pass the guard.

Oriley has his foot on Asug's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Asug works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oriley tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Asug controlling from the top position.
Asug throws a strike but Oriley rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Asug preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Asug tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Asug preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Oriley drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Asug dives on top into guard.

Asug sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Oriley's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asug wants to take a breather but Oriley is having none of it.
Oriley on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Asug is controlling the pace.
Oriley is looking to improve his position.
Asug controlling the pace.

Asug is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Oriley defends it well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oriley gets back to full guard.
Oriley can't keep his opponent in guard - Asug advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Asug slips a nice elbow through Oriley's hands, connecting with Oriley's forehead.
Oriley slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Asug landing with the ground and pound.
Asug knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Oriley on the ground.
Oriley is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asug stops Oriley from standing up.
Asug looking to pass the guard.
Asug slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Asug's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Oriley keeping full guard, as Asug tries to pass.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julius Asug dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Asug shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Asug is looking to pass Oriley's guard but actually Oriley recovers to full guard.
Asug postures up and lands a big shot to Oriley's brow.
Asug seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Asug trying to control the position from guard on top but Oriley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asug wants to pass the guard but Oriley is keeping the position.
Oriley keeping moving, preventing Asug from controlling successfully.
Asug throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Julius Asug overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Oriley keeping moving, preventing Asug from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Asug showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Oriley.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Asug misses with a head kick.
Oriley connects with a high kick.
Asug tries to close the distance and clinch but Oriley swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Oriley shoots in but Asug avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Asug looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Oriley is fending him off so far but Asug persists. Nope, Oriley circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Asug takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Asug fails with the takedown.
Oriley throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Asug fails with the takedown
and Oriley counters with an outside leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julius Asug. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Asug takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Oriley.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Oriley.
Oriley buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Oriley with a nice cross.
Conner Oriley seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Asug has his takedown stuffed
and Oriley counters with a nice body shot.
Asug is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Oriley punishes Asug's body with a nice straight punch.
Oriley lands a nice looking kick to the body. Asug takes a step back to recover.
Oriley misses with a jab, cross combination.
Asug lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Oriley misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
As Oriley tries to get set, Asug tries to push him back and clinch up but Oriley manages to avoid the attempt.
Oriley fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Asug has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Oriley lands with a kick to the temple. Asug shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Oriley plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Oriley enables Asug to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Oriley manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Oriley working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Asug.

Asug got a little sloppy there for a moment and Oriley has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Asug has managed to get both his arms back between Oriley's legs - danger averted.
Oriley keeping moving, preventing Asug from controlling successfully.
Conner Oriley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Asug won't allow Oriley to sweep him here.
Julius Asug is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Asug trying to control but Oriley is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Conner Oriley comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Asug 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:28
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julius Asug!