PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Howlett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Askren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Howlett comes into the arena with X-MEN blaring out of the sound system. James Howlett has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Howlett
vs
Askren

190 cm
24
177 lbs
7 - 3 - 2

178 cm
19
180 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Very strong

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Aggression Clothing
Biobonds Supplements - (Q158+ for $100) Proof

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Howlett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Askren!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howlett tries to close the distance and clinch up but Askren swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Askren fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Howlett looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Askren avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Askren misses with a wild body shot.
Howlett uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Askren.
Howlett tries to clinch up but Askren circles away and keeps his distance.

Howlett clinches up against the cage.
Askren digs a right hand into Howlett's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Howlett's gas tank.
Askren managing to block the knees to the body from Howlett.
Howlett has Askren pressed against the cage, preventing Askren from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Askren avoids the elbow strike from Howlett, against the cage.
Howlett with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Askren lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Howlett.
Askren dodges an elbow strike from Howlett.
Howlett blocking some punches.
Askren gets through Howlett's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Askren avoids the elbow strike from Howlett, against the cage.
Askren lands a right hand that snaps the head of Howlett backwards.
Askren scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Askren lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Knees to the body from Howlett.
Askren avoiding damage as Howlett throws knees to the body.
Howlett misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Askren.
Askren lands with a light punch inside.
Askren takes a knee to the side of the body.
Howlett tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Askren avoids it.
Howlett comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Askren misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howlett misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Askren.
Howlett blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Howlett throws an elbow that misses.
Askren digs a right hand underneath Howlett's ribcage. Howlett let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Howlett tries a knee to the head but Askren blocks it.
Askren pushes Howlett back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Askren lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Askren working hard to break the clinch.
Askren on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Askren blocks an elbow strike.
Good body shot from Askren.
Askren pushes Howlett back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Askren gets through Howlett's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Howlett lands an elbow just above Askren 's eye.
Howlett landing knees to the body.
Howlett trying to land knees to the body.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Askren pushes Howlett back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Askren softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Howlett missing with knees to the body.
Howlett misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Askren.
Howlett throws an elbow that misses.
Nice body punch from Askren - that landed with a thud.
Howlett misses with an elbow strike.
Howlett misses with an elbow over the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Howlett misses with a knee to the head.
Howlett is breathing heavily.
Howlett creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Howlett with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Askren avoiding damage as Howlett throws knees to the body.
Howlett misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Askren.
Askren lands a shot to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Askren.
Askren working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Askren lands a shot to the body.
A short right from Askren.
Askren lands with a left to the head.
Askren gets through Howlett's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Askren pushes Howlett back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Askren lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Askren avoids the elbow strike from Howlett, against the cage.
Askren lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Askren lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Askren lands a body punch.
Askren managing to block the knees to the body from Howlett.
Askren lands a nice shot to the body.
Askren lands a hook that snaps the head of Howlett backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Askren lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Howlett backwards.

Howlett is rocked!

Askren pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Howlett moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Oh Howlett is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Askren with a nice cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howlett takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Askren throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
James Howlett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A slow jab from Askren misses its intended target.
Howlett tries to close the distance and clinch up but Askren swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Howlett throws a wild body kick that Askren sees coming a mile off.
Howlett seems to have got his legs back now.
Howlett tries to clinch but Askren is having none of it.
Askren is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Howlett.
Askren lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Howlett at a distance.

Askren rushes Howlett and presses him up against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Askren.
Askren scores with a shot to the side of Howlett's head.
Howlett tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Askren avoids it.
Howlett's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Howlett is fighting off a takedown attempt but Askren is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Howlett to the mat. Howlett regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Askren showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren working some strikes from top position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Askren lands a couple of digs.
Askren stays in close to Howlett's body and controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Howlett wants to clinch.
A thudding body kick lands there by Howlett!
Askren just misses with a punch to the body.
Howlett tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Askren counters by clinching up.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Howlett tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Howlett comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Howlett lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Askren lands a shot to the body.
John Askren seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Askren takes a knee to the side of the body.
Howlett looking to throw knees to the head but Askren is blocking nicely.
Askren dodges an elbow strike from Howlett.
Askren misses with a punch to the body.
Askren wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Askren on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Askren.
Askren lands with a light punch inside.
Howlett scores a nice knee to the body.
Howlett blocking some punches.
Askren avoiding damage as Howlett throws knees to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Askren.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren avoiding damage as Howlett throws knees to the body.
Askren lands a shot to the body.
Askren cracks Howlett with a nice body shot.
Howlett pushes off an throws an elbow but Askren leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Askren blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Howlett tries to land knees in the clinch but Askren avoids the damage to the body.
Askren tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Askren working hard to break the clinch.
Askren scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Howlett comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
A right hook to the body lands for Askren.
Howlett throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Howlett tries to land knees in the clinch but Askren avoids the damage to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Howlett.
Howlett misses with an elbow over the top.
Askren misses with a body punch.
Askren working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Askren throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Askren lands a body shot.
Howlett scores a nice knee to the body.
Howlett's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Howlett trying to land knees to the body.
Askren lands a hook to the side of the head.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Askren in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Howlett lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Howlett landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howlett is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Askren is defending well for now.
Askren has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Howlett pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Howlett's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Askren lands an uppercut.
Howlett comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Askren is trying to break the clinch but Howlett has him pressed against the cage.
Howlett misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Askren.
Howlett is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Askren is defending well for now.
Askren misses with a short punch on the inside.
Howlett tries a knee to the head but Askren blocks it.
Askren managing to block the knees to the body from Howlett.
Howlett throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Askren blocks it with crossed arms.
A short body shot lands from Askren as the two fighters clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Askren.
Askren working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Askren scores with a shot to the side of Howlett's head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Askren.
Askren lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Askren pushes Howlett back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Askren lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Askren.
Askren lands with a short shot to the head.
Askren lands a shot to the body.
Askren lands a left hand that snaps the head of Howlett backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Howlett.
A right handed body shot lands from Askren.
Askren softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Askren digs a right hand into Howlett's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Howlett's gas tank.

