PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Neo Nova (ranked 1421 p4p, 173 weight class) and Matt Askren (ranked 2054 p4p, 233 weight class). Neo Nova has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Nova
vs
Askren

186 cm
21
178 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

175 cm
21
180 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Big Tree's Vintage Wear ($10 shirts $15 shorts)

Groove Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Neo Nova!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Matt Askren!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Wesley Smith and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nova lands a head kick!
Askren with a poor takedown
and Nova counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nova cracks a nice hook into Askren's ribs.
Nova throws a nice inside leg kick.
Nova throws a looping overhand right but Askren ducks down to avoid it.
Askren checks a leg kick nicely.
Nova misses with a straight right.
Nova paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Askren is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Nova's half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Nova is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Askren pulls his head out easily.
Nova is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Tip of the Spear, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Askren looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Nova with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Nova trying to control but Askren postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Nova is trying to control but can't.
Nova works his way to full guard. Good work.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Nova trying to control the position.
Askren's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Nova is looking for a triangle but Askren pushes his legs off easily.
Askren trying to control but Nova is working from the bottom.
Askren is in close to Nova's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Nova is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Askren wants to control from the top but Nova keeps moving.
Nova trying to keep a closed guard but Askren is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nova looking for a guillotine here but Askren defends easily.
Nova looking to control.

Nova working for a triangle but Askren defends it easily.
Askren pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nova is keeping the position for now.
Askren lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Nova is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Nova working for a triangle but Askren defends it easily.

Nova is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Nova throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Nova looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Askren scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Askren wants to control from the top but Nova keeps moving.

Nova is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Askren defends well.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Askren's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nova wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Askren is now in half guard.
Askren is trying to control. Nova wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Nova moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Askren avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Askren with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Nova is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Nova wants to control the position but Askren says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Askren working over Nova with some ground and pound. Nova looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Askren perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Askren winds up and cracks Nova with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nova regains full guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Neo Nova will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Askren bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
And Askren tries to counter it with a takedown but Nova pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Nova jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nova displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Askren throws out the jab.
Askren fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Nova looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Nova dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Askren. That did some damage!
Nova misses with a straight left.
Askren feints the counter takedown.
Nova pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nova throws a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nova takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Askren defending well as Nova loads up on a big left hand.
Askren changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Neo Nova is winning the standup battle so far.
Nova tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Askren was well out of range. Poor timing from Nova.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nova with a hook.
Nova avoids the body shot from Askren.
Nova walks into a left hand.
Nova throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Askren checks a leg kick.
Nova scoring well with a low kick there.
Nova ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Askren moves away.
Askren is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Askren has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Nova finds it's way round the side to connect with Askren's head.
Neo Nova seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A shot to the liver by Askren. Beautiful body shot.
Askren lands a right hook to the body.
Nova is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Nova is predictable there

and Askren counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Nova!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Askren cracks Nova with a big elbow.
Matt Askren has got the better of the ground game so far.
Askren scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Nova to see if he's OK.
Nova is looking for a sweep.
Nova is not content to let Askren control the position.
Nova is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Askren tries to advance to mount but can't.
Nova is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Askren's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Askren stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nova moves into full guard.

Askren got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nova has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Askren has managed to get both his arms back between Nova's legs - danger averted.

Nova looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Askren has picked Nova up and slammed him! Nova can't keep hold of the triangle and Askren manages to pass to side control!
Nova is looking for a sweep.
Nova taking punishment in the form of punches.
Nova tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Askren presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Nova slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Nova gets back to full guard.
Nova keeping full guard, as Askren tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nova looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Nova is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Askren's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Nova throws his legs up looking for a submission but Askren uses it to pass to side control.
Askren gets to mount! Nova was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Askren controlling from the full mount.
Nova is squirming around, avoiding Askren's attempts to control the action.
Nova is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Matt Askren will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Askren shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Askren showed some decent athleticism there.

Nova looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nova is trying to get back to full guard.
Askren scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nova tries to roll over but Askren keeps him under control.
Askren working the head and body with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nova looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nova is not content to let Askren control the position.
Nova has hold of Askren's hands but Askren slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Nova is looking to improve his position.
Well, if Askren 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.
Askren working the head and body with strikes.
Nova is not content to let Askren control the position.
Nova wants to improve his position but Askren is controlling well.

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.
Nova is staying active underneath Askren, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nova manages to get to full guard.
Askren content to stall in guard here.

Nova working for a triangle but Askren defends it easily.
Askren chips away with some ground and pound.
Askren showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren trying to control but Nova is working from the bottom.

Nova is looking for a triangle but Askren pushes his legs off easily.

Nova looking for subs off his back but Askren has passed one foot through into half guard.
Askren lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Matt Askren is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Nova is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Askren pulls his head out easily.
Askren is trying to control. Nova wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

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.
Nova trying to control but Askren postures up.
Askren is looking to take a break and control but Nova is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nova is looking for a sweep. Askren is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Askren lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Askren is taking a breather. Nova says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Nova is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Askren scores with a couple of nice shots.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Askren looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Nova looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Nova is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Askren pulls his head out easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Askren comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Askren has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight for Matt Askren!
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight for Matt Askren!
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight for Matt Askren!

Matt Askren wins by unanimous decision!
Matt Askren decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.