PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rick Ashton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Motor Martino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ashton comes to the cage accompanied by Lynyrd Skynyrd - Simple Man. Motor Martino has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ashton
vs
Martino

170 cm
26
155 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

150 cm
26
151 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very quick

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

KAISER

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rick Ashton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Motor Martino!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martino misses with a straight left.

Ashton shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Ashton was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Martino has eaten all the pies!
Martino is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Ashton thowing shots but they're missing.
Ashton working the ground and pound effectively.
Martino wants to hold on but Ashton pushes him away.
Ashton trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ashton will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Martino regains half guard.
Martino gets full guard.
Martino trying to control the position.
Ashton wants to control from the top but Martino keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Martino is on top in guard.

Ashton looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ashton is looking to stand up but Martino isn't so interested in that idea.

Ashton looking for subs off his back but Martino has passed one foot through into half guard.
Martino is thwarting Ashton's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ashton is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Martino is looking to take a break and control but Ashton is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ashton gets full guard.
Martino engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Ashton throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ashton keeping moving, preventing Martino from controlling successfully.

Ashton has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Martino can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ashton tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Martino wants to control from the top but Ashton keeps moving.
Martino not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Motor Martino has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
A swing and a miss from Martino.
Ashton works Martino's body with a nice hook.

Ashton gets the takedown into side control.
Martino tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ashton wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Martino manages to get back to half guard.
Martino moves into full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Martino is adopting a defensive guard.
Martino wants to sweep here but Ashton controlling him for the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ashton distracts Martino with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rick Ashton will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ashton throws a one two combo.
Martino finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Ashton moves out of range as Martino strikes.

Ashton shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Ashton wants to control but Martino is keeping him busy.
Martino gets back to full guard.
Ashton is looking to work some ground and pound but Martino has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Martino trying to keep a closed guard but Ashton is proving a slippery customer.
Martino keeping moving, preventing Ashton from controlling successfully.
Ashton lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martino keeping moving, preventing Ashton from controlling successfully.
Ashton controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Martino controls Ashton momentarily but Ashton frees himself.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Martino throws a head kick but Ashton moves out of range.
Ashton tries to bum rush Martino with a series of wild strikes but Martino uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A combination from Ashton does no damage.
Martino closes the distance looking to clinch
and Ashton counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martino takes one to the side of the head.
Ashton throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Ashton dodges the punch combination from Martino.
Rick Ashton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ashton drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Martino trying to control the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ashton looking to pass the guard.
Rick Ashton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Martino is trying to keep Ashton in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Motor Martino wasn't active enough on the ground.
Martino fails with the takedown.
A good leg kick by Ashton.
Martino wants to clinch.

Martino gets the takedown into side control.
Ashton looks to move to half guard but instead Martino has passed into mount! Damn!
Ashton is looking to get to half guard.

Martino jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Ashton is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Ashton and Martino has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martino scores with punches from side control.
Ashton wants to get back to his feet but Martino drags him back down.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Martino misses with the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ashton is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Martino's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Ashton is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Martino's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Martino's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Ashton dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Ashton throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ashton lands with an overhand left.
Ashton scores with a hook.
Jab by Ashton.

Ashton gets a takedown into half guard.
Ashton working over Martino with some ground and pound. Martino looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Martino trying to control but Ashton postures up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Martino is trying to get back to full guard.
Ashton misses with a head shot. Martino uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Martino has his foot on Ashton's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ashton works his way back into a safe position though.
Ashton throws an elbow that misses. Martino uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ashton's guard. Nice move by Martino!
Martino is looking to work some ground and pound but Ashton has wrist control.

Ashton is looking for a triangle but Martino pushes his legs off easily.

Ashton throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ashton has his hands on Martino's head, controlling the position.
Motor Martino has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martino wants to pass the guard but Ashton is keeping the position.
Ashton is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Martino in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Martino trying to control the position from guard on top but Ashton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Martino pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ashton is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Ashton shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Martino manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Ashton throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ashton trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

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

Martino working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ashton doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ashton manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ashton is in close to Martino's body, working some short punches and elbows.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ashton accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

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

Ashton has gone for a leg lock! Martino slips out almost immediately though and dives into Ashton's guard.
Martino content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Martino postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Ashton looking for a guillotine here but Martino defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rick Ashton showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ashton has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick Ashton!
Rick Ashton took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.