Askren has Howlett pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Askren pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Howlett tumbling to the mat - Askren dives into Howlett's guard.
Askren thows a big elbow that misses.
Askren is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren looking to pass the guard.
Howlett working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Askren.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Askren showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Howlett is looking to clinch.
Howlett tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Askren cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Howlett goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Howlett looks to clinch
and Askren counters with a straight right hand.
Howlett uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Askren.
Askren tries to clinch but Howlett moves out of range.
Howlett is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Askren lands with a shot to the body.
Askren connects with the punch.
Jab by Askren.
Askren throws a shot to the body.
Askren wants to clinch.
Howlett clinches but Askren breaks the clinch
and Askren counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Howlett closes the distance looking to clinch

and Askren moves into the clinch.
Askren lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Howlett backwards.
Askren blocks an elbow strike from Howlett.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Howlett lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Askren swings wildly with an uppercut but Howlett uses good head movement to avoid it.
Howlett looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Askren tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Askren takes an elbow to the temple.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Howlett.
A short body shot lands from Askren as the two fighters clinch.
Howlett tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Askren avoids it.

Askren breaks the clinch.
Howlett takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Howlett swats away the attempt to clinch by Askren.
Askren fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Howlett manages to avoid it.
Howlett fails in his attempt to clinch.
Howlett tries to clinch but Askren moves away

and Askren moves into the clinch.
Askren throws a punch but it's blocked by Howlett.
Howlett lands an elbow inside that Askren shrugs off.

It looks like John Askren has been cut.
Howlett tries a knee to the head but Askren blocks it.

Askren manages to break the clinch.
Askren swats away the attempt to clinch by Howlett.
Howlett lands with a right hand.
John Askren is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howlett looks to clinch

and Askren counters by clinching up.
Askren avoiding damage as Howlett throws knees to the body.
Howlett tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Howlett throws an elbow that misses.
Howlett pushes off an throws an elbow but Askren leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Nice elbow from Howlett.
Howlett lands an elbow that stopped Askren in his tracks for a moment.
Howlett missing with knees to the body.
Askren softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Askren blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Howlett lands an elbow inside that Askren shrugs off.
Howlett is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Askren is defending well for now.
Nice body punch from Askren.
Howlett missing with knees to the body.
Howlett misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Askren.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howlett looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Howlett landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Askren lands a hook that snaps the head of Howlett backwards.
Howlett throws an elbow that misses.
Howlett throws an elbow but it misses.
Howlett tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Howlett tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Askren avoids it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A short left from Askren.
Howlett pushes off an throws an elbow but Askren leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Askren avoiding damage as Howlett throws knees to the body.
Askren lands with a left to the head.
Howlett missing with knees to the body.
Howlett throws an elbow that misses.
Askren lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Howlett backwards.
Askren blocks an elbow strike.
Howlett tries to land knees in the clinch but Askren avoids the damage to the body.

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.
Howlett tries to land knees in the clinch but Askren avoids the damage to the body.
Howlett throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Askren blocks it with crossed arms.
Howlett creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Howlett misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Askren.
A nice right hand lands inside from Askren.
Howlett missing with knees to the body.
Howlett lands a damaging elbow.
Howlett tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Askren avoids it.
Askren pushes Howlett back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
James Howlett has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Askren blocks an elbow strike.
Howlett tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Askren avoids it.
Howlett misses with an elbow strike.
Askren working hard to break the clinch.
Howlett lands a damaging elbow.
Howlett trying to land knees to the body.
Howlett tries to land knees in the clinch but Askren avoids the damage to the body.
Askren avoiding damage as Howlett throws knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Askren comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Askren 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 Suge Night scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Askren!