PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jaxson Wilder (ranked 934 p4p, 140 weight class) and Yen Askren (ranked 1291 p4p, 201 weight class). Askren is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Hello from the Askren Side. 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.

Wilder
vs
Askren

187 cm
24
205 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

178 cm
23
185 lbs
11 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Freebok (85% Laundry)

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 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jaxson Wilder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Yen Askren!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wilder throws a body punch but Askren moves out of range.
Askren tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Wilder scores with a crisp jab that stopped Askren in his tracks.
Wilder misses with a hook.
Askren has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Wilder lands with a straight right. Askren didn't see that one coming.
Wilder misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Askren.
Wilder looks to throw the jab but Askren is out of range.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Wilder, as that shot connected.
Askren throws a lazy uppercut
and Wilder counters with a nice uppercut.
Askren blocks a jab.
Askren shoots in for a takedown but Wilder shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A cross from Askren lands.
Wilder throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Wilder swats away the attempt to clinch by Askren.
Wilder throwing a counter right hand but Askren manages to avoid it.
Askren shoots in and drives through. Wilder sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilder is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Askren.
Jaxson Wilder seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wilder scores with a nice right hand.
Askren throws the left hand but Wilder avoids the punch easily.
Askren on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Wilder misses the body punch
and Askren counters with a straight right hand.
Askren fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Wilder looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Askren takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Wilder waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Askren.
Wilder keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jaxson Wilder has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yen Askren.

Oooooh!!! Wilder has knocked Askren down with a huge combo! Wilder steps away and waves a wobbly Askren back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Askren is rocked!

It looks like Yen Askren has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Askren fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Askren is still on wobbly legs! Can Wilder finish him?
Askren fails with an attempt to clinch.
Wilder just misses with a punch to the body.
The fighters circling - Wilder throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Askren seems to have recovered his senses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good shot there by Askren.
Wilder throws a series of punches but Askren moves out of range.
Askren jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Askren misses with a straight left.
Wilder staying out of range there.
Wilder has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Talu's Boxing Club in the buildup to the fight.
Askren bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Wilder blocks a jab.
Askren punishes Wilder's body with a nice straight punch.
A big left from Wilder misses.

Askren shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Askren showed some decent athleticism there.
Askren thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Askren looks to land a strike but Wilder avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Askren with a flurry of punches that miss.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wilder keeping moving, preventing Askren from controlling successfully.
Askren postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Askren postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Wilder is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

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

That's four 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.
Wilder slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Wilder looks to throw the jab but Askren is out of range.
Wilder loads up on a big right hand but Askren slips the punch.
Askren avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Wilder stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Wilder swats away the attempt to clinch by Askren.
Askren throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Wilder to counter with a crisp jab.
Wilder throws a shot from downtown. Askren moves away and avoids it.
Wilder throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Askren feints the counter takedown.
Wilder walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Wilder lands with an uppercut that bounces Askren off the cage and back into range.
A telegraphed right hand from Askren misses the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaxson Wilder dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Yen Askren's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Askren swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Askren slips a straight right by Wilder.
Nice body punch from Askren.
Wilder throws a looping overhand right but Askren ducks down to avoid it.
Askren feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Wilders jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Wilder is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Askren can do to turn this around?
Askren misses with a lunging right hand
and Wilder counters with a straight right hand.
Askren steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Wilder.
Askren takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Wilder throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Askren counters with a nice uppercut.
Wilder throws a big shot that misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Askren! But no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askren dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Askren throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Wilder on the side of the head.

