PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jake Askren (ranked 2838 p4p, 2796 weight class) and Bernie Sanders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Sanders's choice of entrance music: Shooter Gang. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Askren
vs
Sanders

170 cm
24
145
7 - 9 - 1

150 cm
37
134
16 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 7 - 9 - 1, fighting out of London, Jake Askren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bernie Sanders!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Donald Grub and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Askren tries to clinch there but Sanders circles away.
A little jabbing left from Sanders on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Askren misses with a right hand
and Sanders counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Askren fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sanders swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Askren has managed to clinch.
Askren gets through Sanders's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Askren avoiding damage.
Askren lands a nice shot to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Askren creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Askren lands a right hand.

Sanders has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Askren regains guard immediately.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sanders accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sanders passes Askren's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanders is working for a submission of some sort.
Askren tries to roll over but Sanders keeps him under control.
Askren is working hard here to advance position.
Askren is not content to let Sanders control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sanders with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Askren moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Sanders throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Askren works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sanders trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Askren working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sanders.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sanders is looking to work some ground and pound but Askren has wrist control.
Askren working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sanders.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Askren looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Askren misses with a body shot.
Askren tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
It seemed like Sanders was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Askren tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sanders swats him away and circles back towards the center.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Sanders! But no joy.

Askren closes the distance and clinches.
A head punch on the inside from Askren fails to land.
Askren is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Askren gets underhooks to prevent Sanders's takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanders looking for a takedown.
Jake Askren has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bernie Sanders.
Sanders tries for a takedown. No joy.
Askren lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sanders blocking some punches.
Sanders wants to take the fight to the mat but Askren manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Askren lands an uppercut.
Askren misses with a hook to the ribs.
Askren prevents a takedown attempt there.
Askren lands with a light punch inside.
Askren misses with some punches.

Sanders gets a trip takedown into half guard.
My spies in Uncle Nastys Training Shack inform me that Sanders has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sanders throwing shots but Askren is blocking nicely.
Askren is positioning himself well to prevent Sanders advancing to mount.

Sanders is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Askren doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sanders.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jake Askren will probably get the nod.
That's time! Askren's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sanders drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Askren closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanders is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Askren is defending well.
Sanders goes for a takedown in the clinch but Askren prevents it.
Askren gets underhooks to prevent Sanders's takedown attempt.
Jake Askren has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bernie Sanders.
Sanders looking for a takedown.
Askren struggles to land a body shot inside as Sanders controls his hands.
Askren lands a left hand.
Askren prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders has Askren pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Askren manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sanders is working for takedown but Askren is calmly controlling the position for now.
Sanders is looking to take this one to the mat.
Sanders has Askren pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Askren manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sanders drops down looking for an ankle pick but Askren pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sanders is breathing heavily.
Askren wants to clinch.
Sanders looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Sanders takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Sanders shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren lands a two punch combo.
Askren wants to clinch.
Sanders swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Askren throws a lazy right hand but Sanders sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sanders swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Askren fails with an attempt to clinch.
Askren lands a body shot.
Askren is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sanders can do to turn this around?
Askren cracks Sanders with a good jab.
Askren lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren misses with a shot to the body
letting Sanders counter with a right hand.
Askren throws a body shot but no joy.
It seemed like Sanders was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Nice defenses there by Sanders.
Sanders gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Askren.
Askren is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Askren is looking to clinch.
Sanders takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Askren throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Askren moves in looking to clinch but Sanders pushes him off.
Sanders swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Askren throws a hook but Sanders avoids it easily.
Sanders closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren swings for the body but Sanders moves out of range.
Sanders swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Jake Askren seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sanders slips a jab and a cross from Askren.
Jake Askren is winning the standup battle so far.
Sanders circles away from the clinch attempt.
Askren fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Sanders on the side of the head.
Askren throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sanders swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Askren is looking to clinch but Sanders is avoiding it.

Askren closes the distance and clinches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sanders blocks a body shot from Askren.
Sanders is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Askren is defending well.
Sanders has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Askren avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Askren throws a head punch that misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Askren smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Askren connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Sanders momentarily.
Askren tries to clinch but Sanders moves out of range.
Askren is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sanders takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askren doesn't manage to clinch there - Sanders circles away.
Askren waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sanders.
Askren throws a one two combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Askren misses.
Sanders swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Askren's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Askren duly obliges.
Sanders dodges the punch combination from Askren.
A little jabbing left from Sanders on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Sanders walks into a straight right hand from Askren.
Sanders showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Askren.
A little jabbing left from Sanders on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Askren misses the shot to the body.
Bernie Sanders has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanders keeps the fight on the outside.
A little jabbing left from Sanders on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Askren thuds a left hand into Sanders's body.

Askren rushes Sanders and presses him up against the cage.
Sanders wants a takedown.
Sanders blocking some punches.

Askren is fighting off a takedown attempt but Sanders is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Askren to the mat. Askren regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sanders throws a strike but Askren rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Askren postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Sanders has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Askren can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sanders preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sanders has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sanders has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Askren can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Sanders has his foot on Askren's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Askren works his way back into a safe position though.
Askren working some strikes from top position.
Sanders looking to hit a scissor sweep but Askren is one step ahead there.
Sanders can't keep his opponent in guard - Askren advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Sanders looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Askren lands with a punch from half guard.
Askren scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Askren blocks the strikes from Sanders.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanders on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

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

Sanders looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sanders takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Askren trying to mount his opponent but Sanders defends it.

Sanders is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Askren pulls his head out easily.
Askren scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Askren lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Sanders is trying to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jake Askren showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Askren, 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jake Askren!
After winning the bout, Jake Askren thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Bernie Sanders spoke after the fight, saying 'COME ON! FU@#$ ALL JUDGES!!! I WON!'.