PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jake Askren (ranked 2559 p4p, 3167 weight class) and Brooke Marsden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marsden has chosen Lunatic Fringe as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Askren
vs
Marsden

170 cm
21
145
4 - 3 - 1

170 cm
25
135
6 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Arcticus University: London

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 4 - 3 - 1, fighting out of London, Jake Askren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brooke Marsden!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Paul Tew and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marsden lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Marsden gets caught napping as Askren dives in and scores a takedown. Marsden manages to retain guard.

Marsden looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Askren working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Marsden escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Askren gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Marsden looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Marsden looking to control.
Askren wants to control from the top but Marsden keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askren is working Marsden over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Askren scoring with punches to the head and body.

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

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marsden throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Marsden not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Askren throws a big elbow that misses.
Askren connects with a couple of short punches.

Marsden working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Askren doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Askren manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Our spies down at at The Proving Grounds inform us that Marsden has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Askren trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Marsden looking to control.
Askren lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Askren sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Marsden's guard.
Askren sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Marsden defending well though.
Askren lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Askren looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Marsden avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Askren.
Marsden is trying to get back to full guard.
Marsden keeping hold of Askren's head, controlling as best he can.
Askren is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Askren prevents Marsden from improving his position.
Marsden keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marsden wants to control but Askren is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Marsden looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Marsden wants to get back to full guard.
Askren passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Marsden!
Marsden wants to control but Askren is having none of it.
Askren landing strikes, looking to finish!
Askren landing punches.
Askren misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Marsden tries to lock up and control but Askren gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Askren can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Marsden is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marsden can't escape the position.
Marsden 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.
Askren not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Marsden is trying is best to control the position here.
Marsden manages to get to full guard.

Marsden looking for a guillotine here but Askren defends easily.
Askren scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Marsden is looking for a triangle but Askren pushes his legs off easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Askren dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Askren closes the distance and pushes Marsden back into the cage.
Askren blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Marsden throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Marsden misses with a punch on the inside.
Marsden lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Marsden lands an uppercut.
Askren looking for a takedown.
Marsden prevents a takedown attempt there.
Marsden working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Marsden swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Askren has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Marsden is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Askren. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askren is working for takedown but Marsden is calmly controlling the position for now.
Marsden scores with a shoulder strike.
Marsden working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Askren has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Marsden regains guard immediately.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Askren throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marsden had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Askren defends it easily.
Marsden working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Askren.

Askren avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Askren with a nice head shot there.
Askren controlling from the top position.
Askren wants to pass the guard but Marsden is keeping the position.

Marsden looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren landing with the ground and pound.

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

Askren avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Marsden is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Askren trying to control but Marsden is working from the bottom.

Marsden escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Askren gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Marsden keeping moving, preventing Askren from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren connects with a couple of short punches.
Askren throws a big elbow that misses.
Marsden trying to keep a closed guard but Askren is proving a slippery customer.
Askren throwing strikes from guard but Marsden blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Askren postures up in Marsden's guard and throws a big left but Marsden blocks it.

Marsden is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Askren is aware though and is defending well.

Marsden is looking for a triangle but Askren pushes his legs off easily.
Askren landing some decent shots from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren distracts Marsden with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Marsden escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Askren gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Marsden not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Jake Askren overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Askren lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Askren connects with a couple of short punches.

Marsden looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Askren has picked Marsden up and slammed him! Marsden can't keep hold of the triangle and Askren manages to pass to side control!
Askren has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Marsden tries to reverse the position but Askren maintains control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Askren lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Askren cracks Marsden with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Askren avoids the attempt from Marsden to control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Askren dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Marsden gets a clinch.
Marsden swings wildly with an uppercut but Askren uses good head movement to avoid it.
Askren blocks an elbow strike.
Marsden prevents the takedown attempt.
Askren is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Marsden gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Askren works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Askren working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Askren wants to control from the top but Marsden keeps moving.

Askren is posturing up here but Marsden has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Askren tries to roll out but it's too tight and Askren has to tap! Slick submission there by Marsden!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Brooke Marsden!
Brooke Marsden bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.