It looks like Jaxson Wilder has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Askren is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Wilder.
Wilder throws an overhand right that lands on Askren's shoulder, as Askren tries to avoid the shot.
Wilder looks to land a left hand but Askren moved out of range nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilder throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Askren sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Askren moves out of range as Wilder strikes.
Wilder throws a lazy right hand but Askren sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Wilder is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Askren.
It seemed like Askren was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Askren misses with a takedown
and Wilder counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Askren doesn't manage to clinch there - Wilder circles away.
Askren smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Askren moves away from the strike by Wilder.
Askren slips under a jab.
Wilder takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Wilder throws a poor cross that misses

and Askren counters with a nice double leg into side control. Wilder won't be happy with that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Askren throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren trying to control the position but Wilder is working away.
Wilder tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Askren throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Wilder holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Askren tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Askren scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Askren thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Wilder holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Askren tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Wilder wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Askren.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren controlling from mount.
Askren tries to control but Wilder wriggling away.
Wilder suckers Askren into throwing a sloppy strike and uses the momentum to reverse the position beautifully! Wilder is now in Askren's guard!
Askren tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Askren is trying to control the position but Wilder postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren wants to improve his position but instead Wilder has moved into half guard.
Askren trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Wilder manages to pass to mount!
Askren tries to reverse the position but Wilder maintains control.
Wilder sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Askren sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Yen Askren will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Wilder pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Askren stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Askren moves out of range of the strikes.
Askren slips under a jab.
Askren fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Wilder manages to avoid it.
Wilder is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Wilder throws a lazy uppercut
and Askren counters with a nice uppercut.
Wilder throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
It seemed like Askren was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Wilder swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Decent striking displayed by Askren there.
Askren moves away from the strike by Wilder.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askren misses with a two punch combination.
Askren is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Wilder.
Wilder misses with a straight left.
It seemed like Askren was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Askren steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Wilder.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren connects with a body shot.
Askren moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
A big right from Wilder misses.
Askren throws out a counter right but Wilder avoids it with no problem.
Wilder showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Askren.
Jaxson Wilder is winning the standup battle so far.
Wilder scores with a jab to the jaw.
Askren takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Askren bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Wilder misses with a looping right.
Askren looks to throw the jab but Wilder is out of range.
Wilder misses with a hook. Askren ducked under it nicely.
The fighters circling - Wilder throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilder throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Askren to counter with a crisp jab.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Wilder swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Wilder lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Askren lands with an overhand left.
Wilder takes one on the button.
Wilder scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Wilder cracks Askren with a good jab.
Wilder misses with a body shot.
A slow jab from Wilder misses its intended target.
Askren slips a straight right by Wilder.
Wilder misses with a hook. Askren ducked under it nicely.
Wilder misses with an uppercut
and Askren counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Wilder throws a series of strikes that have Askren backpedaling.
Wilder fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Askren on the side of the head.
Askren has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilder throws a hook but Askren avoids it easily.
Askren staying out of range there.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Askren! But no joy.
Wilder throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Askren! But no joy.
Jaxson Wilder is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Askren missing with a left hand there. Wilder was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Askren wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Wilder misses with a looping left.
Askren tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Wilder defends well and Askren ends up having to push Wilder into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
An attempted straight right counter from Wilder misses the target.
Wilder throws a poor cross that misses
and Askren counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Wilder defending well as Askren loads up on a big left hand.
Askren fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Wilder manages to avoid it.
A big right from Wilder misses.
Askren throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Wilder sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Askren ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Wilder.
Askren closes this distance looking for a takedown but Wilder circles away.
Askren shoots in for a double leg but Wilder sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Jaxson Wilder has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yen Askren.
Wilder jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Askren moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Askren thuds his right hand into Wilder's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wilder lands a really nice looking cross but Askren seems unphased.
Wilder misses with a straight left.
Askren misses with a straight right.
As Askren looks to move away, Wilder throws a big counter combo but Askren just gets out of the way.

Askren pushes Wilder up against the cage in a clinch.
Askren tries to work over Wilder's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Askren is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Wilder pulls him back up using the underhooks.
A hook to the body from Askren.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jaxson Wilder.
I think Wilder 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jaxson Wilder!
A relieved looking Jaxson Wilder thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
Yen Askren spoke after the fight, saying 'I blame Bjorn and the Egg.'.