PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mattia Ricon (ranked 6501 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scott Askham (ranked 4347 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Ricon
vs
Askham

192 cm
22
195 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

190 cm
23
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mattia Ricon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Scott Askham!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Daniel Franklin and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crunch! Askham slams his shin into Ricon's torso.
Askham throws a head kick that misses
and Ricon counters with a left and a right that stings Askham.
Askham tries to clinch up.
Askham looks to clinch
and Ricon counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Askham thinking.
Askham looks winded!
Sloppy strikes from Ricon. Those never looked like landing.
Askham throws a right and a left that Ricon avoids nicely.

Askham moves into the clinch.
Ricon is trying to pull guard but Askham turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Askham keeps control of Ricon as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ricon is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Askham to keep the fight standing.
Ricon can't break the clinch.
Ricon is working for takedown but Askham is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mattia Ricon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ricon tries to pull guard but Askham holds him up against the cage and eventually Ricon drops back down to his feet.
Askham drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ricon pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ricon throws a half hearted mid kick.
Askham misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ricon connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Askham's hands.
Ricon tries to score a power double leg takedown but Askham sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ricon somewhat.
Askham throws a big counter head kick but Ricon avoids it with no problem.
Askham blocks a head kick by Ricon.
Askham gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Ricon connects with a body shot.
Ricon scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Askham doesn't seem bothered though.
Ricon misses with a body kick.
Ricon lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Ricon lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Ricon throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A nice side step and Askham releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

Ricon shoots in and gets a takedown into Askham's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ricon slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ricon drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ricon jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ricon trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ricon content to stall in guard here.
Ricon tries to free his leg and advance position but Askham is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askham has momentary wrist control but Ricon slips an elbow through the middle.
Ricon looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ricon tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ricon shoots for a double leg takedown but Askham sprawls well. He's pushed Ricon's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ricon throws a series of punches but Askham avoids them all with ease.
As Ricon backs off Askham throws a huge counter combo but Ricon manages to avoid it all.
Ricon throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ricon misses with a two punch combination.
Ricon fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askham walks into a jab.
Ricon avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ricon throws a big counter combination but Askham scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Ricon shoots in but Askham avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Askham tries to counter by closing the distance.
Ricon cracks Askham with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Ricon throws a series of strikes that have Askham backpedaling.
Ricon fails with a takedown attempt.
Ricon dips to his left and cracks Askham with an uppercut!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mattia Ricon dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Askham avoids the head kick by Ricon.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Ricon has a takedown stuffed.

Askham closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Askham's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mattia Ricon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab lands there for Ricon.
Ricon takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Ricon closes the distance and clinches up with Askham, looking for a takedown. Ricon pushes Askham against the cage but Askham circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ricon lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Askham at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ricon pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mattia Ricon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ricon throws a nice looking combination but Askham bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ricon lands with a nice combination. Askham backs away looking to recover.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ricon throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ricon misses with a series of wild punches.
Ricon misses with a wild combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Askham has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Askham there as he acknowledges the shot.

Askham rushes Ricon and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Askham looking to throw knees to the head but Ricon is blocking nicely.
Askham prevents Ricon from breaking the clinch.
Askham landing knees to the head.
Ricon is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ricon tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Askham smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mattia Ricon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ricon misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Askham is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ricon pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Ricon shoots in and drives through. Askham sprawls well.
Askham tries to clinch there but Ricon circles away.
Ricon avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ricon throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Askham.
Askham wants to clinch up but Ricon keeps it at a distance.
A head kick misses from Ricon.
Ricon is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Askham can do to turn this around?
Askham throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ricon lands with a shot to the body.
Ricon rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Askham moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
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!
Askham tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ricon shoots for a double leg takedown but Askham sprawls well. He's pushed Ricon's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Askham lets loose with a powerful body kick. Ricon will feel that in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ricon connects with a right hand. Askham shakes it off.
A cross from Ricon lands.
Askham is looking to clinch but Ricon is avoiding it.
Ricon connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Askham's hands.
Askham is looking to clinch but Ricon is avoiding it.
Ricon thuds a left hand into Askham's body.
Mattia Ricon is winning the standup battle so far.
Ricon throws a head kick but Askham moves out of range.
Ricon tries to score with a low kick but Askham moves his leg out of the way.
Ricon lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Ricon.
Ricon misses with a kick to the body.
Ricon looks to land a combination but Askham avoids it well.
No luck for Ricon with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Askham clinches up with Ricon and pushes him back against the cage.
Askham has Ricon pressed against the cage, preventing Ricon from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Askham breaks from the clinch.
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!
Ricon misses with a series of wild punches.
Ricon shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Askham as he jumps to the side.
Askham scores with a spinning back kick!
Ricon pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Askham shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ricon sprawls well. Ricon wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Askham gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mattia Ricon dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Ricon lands a really nice looking cross but Askham seems unphased.
Askham walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Ricon changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Askham tries to avoid it but Ricon manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Askham to the ground. Askham escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Askham looks to land a combination. Ricon sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Askham is looking to clinch but Ricon is avoiding it.
Ricon tries a head kick but it misses.

Ricon shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Askham is trying to defend but Ricon finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Ricon seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ricon not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ricon with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Askham blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ricon.
Ricon content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Ricon is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Askham!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Ricon takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Ricon looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ricon wants to finish this one by submission but Askham is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Ricon.
Askham blocking the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ricon controlling from the full mount.
Askham tries to hold on but Ricon pushes him away.
Ricon throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Askham holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Ricon tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Ricon thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Ricon jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Askham manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Ricon moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Ricon misses with the ground and pound.
Scott Askham has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mattia Ricon is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ricon grinds an elbow into Askham's temple.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mattia Ricon showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ricon, 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 David Hoff scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mattia Ricon!