PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jake Askren (ranked 1338 p4p, 1547 weight class) and Chilli Bloke (ranked 104 p4p, 122 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Askren
vs
Bloke

170 cm
33
132
19 - 24 - 1

178 cm
29
135
16 - 11 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Fast

Wrestler Wayfare

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 19 - 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 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chilli Bloke!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Colin Fotheringham and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Askren closes the distance and clinches up with Bloke, looking for a takedown. Askren pushes Bloke against the cage but Bloke circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
We've been told by Askren's head coaches at Shut Up & Train! that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Bloke lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Bloke missing with a left hand there. Askren was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Askren throws a series of punches but Bloke moves out of range.
Bloke lands a jab to the head.

Askren shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Bloke manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Bloke working for a triangle but Askren defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Bloke is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Askren trying to control the position from guard on top but Bloke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Bloke 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bloke has a closed guard, preventing Askren from standing up.

Bloke is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Bloke is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Askren trying to stand up but can't free himself from Bloke's guard.
Bloke keeping moving, preventing Askren from controlling successfully.

That's two 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.

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

Bloke looking for a guillotine here but Askren defends easily.

Askren got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bloke has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Askren has managed to get both his arms back between Bloke's legs - danger averted.
Askren trying to control the position from guard on top but Bloke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Askren is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Bloke is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bloke being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Nice sprawl there from Bloke as Askren shoots in.
Askren slips under a jab.
A little feinted left hand from Askren on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Askren looking to score a takedown here. Bloke is defending well but Askren drives through and ends up in Bloke's guard.
Askren wants to get up but he can't break Bloke's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Bloke 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.
Askren trying to control but Bloke is working from the bottom.
Bloke is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Bloke is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Askren controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bloke keeping moving, preventing Askren from controlling successfully.

Bloke looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Askren wants to control from the top but Bloke keeps moving.

Bloke looking for a guillotine here but Askren defends easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Bloke looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Chilli Bloke will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Bloke throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
It looked like Askren wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Bloke gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Askren to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Askren trying to stand up but can't free himself from Bloke's guard.

Bloke working for a triangle but Askren defends it easily.
Askren sitting in guard here, content to control.
Our spies down at at Crapollas Gym inform us that Bloke has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bloke working for a triangle but Askren defends it easily.
Askren sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bloke is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Askren is aware though and is defending well.
Askren wants to control from the top but Bloke keeps moving.

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

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

Bloke 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.
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.
Jake Askren overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two 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.

Bloke throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Askren is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Askren trying to control the position from guard on top but Bloke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Bloke looking for a guillotine here but Askren defends easily.
Askren working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Bloke throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

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

Askren decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Bloke misses with a hook.
Askren uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bloke.
Bloke misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nice uppercut lands for Bloke. That snapped Askren's head back.
Askren tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bloke swivels and escapes.
Bloke throws out a counter right but Askren avoids it with no problem.
Chilli Bloke is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bloke stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bloke stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bloke wants it to stay on the feet.
It seemed like Bloke was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Askren tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bloke defends well and Askren ends up having to push Bloke into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Askren. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Askren is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Bloke is defending well.
Askren is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Bloke is keeping busy.
Bloke tries to work over Askren's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Askren is trying to stall.
Askren lands a left hand that snaps the head of Bloke backwards.
Bloke doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bloke swings wildly with an uppercut but Askren uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bloke throws a punch but it's blocked by Askren.
Bloke scores with a hook to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bloke struggles to land a body shot inside as Askren controls his hands.
Askren is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Bloke pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Askren tries for a takedown but Bloke manages to get underhooks.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Bloke creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Bloke misses with a punch to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Chilli Bloke showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Askren has his takedown stuffed
and Bloke counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Askren fails to land the takedown.
Askren shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bloke defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Askren. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bloke throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Askren is looking to counter the offense by Bloke and move into the clinch.
Bloke has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bloke swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Askren.
Bloke is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Askren.
Askren shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bloke as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bloke looks to score with a jab to the body but Askren is just out of range.
Askren fails with the takedown
and Bloke makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Bloke dips to his left and cracks Askren with an uppercut!
Bloke throws a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bloke lands a nice shot to the body.

Askren drives through with a takedown into Bloke's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Bloke 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 thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Bloke 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.
Askren trying to control the position from guard on top but Bloke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren trying to control the position from guard on top but Bloke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Bloke 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.
Askren looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Bloke had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Askren defends it easily.
Askren with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Chilli Bloke is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Bloke keeping moving, preventing Askren from controlling successfully.
Bloke seems keen to control Askren's posture.
Bloke keeping moving, preventing Askren from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four 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.
Bloke slaps away a takedown attempt from Askren, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Bloke throws a body punch but Askren moves out of range.
Askren drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Bloke throws a right hand that Askren ducks under and follows up with a left that Askren also avoids with ease.
Bloke lands a glancing blow to the side of Askren's head.
Nice sprawl there from Bloke as Askren shoots in.
Jake Askren has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chilli Bloke seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice sprawl there from Bloke as Askren shoots in.
A countering left hand to the body from Bloke misses.
Bloke throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bloke leaves Askren with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Askren darts in looking for a takedown but Bloke gets double underhooks and turns Askren into the cage.
Bloke lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bloke is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Bloke lands a nice shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chilli Bloke comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bloke winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chilli Bloke!