PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Simon Simples (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Askren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Simples
vs
Askren

180 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
20
212 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Intelligent

[GTI] Divine Clothing (FREE SPONSORS FOR NOOBS)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Simon Simples!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ben Askren!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Chris Saunders and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Askren with a poor takedown

and Simples counters with a shoot takedown. Askren fights it but they end up in guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Simples trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Simples is in close to Askren's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Simples postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Askren is looking to stand up but Simples isn't so interested in that idea.
Simples postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Simples throws a strike but Askren rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Simples throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Simples wants to sweep but no luck.
Simples thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Simples avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Simples throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Askren pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Simples is keeping the position for now.
Askren postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Simples utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Askren in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simples working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Askren.
Askren trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Simples throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Simples throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Simples trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Simples striking from the bottom here.
Simples throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Simples looking to hit a scissor sweep but Askren is one step ahead there.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Askren's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Askren landing with the ground and pound.
Askren trying to control but Simples is working from the bottom.
Askren pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Simples is keeping the position for now.
Askren makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Askren scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Askren connects with a couple of short punches.
Simples trying to strike off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simples throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Askren won't allow Simples to sweep him here.
Askren with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Askren scoring with some ground and pound.
Simples throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Askren stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Simples swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Askren is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Simples trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Simples throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Askren connects with a couple of short punches.
Askren must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Simples looking to hit a scissor sweep but Askren is one step ahead there.
Simples is breathing heavily.
Askren lands a couple of elbows.
Simples has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Askren wants to control from the top but Simples keeps moving.
Simples trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Simples might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simples manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Simples throws some wild stikes that Askren manages to avoid easily.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Askren can do anything to dispel that myth.
Askren is trying desperately to improve position.
Askren is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Simples lands a heavy elbow.
Simples throwing strikes but Askren recovers to half guard. A much better position.
Askren tries to roll over but Simples keeps him under control.
Simples thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Askren's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren is looking for a sweep. Simples is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Askren gets back to full guard.
Simples in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Askren is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Simples is controlling him.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Simples missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Askren is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Simples landing some decent shots from guard.
Simples working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ben Askren will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Simples drives through with a takedown into guard.
Askren wants to stand but Simples is controlling the position.
Simples with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Simples is in close to Askren's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Simples trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Askren manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Simples manages to get himself to full guard.
Simples throwing short punches from the bottom.
Askren is in close to Simples's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Askren takes a decent strike to the side of the head.
Askren lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Askren postures up in Simples's guard and throws a big left but Simples blocks it.
Askren is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Askren throws a big right hand that misses.
Askren tries to free his leg and advance position but Simples is retaining full guard.
Simples has momentary wrist control but Askren slips an elbow through the middle.
Simples trying to strike off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simples trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Ben Askren has got the better of the ground game so far.
Simples striking off his back but it's not causing Askren any problems.
Askren trying to control the position from guard on top but Simples is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Askren looking to pass the guard.
Simples trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Simples striking off his back but it's not causing Askren any problems.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Askren stands and throws Simples's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Simples manages to work his way to half guard, despite Askren's best efforts.
Simples gets full guard.
Simples keeping moving, preventing Askren from controlling successfully.
Simples utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Askren lands a couple of elbows.
Askren trying to control the position from guard on top but Simples is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Askren works over Simples with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simples lands a decent shot there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Simples looking for a sweep. Not yet Simples, not yet.
Simples keeping full guard, as Askren tries to pass.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Askren's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Askren postures up in Simples's guard and throws a big left but Simples blocks it.
Askren connects with a couple of short punches.
Askren slips nicely into half guard.
Askren not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Simples gets back to full guard.
Simples will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Askren trying to control but Simples is working from the bottom.
Askren connects with a couple of short punches.
Simples punching to the body, from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simples utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Simples tries to strike from the bottom.
Simples throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Askren distracts Simples with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Askren with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Askren scoring with some ground and pound.
Askren won't allow Simples to sweep him here.
Askren makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Askren stands and throws Simples's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Simples tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Askren wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Askren is looking to take a break and control but Simples is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Simples is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Simples is refusing to be controlled, as Askren sits in half guard.
Simples throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simples missing with punches from the bottom.
Simples tries to roll over but Askren keeps him under control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ground and pound from Askren.
Askren lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Askren passes to full mount!
Askren looking to finish Simples with some ground and pound. This is bad for Simples!
Simples is desperately trying to improve his position but Askren has a good base and remains in mount.
Askren lands a heavy elbow.
Askren landing shots from mount.
Askren dominating with strikes here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Simples can't escape the position.
Askren unloading with bombs!
Simples throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Askren landing strikes from the mount and Simples is in trouble!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Askren showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Askren has his takedown stuffed

so Simples counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Simples throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Askren works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Simples working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Simples accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Simples accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Simples working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Simples lands a couple of elbows.
Simples throwing strikes but missing.
Askren utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Simples stopping the sweep attempt from Askren.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Simples with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simples stands up over Askren, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Askren wants to sweep here but Simples controlling him for the moment.
Askren is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Simples pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Askren is keeping the position for now.
Askren trying to control the position.
Simples throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Simples accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Simples in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Askren not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Simples manages to get himself to full guard.
Askren lands a couple of elbows.
Askren tries to free his leg and advance position but Simples is retaining full guard.
Askren throws a big elbow that misses.
Askren lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Askren throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Simples is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Simples lands a nice short elbow.
Simples sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Askren defending well though.
Simples sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Askren defending well though.
Simples throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Askren taking some punishment here, with Simples in his half guard.
Simples stops Askren from getting back to his feet.
Askren trying to hold on to Simples's head to control him but Simples postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simples sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Askren defending well though.
Simples prevents Askren from improving his position.
Ground and pound from Simples.
Simples looks to land a strike but Askren avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Simples won't allow Askren to get back to his feet.
Simples won't allow Askren to sweep him here.
Simples is in close to Askren's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Simples scoring with punches to the head and body.

Askren scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Askren misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren misses with a takedown attempt
and Simples counters with a series of strikes. Askren will be more careful next time no doubt.
Simon Simples has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Askren.
Simples keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Simples fails with a takedown attempt.

Askren bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Simples striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Simples throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Simples is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Simples is working to avoid the ground and pound but Askren connects with a decent elbow.
Simon Simples has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ben Askren is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Simples wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Simon Simples showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ben Askren!
After the fight, Ben Askren was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.