PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Josh Koscheck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Markus Askren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Koscheck
vs
Askren

177 cm
26
180 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

182 cm
25
176 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josh Koscheck!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Markus Askren!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Robert Twigg and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Askren gets a takedown into half guard.
Koscheck on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Koscheck tries to get out of the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Koscheck is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Askren looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Koscheck wants to control but Askren is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Koscheck keeping hold of Askren's head, controlling as best he can.
Koscheck tries to kick Askren off but Askren keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Askren missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Askren looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koscheck has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Askren is working away from the top position though.
Askren throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Nice strikes from Askren there.
Askren is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Koscheck is not content to let Askren control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Koscheck jabs Askren right on the nose. Askren blinks but takes it well.
Askren slaps away a takedown attempt from Koscheck, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Askren bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Askren is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Koscheck will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Koscheck tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Askren working the head with strikes.
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.
Askren working away.
Askren tries to move to mount but Koscheck blocks the move with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koscheck manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Koscheck is trying to control but can't.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Askren dives in and scores a takedown into Koscheck's guard.
Askren is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Koscheck is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Askren content to stall in guard here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Askren gets to his feet - Koscheck follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koscheck swats away the attempt to clinch by Askren.
Askren keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Koscheck gets a double leg takedown into Askren's guard.
Koscheck is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Koscheck being controlled here momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Askren is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Markus Askren dominated that round.
That's time! Koscheck's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Askren avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Koscheck fails in his attempt to clinch.
Askren is trying hard to land a takedown here. Koscheck sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Askren lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Koscheck circles away quickly and effectively.
Askren throws a push kick but Koscheck slaps the foot to one side.
Askren stuffs the takedown.
Askren looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Askren shoots in for a takedown but Koscheck shows good takedown defense.
Askren is looking to clinch but Koscheck is avoiding it.
Koscheck tries to clinch up but Askren circles away and keeps his distance.
Koscheck misses with a two punch combination.
Askren dodges the punch combination from Koscheck.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Askren gets tackled into the cage by Koscheck. Koscheck maintains the clinch.

Koscheck has picked Askren up - he's going for a ride! Koscheck dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Askren keeping control of the position.
Askren wants to control but Koscheck is keeping busy.
Askren is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Koscheck is staying active.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Markus Askren hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
A leg kick checked by Koscheck.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Askren.
Josh Koscheck has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Markus Askren.
Koscheck lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Askren shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Koscheck defends it nicely.

Askren rushes Koscheck and presses him up against the cage.
Askren can't get the takedown.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Koscheck manages to break the clinch.
Askren pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Koscheck swivels and escapes.
Koscheck defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Askren.
Askren is breathing heavily.
Koscheck fails with the takedown.
Askren tries to close the distance and clinch up but Koscheck swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Koscheck pushes Askren up against the cage in a clinch.
Koscheck drops down looking for an ankle pick but Askren pulls his leg out and moves away.
Askren misses with a double jab.
Askren throws a leg kick that is checked
and Koscheck counters with a three punch combo that has Askren backing up. Askren nods at Koscheck to acknowledge the strikes.

Koscheck throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Askren tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Koscheck is in Askren's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Askren holds on and takes a little breather.
Koscheck is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Askren controls Koscheck momentarily but Koscheck frees himself.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Askren looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Markus Askren was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Askren tries to close the distance and clinch but Koscheck swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Koscheck shoots in and drives through. Askren sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Koscheck dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Koscheck.

Koscheck looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Askren lands an upkick as Koscheck stands over him.
Askren has control of Koscheck's left arm, preventing Koscheck from doing any damage.
Askren lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Koscheck!
Markus Askren has got the better of the ground game so far.
Koscheck wants to try and get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Koscheck is looking to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koscheck is working hard here to advance position.
Askren controlling his opponent.
Koscheck is in a horrible position here. Askren smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Askren has hold of Koscheck's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Koscheck manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Koscheck that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Askren get's back to his feet.
Koscheck shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Askren defends it nicely.

Askren manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Koscheck on his heels. He'll look to pass Koscheck's guard now, I'm sure.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Koscheck wants to sweep here but Askren controlling him for the moment.

Koscheck has his foot on Askren's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Askren works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Koscheck's head.
Askren pushes down on Koscheck's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Askren is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Askren is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Askren lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Markus Askren comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Askren has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29

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