PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Scott Beckerman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sami Assasi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sami Assasi will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Beckerman
vs
Assasi

165 cm
24
195 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

186 cm
21
195 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Scott Beckerman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Sami Assasi!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Dillan Fox and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Assasi shoots in for a takedown but Beckerman shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sami Assasi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Assasi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Beckerman as he jumps to the side.
Assasi blocks a jab.
Assasi has a takedown stuffed.
Scott Beckerman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sami Assasi.

Assasi gets a takedown into half guard.
Beckerman tries to get to full guard but Assasi has control of the leg.
Beckerman is concentrating on defense, preventing Assasi from advancing position.
Assasi prevents Beckerman from improving his position.
Beckerman moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Beckerman keeping moving, preventing Assasi from controlling successfully.
Beckerman on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Beckerman tries to get out of the position.
Assasi is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Beckerman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Assasi is one step ahead there.
Beckerman knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Assasi on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beckerman pulls Assasi in close to his closed guard and prevents Assasi from doing any damage or advancing position.
Assasi preventing the sweep.
Assasi throws a big right hand that misses.
Assasi passes into half guard.
Beckerman keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Beckerman is defending against the submission attempts here by Assasi.
Assasi trying to control from half guard but Beckerman is working away.
Beckerman trying to control here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Assasi shoots in looking for a takedown. Beckerman tries to sprawl out of it but Assasi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Beckerman manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
A combination from Assasi does no damage.
A slow jab from Beckerman misses its intended target.
Beckerman shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Assasi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Assasi misses with a takedown attempt

and Beckerman counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Beckerman.
Beckerman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Assasi is on top in guard.
Assasi looks gassed!
Assasi controlling from the top position.
Beckerman looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Assasi wants to control from the top but Beckerman keeps moving.
Beckerman has control of Assasi's left arm, preventing Assasi from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beckerman tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Beckerman keeping moving, preventing Assasi from controlling successfully.
Assasi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Beckerman is keeping the position for now.
Assasi wants to control from the top but Beckerman keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Beckerman pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Assasi gets a takedown into half guard.
Beckerman controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

Assasi is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Beckerman wants to control but Assasi is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Beckerman is looking to improve his position.
Beckerman is working hard here to advance position.
Beckerman moves into full guard.
Assasi being controlled here momentarily.
Beckerman is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Assasi slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Assasi is trying to get an arm triangle but Beckerman is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sami Assasi will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Assasi with a lazy takedown attempt

and Beckerman counters with a shoot takedown. Assasi fights it but they end up in guard.
Beckerman throws a big right hand that misses.
Beckerman postures up in Assasi's guard and throws a big left but Assasi blocks it.
Beckerman postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Beckerman has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Beckerman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Assasi manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Beckerman tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Assasi working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Beckerman sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Beckerman trying to control from the bottom.
Assasi wants to take a breather but Beckerman is having none of it.
Assasi is breathing heavily.
Beckerman controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beckerman trying to control here.
Beckerman is not content to let Assasi control the position.
Assasi scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Assasi 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Assasi throws a looping overhand right but Beckerman ducks down to avoid it.
Sami Assasi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Assasi with a lazy takedown attempt

and Beckerman counters with a takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Assasi wants to control but Beckerman postures up.
Beckerman working the head and body with strikes.
Assasi is looking to regain half guard here but Beckerman keeps moving and retains side control.
Beckerman lands an elbow.
Beckerman lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Assasi down.
Beckerman works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Assasi dodges the ground and pound from Beckerman.
Beckerman working the body and head with strikes.
Beckerman lands some shots froms side control.
Check out the look on Beckerman's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Beckerman lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Assasi down.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Beckerman working the ground and pound.
Beckerman connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Assasi some visible discomfort.
Assasi manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Assasi trying to control but Beckerman postures up.
Assasi wants to get back to full guard.
Scott Beckerman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ground and pound from Beckerman.
Assasi moves into full guard.
Assasi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Beckerman is one step ahead there.
Beckerman slips nicely into half guard.
Beckerman trying to pass the guard but Assasi defending well.

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.
Beckerman scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Assasi moves into full guard.
Beckerman is working Assasi over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Beckerman missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Beckerman throwing strikes from guard but Assasi blocks nicely.
Beckerman connects with a couple of short punches.

Beckerman avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Beckerman with a flurry of punches that miss.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Beckerman connects with a couple of short punches.
Assasi striking from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Beckerman dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Assasi shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Beckerman manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Beckerman working a defensive guard here.
Beckerman has Assasi pulled in close to control his posture.
Assasi thows a big elbow that misses.
Beckerman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Assasi is one step ahead there.
Beckerman keeping moving, preventing Assasi from controlling successfully.
Assasi won't allow Beckerman to sweep him here.
Assasi postures up.
Beckerman might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Beckerman wants to sweep here but Assasi controlling him for the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Assasi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Beckerman counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beckerman not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Beckerman is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Beckerman trying to mount his opponent but Assasi defends it.
Assasi trying to hold on to Beckerman's head to control him but Beckerman postures up.
Assasi wants to get back to full guard.
Assasi gets full guard.
Beckerman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Assasi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Assasi is trying to control the position but Beckerman postures up.
Assasi keeping full guard, as Beckerman tries to pass.
Assasi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Assasi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Assasi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Beckerman throws out the jab.
Beckerman avoids the body shot from Assasi.
Beckerman misses with a hook. Assasi ducked under it nicely.
Beckerman throws a jab but it's blocked by Assasi.
Beckerman tries for a takedown but Assasi circles away easily
and Assasi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Assasi lands the left hand.
Beckerman needs to keep his hands up - Assasi had a free shot at his head there.
Assasi with a poor takedown

and Beckerman counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Beckerman with a flurry of punches that miss.
Assasi has momentary wrist control but Beckerman slips an elbow through the middle.
Assasi looking for a sweep. Not yet Assasi, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beckerman landing with the ground and pound.
Beckerman is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Beckerman is looking to work some ground and pound but Assasi has wrist control.
Assasi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Assasi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Beckerman manages to get himself to full guard.
Beckerman 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.
Assasi wants to control from the top but Beckerman keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Beckerman is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Assasi tries to free his leg and advance position but Beckerman is retaining full guard.
Beckerman wants to stand up but Assasi is controlling him.
Beckerman can't keep his opponent in guard - Assasi advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Assasi trying to control from half guard but Beckerman is working away.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Assasi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Beckerman throws out the jab.
Beckerman looks to throw the jab but Assasi is out of range.
Assasi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Assasi shoots and misses

and Beckerman counters with a nice double leg into side control. Assasi won't be happy with that.
Scott Beckerman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sami Assasi.
Beckerman creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Assasi is looking to reverse the position.
Beckerman lands a few punches from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Scott Beckerman showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Beckerman has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Scott Beckerman!