PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alan Ashcroft (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joel Sands (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Ashcroft
vs
Sands

186 cm
31
160 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

181 cm
23
160 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alan Ashcroft!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joel Sands!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ashcroft gets a takedown into half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Ashcroft is pressing down on Sands's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sands is holding on for now.
Ashcroft controlling the action here.
Sands moves into full guard.
Ashcroft's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Ashcroft looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Alan Ashcroft wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Sands shoots in and bounces Ashcroft off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Ashcroft really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sands looking to sit in guard and control but Ashcroft gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Ashcroft scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ashcroft is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ashcroft trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ashcroft controls from within his opponent's guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Alan Ashcroft has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Sands is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ashcroft sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ashcroft swats away the attempt to clinch by Sands.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Ashcroft.
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!
Sands tries to bench press Ashcroft off him but Ashcroft keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

Ashcroft looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Sands pushes Ashcroft away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Ashcroft gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Sands wants to control but Ashcroft postures up.
The strikes coming from Ashcroft are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Sands is trying to improve his position.
Ashcroft remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sands struggling a bit here.

Ashcroft is trying to get an arm triangle but Sands is defending well.
The referee asks Ashcroft politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Ashcroft prefers to stall for the moment though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sands regains half guard.
Ashcroft controlling the action here.
Sands has a hand on Ashcroft's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Ashcroft takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alan Ashcroft dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ashcroft looking to score a takedown here. Sands is defending well but Ashcroft drives through and ends up in Sands's guard.
Sands keeping moving, preventing Ashcroft from controlling successfully.
Ashcroft looking to sit in guard and control but Sands gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sands wants to control from the top but Ashcroft keeps moving.
Ashcroft has Sands pulled in close to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Sands enables Ashcroft to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Sands manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Sands not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ashcroft is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ashcroft tries to free his leg and advance position but Sands is retaining full guard.
Ashcroft trying to control but Sands is working from the bottom.
Sands trying to control the position.

We're going to have a standup here because Alan Ashcroft wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Sands scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ashcroft feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Ashcroft wants to control from the top but Sands keeps moving.
Ashcroft showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
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!
Ashcroft won't allow Sands to sweep him here.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Alan Ashcroft just wasn't active enough.
Ashcroft shoots in and drives through. Sands sprawls well.
Sands looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ashcroft is fending him off so far but Sands persists. Nope, Ashcroft circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ashcroft circles away from the clinch attempt

and Ashcroft counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Ashcroft is looking to advance position but Sands won't allow it.
Ashcroft perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Ashcroft is trying to control the action in half guard but Sands is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Sands looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ashcroft keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Alan Ashcroft wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Sands closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ashcroft to the mat! Ashcroft manages to get full guard.
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!
Sands advances to half guard.
Ashcroft holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Alan Ashcroft overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ashcroft is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sands's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sands's back!
Sands tries to roll but Ashcroft sticks to his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ashcroft keeps control of the position easily here as Sands tries to buck him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alan Ashcroft dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Sands misses with a body shot.
Joel Sands seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ashcroft closes the distance and clinches up with Sands, looking for a takedown. Ashcroft pushes Sands against the cage but Sands circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sands tries to clinch but Ashcroft moves out of range.
Sands swings for the body but Ashcroft moves out of range.
Sands closes the distance but Ashcroft moves to the side

and Ashcroft counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sands's guard now.
Ashcroft is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Sands trying to control the position.
Ashcroft works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ashcroft is taking a breather. Sands says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sands is trying to stand back up but Ashcroft is controlling him
Sands wants to improve his position but Ashcroft is controlling well.
Ashcroft scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Ashcroft is looking for a kimura here.
Sands wants to stand back up but Ashcroft manages to pass into side control.
Alan Ashcroft is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ashcroft decides to stand back up. Ashcroft steps back and let's Sands get back to his feet.
A punch combination from Sands misses.
Sands rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ashcroft moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ashcroft misses with a kick to the body.
Sands rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ashcroft moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sands wants to clinch but Ashcroft slips to the side

and Ashcroft counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sands's guard now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ashcroft is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ashcroft looking to pass the guard.
Ashcroft looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sands trying to keep a closed guard but Ashcroft is proving a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Alan Ashcroft.
A cross from Sands lands.
Sands misses with a looping left.
Ashcroft displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sands.
Sands misses with a hook.
Sands misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sands takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sands tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ashcroft swivels and escapes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sands tries to bum rush Ashcroft with a series of wild strikes but Ashcroft uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Ashcroft shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Ashcroft was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Ashcroft controlling the position easily from mount.
Sands gets back to half guard.
Joel Sands has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ashcroft is figuring out what he wants to do next.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alan Ashcroft showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ashcroft, 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alan Ashcroft!