PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cory Ashby (ranked 4337 p4p, 4651 weight class) and Bill Billybob (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cory Ashby has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ashby
vs
Billybob

225 cm
26
145
3 - 8 - 0

180 cm
25
155
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Cory Ashby!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bill Billybob!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Donald Grub and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Billybob misses with a series of wild punches.
Ashby closes the distance and clinches up with Billybob, looking for a takedown. Ashby pushes Billybob against the cage but Billybob circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
As Ashby backs off Billybob throws a huge counter combo but Ashby manages to avoid it all.

Billybob shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Ashby is trying to defend but Billybob finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Billybob frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Ashby is breathing heavily.
Billybob throwing strikes here but Ashby is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Billybob lands a big shot there that rocks Ashby but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Ashby is rocked!
Billybob controlling from mount.
Oh Ashby is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
It looks like Billybob might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Ashby really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Billybob goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Ashby is on top in guard.
Ashby seems to have got his legs back now.
Ashby will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ashby wanted to stand there but Billybob had control of the position.
Ashby stopping the sweep attempt from Billybob.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Billybob is on top in guard.

Billybob sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Ashby's guard.

Billybob seems to be working for a kimura but Ashby defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Billybob looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Ashby is trying to stand up here but Billybob is controlling him well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Billybob stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ashby shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Billybob sprawls well. Billybob wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ashby gets slowly back to his feet.
Ashby tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Billybob throws a sloppy head kick and Ashby moves out of range easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Billybob decides to pull guard.
Billybob pulls Ashby in to control the position.

Billybob looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Billybob is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Billybob is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Billybob is trying to control the position but Ashby postures up.
Ashby throws a big elbow that misses.
Ashby is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ashby tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Billybob swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cory Ashby. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ashby blocks a head kick by Billybob.
As Billybob looks to move away, Ashby throws a big counter combo but Billybob just gets out of the way.
Billybob throws a sloppy head kick and Ashby moves out of range easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bill Billybob dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Billybob fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Billybob fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Ashby lands with a slapping head kick.
Billybob misses with a head kick.
Billybob misses with a takedown attempt - Ashby sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
No joy there for Billybob, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Billybob tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Billybob has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ashby blocks a head kick by Billybob.
A low kick from Billybob misses
and Ashby counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Billybob is lucky that one didn't land flush.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Billybob tries to bum rush Ashby with a series of wild strikes but Ashby uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Billybob throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
No luck for Ashby with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Billybob keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sloppy strikes from Billybob. Those never looked like landing.
A counter left hand to the body from Ashby misses its target.
Billybob pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Billybob stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Billybob wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cory Ashby. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Billybob throws a head kick that misses.
Billybob misses with a head kick.
Ashby shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Billybob defends it nicely.
Ashby throws a sloppy head kick and Billybob moves out of range easily.
Billybob tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Billybob tries a head kick but it misses.
Billybob scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Billybob avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Billybob misses with a leg kick.
Billybob keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Billybob has managed to clinch.
Billybob misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Billybob escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Billybob pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Billybob throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ashby shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Billybob sprawls well. Billybob wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ashby gets slowly back to his feet.
Ashby moves out of range of the body kick.
Cory Ashby is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Billybob darts in looking for a takedown but Ashby gets double underhooks and turns Billybob into the cage.
Nice sprawl there from Billybob as Ashby shoots in.
No joy there for Billybob, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Billybob goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Ashby decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Billybob tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Ashby manages to move to mount!
Ashby avoids the attempt from Billybob to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ashby working the ground and pound effectively.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ashby can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Billybob is looking to escape.
Billybob wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Billybob wants to control but Ashby is having none of it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bill Billybob showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Ashby's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Billybob misses with a combination
and Ashby counters with a three punch combo that has Billybob backing up. Billybob nods at Ashby to acknowledge the strikes.
Ashby blocks a head kick by Billybob.
Ashby tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Billybob manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ashby shoots in looking for a takedown. Billybob tries to sprawl out of it but Ashby keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Billybob manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Billybob bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Billybob looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ashby is fending him off so far but Billybob persists. Nope, Ashby circles away and we're back to standing.

Billybob drives through and clinches with Ashby against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Billybob just leaning against Ashby, taking a breather.

Billybob breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Billybob misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A combination from Billybob does no damage.
Ashby shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Billybob counters with a one-two to the body.
Billybob misses with a two punch combination.

Billybob tries to keep at a distance but Ashby has taken the fight into the clinch.
Billybob tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ashby avoids it.
Billybob misses with a body punch.
Ashby gets underhooks to prevent Billybob's takedown attempt.

Ashby pulls guard successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Billybob stays in close to Ashby's body and controls the position.
Billybob must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ashby is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Billybob trying to control the position from guard on top but Ashby is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Billybob slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Ashby is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Billybob remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Billybob postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
A lull in the action here.
Billybob wants to control but Ashby is keeping him busy.

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.

Billybob is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ashby knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Ashby can't do much from the bottom here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Billybob lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Cory Ashby has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bill Billybob is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Billybob misses with the combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bill Billybob comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Billybob has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bill Billybob!