PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eusebio Zapata (ranked 1622 p4p, 201 weight class) and Yen Askren (ranked 1251 p4p, 194 weight class). Askren is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Hello from the Askren Side. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Zapata
vs
Askren

167 cm
28
174 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

178 cm
22
185 lbs
9 - 4 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Freebok (85% Laundry)
Sully's Bar & Grill

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 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Eusebio Zapata!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Yen Askren!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Askren misses the jab.
Zapata swings widly with a right hand
and Askren counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Eusebio Zapata has been cut.
Askren avoids the body shot from Zapata.
A good leg kick by Zapata.
The fighters circling - Zapata throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Zapata just misses with a punch to the body.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Askren has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Eusebio Zapata seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Askren throws a hook to the side of Zapata's head but Zapata sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Zapata throws a looping overhand right but Askren ducks down to avoid it.
Zapata misses the jab.
Askren swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Askren thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zapata throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askren scores with a crisp jab that stopped Zapata in his tracks.
Zapata swings widly with a right hand
and Askren counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Askren moves out of range of the strikes.
Askren looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Zapata swings away with a body shot that misses
and Askren counters with a nice uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Askren takes a swing at Zapata's ribcage but misses.
Zapata throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A countering left hand to the body from Askren misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zapata as he avoids it easily.
Zapata throws a shot from downtown. Askren moves away and avoids it.
Askren changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Zapata throws a right and a left that Askren avoids nicely.
Askren is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Askren ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Zapata tries to move into range but Askren moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Askren defending well as Zapata loads up on a big left hand.
Askren lands with a straight right. Zapata didn't see that one coming.
Some wild striking there from Zapata.
Zapata steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Askren.
Zapata tries to land a front kick but Askren steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Askren! But no joy.
Zapata looks to land a left hand but Askren moved out of range nicely.
Askren unleashes a big counter combination but Zapata bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Askren thuds a left hand into Zapata's body.
Askren avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nice cross by Zapata.
Askren ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zapata moves away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zapata uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Askren.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Zapata throws a right hand that Askren ducks under and follows up with a left that Askren also avoids with ease.
Askren keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Askren throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Zapata tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Askren is in Zapata's guard.
Askren stopping the sweep attempt from Zapata.
Askren in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Askren landing some decent shots from guard.
Zapata looking to control.
Askren throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zapata works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zapata knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Askren on the ground.
Askren's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Zapata looking for a sweep. Not yet Zapata, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren controlling from the top position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Askren is looking to work some ground and pound but Zapata has wrist control.
Zapata working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Askren.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Askren uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zapata.

Askren shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Askren chips away with some ground and pound.
Zapata on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Zapata tries to get out of the position.
Askren chips away with some ground and pound.
Askren is looking to work some ground and pound but Zapata has wrist control.
Zapata might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Askren sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Zapata's guard.
Askren has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Askren landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Askren is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Askren sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zapata defending well though.
Zapata taking some punishment here, with Askren in his half guard.
Askren missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Askren with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Askren not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Askren not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Zapata is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yen Askren dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Eusebio Zapata's cut.
That's time! Zapata's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Zapata misses with a hook. Askren ducked under it nicely.
Askren has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Zapata jabs Askren to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Askren connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Askren shoots in and bounces Zapata off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Askren working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Askren works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Askren slips a nice elbow through Zapata's hands, connecting with Zapata's forehead.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zapata has hold of Askren's hands but Askren slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Askren takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Askren landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren throwing shots but Zapata is blocking nicely.
Askren is nestled in close to Zapata, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Askren lands strikes from half guard.
Askren works his way into side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Askren.
Askren throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The referee asks Askren politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Askren prefers to stall for the moment though.
Check out the look on Askren's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
The referee asks Askren politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Askren prefers to stall for the moment though.
Yen Askren has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zapata wants to control but Askren postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren landing a few strikes.
Zapata taking a bit of punishment here - Askren scoring with strikes.
Zapata defending against the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Askren controlling the position from side mount.
The ground and pound from Askren seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Askren landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Askren lands a few punches from side control.
Askren scoring with punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Zapata is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Askren fails to land a wild elbow strike.
An elbow from Askren crashes against the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Askren looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Askren in side control lands a decent elbow.
Askren misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Zapata avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Askren.
Askren postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren wants to control but Zapata is keeping him busy.
Askren throws a strike aimed at the side of Zapata's head but Zapata avoids it well.
Askren working the ground and pound but Zapata is defending the strikes.
The strikes coming from Askren are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Zapata defending against the ground and pound.
Askren working the ground and pound but Zapata is defending the strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Askren lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Zapata down.
Askren creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Zapata sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Zapata taking punishment in the form of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yen Askren showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Eusebio Zapata's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Zapata connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Zapata displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Askren.
Zapata moves out of range of the strikes.
Askren misses with a body shot.
Zapata throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Askren walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Askren closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Zapata's guard.
Askren controlling from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Zapata's head.
Askren throws a big elbow that misses.
Askren slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Askren slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Askren working the head with strikes.

Askren is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Zapata is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Zapata takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren tries to score with some ground and pound. Zapata controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Askren happy to just control the position for now.
Zapata takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Zapata is working to avoid the ground and pound but Askren connects with a decent elbow.
Askren in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Askren fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren working the ground and pound but Zapata is defending the strikes.
Askren tries to score with some ground and pound. Zapata controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Eusebio Zapata has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zapata takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Zapata is looking for a sweep.
Askren lands an elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Askren controls the position.
Askren postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Askren cracks Zapata with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Askren stalls from top position.
Askren tries to score with some ground and pound. Zapata controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Zapata on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Zapata takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Zapata is working to avoid the ground and pound but Askren connects with a decent elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Askren just content to control the position.
Askren lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yen Askren comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Askren winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 26:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 26:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yen Askren!
Yen Askren gave a mention to Freebok (85% Laundry) in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).