PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jake Askren (ranked 1585 p4p, 2344 weight class) and Alejandro Laguera (ranked 127 p4p, 173 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Askren
vs
Laguera

170 cm
32
132
18 - 24 - 1

171 cm
32
145
16 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Sakura Style

30th Century Beer Store

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 18 - 24 - 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 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alejandro Laguera!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Richard Clark and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Askren gets a double leg takedown into Laguera's guard.

Laguera is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Askren defends well.

Laguera looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Laguera looking to hit a scissor sweep but Askren is one step ahead there.

Laguera 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.
Laguera keeping moving, preventing Askren from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askren is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Laguera is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Laguera is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Laguera looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Askren wants to control from the top but Laguera keeps moving.
Askren controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Askren wants to control from the top but Laguera keeps moving.

Laguera is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Askren trying to control but Laguera is working from the bottom.

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.

Askren avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Askren gets to his feet. Laguera looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Laguera gets caught napping as Askren dives in and scores a takedown. Laguera manages to retain guard.
Askren looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren controlling from the top position.
Askren trying to control the position from guard on top but Laguera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Askren's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Askren wants to control from the top but Laguera keeps moving.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Askren trying to control but Laguera is working from the bottom.

Laguera is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Askren showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Laguera 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.

Laguera 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.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Askren dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Askren shoots in and gets a takedown into Laguera's guard.

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

Askren got a little sloppy there for a moment and Laguera has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Askren has managed to get both his arms back between Laguera's legs - danger averted.
Askren is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Laguera can do to turn this around?
Laguera keeping moving, preventing Askren from controlling successfully.
Askren is in close to Laguera's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Askren sitting in guard here, content to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Laguera working for a triangle but Askren defends it easily.
Laguera tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laguera keeping moving, preventing Askren from controlling successfully.

Laguera 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.

Laguera 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 trying to control but Laguera is working from the bottom.

Laguera is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Askren is aware though and is defending well.
Askren trying to control the position from guard on top but Laguera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Askren's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Askren closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Laguera to the mat! Laguera manages to get full guard.
Askren trying to control the position from guard on top but Laguera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Laguera 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.

Laguera is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Askren defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Askren stands up and waves to Laguera to follow him.

Askren manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Laguera on his heels. He'll look to pass Laguera's guard now, I'm sure.
Askren wants to control from the top but Laguera keeps moving.

Laguera 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.

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

Laguera is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Jake Askren overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laguera looking for a sweep. Not yet Laguera, not yet.
Askren trying to control the position from guard on top but Laguera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Askren is really struggling to control Laguera but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Laguera looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Askren dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Askren slips under a jab.

Askren closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Laguera looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Laguera taking some punishment here, with Askren in his half guard.
Askren trying to mount his opponent but Laguera defends it.
Laguera is in trouble now - Askren has advanced to mount!
Askren trying to control but Laguera is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laguera can't escape the position.
Laguera stops Askren from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Laguera is in all sorts of trouble here.
Laguera has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren wants to control the pace but Laguera is squirming around nicely.
Laguera is desperately trying to improve his position but Askren has a good base and remains in mount.
Laguera 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.

Laguera looking for submissions off his back.
Askren trying to pass the guard but Laguera defending well.

Askren is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Laguera defends it well.

Laguera actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Askren wants to take a breather but Laguera is having none of it.
Laguera makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Laguera.

Laguera 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.

Laguera 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 showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Laguera working for a triangle but Askren defends it easily.

Laguera throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Laguera takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Askren's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Laguera had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Askren defends it easily.
Askren seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Laguera looking for submissions off his back.
Askren has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Askren is landing with some decent strikes but Laguera is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Laguera tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Askren moves to the back.
Alejandro Laguera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Askren is trying to stick to Laguera's back but Laguera is turning into Askren. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Askren's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Laguera.

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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jake Askren!
A victorious Jake Askren thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.