PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bill Aster (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benjamin Siegel (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.

Aster
vs
Siegel

186 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
216 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 Las Vegas, Bill Aster!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Benjamin Siegel!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Wesley Smith and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aster throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Siegel's waist but Siegel gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Aster off to one side.
Aster fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Siegel scores with a takedown into Aster's guard.

Aster looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Siegel has picked Aster up and slammed him! Aster can't keep hold of the triangle and Siegel manages to pass to side control!
Siegel just content to control the position.
Siegel has knee on belly momentarily but Aster bucks him off and regains half guard.
Siegel thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Aster's head.
Siegel stalling away here and it's allowed Aster to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Aster is controlling Siegel's posture.
Siegel is looking to stand up but Aster won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Siegel looking to pass the guard.
Siegel in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Siegel in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Siegel wants to stand but Aster has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Siegel throws a head kick that half lands.

Aster scores with a takedown into Siegel's guard.
Aster trying to control but Siegel is working from the bottom.

Siegel escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Aster gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Siegel is trying to keep Aster in close.
Aster won't allow Siegel to sweep him here.
Siegel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Siegel wants to control but Aster passes easily into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Aster is breathing heavily.
Siegel is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Siegel keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Siegel's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Aster content to control rather than advance.
Siegel trying to control from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aster is tying to control. Siegel wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Aster thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Siegel is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Aster wants to stand but Siegel has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Siegel is looking to control Aster's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Siegel avoid being mounted?

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Siegel doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Aster counters with a left to the body.
Aster shoots in looking for a takedown. Siegel tries to sprawl out of it but Aster keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Siegel manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bill Aster. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Siegel misses with a takedown attempt - Aster sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Siegel with a poor takedown

and Aster holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Siegel breaks the clinch.
A head kick by Siegel misses

and Aster counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Siegel!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bill Aster dominated that 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.

Siegel closes the distance but Aster moves to the side

and Aster counters with a nice double leg into side control. Siegel won't be happy with that.
Aster is looking to take a break and control but Siegel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Siegel holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Aster is looking to take a break and control but Siegel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Aster decides to stand back up. Aster steps back and let's Siegel get back to his feet.
Benjamin Siegel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Aster changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Siegel looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Siegel is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Siegel manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Aster lands a nice short elbow.
Siegel punching from the bottom.

Aster is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Siegel has managed to free his arm - good work.
Siegel is trying to stand back up but Aster is controlling him
Aster is looking to take a break and control but Siegel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Siegel won't allow Aster to pass to mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Siegel trying to control but Aster postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Aster throws a sloppy head kick
and Siegel counters with a two punch combo.
Aster misses with a jab, cross combination.
Siegel is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Aster keeps the fight on the outside.
Siegel misses with a takedown

and Aster counters with a nice double leg into side control. Siegel won't be happy with that.
Aster is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Siegel's shoulder. That is not cool.
Siegel is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Aster's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Aster prevents Siegel from standing back up.
Siegel is trying to maintain the position but Aster is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Siegel is staying active underneath Aster, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Siegel has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Aster is working away from the top position though.
Siegel manages to get to full guard.
Siegel tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Siegel is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Aster misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bill Aster is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Aster moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Aster stuffs the takedown attempt from Siegel. Siegel gets slowly back to his feet.
Aster keeps the fight on the outside.
Siegel misses with a combination

and Aster moves into the clinch.

Aster jumps guard.
Aster wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Aster looking to hit a scissor sweep but Siegel is one step ahead there.
Aster keeping moving, preventing Siegel from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bill Aster dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Siegel has closed the distance and engaged Aster in a clinch.
Siegel has Aster pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Aster manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Aster can't get the takedown.
Siegel is looking to break free of the clinch but Aster has double underhooks.
Aster prevents the takedown attempt.

Siegel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Aster throws a right and a left that Siegel avoids nicely.

Aster scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Aster trying to control from Siegel's half guard. Siegel has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Aster sitting in guard here, content to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Aster wants to control from the top but Siegel keeps moving.
Siegel is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Siegel tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Aster.
Siegel trying to control from half guard but Aster is working away.
Siegel throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Siegel missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Aster is trying to get back to full guard.
Siegel controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Aster wants to improve his position but Siegel is controlling well.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Siegel works Aster's body with a nice hook.
Nice sprawl there from Siegel as Aster shoots in.
Aster throws a good cross that connects.
Aster throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Siegel lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A punch combination from Aster misses.
Aster fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bill Aster. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Siegel gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Aster counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aster trying to control the position from guard on top but Siegel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Siegel seems keen to control Aster's posture.
Aster trying to control the position from guard on top but Siegel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Siegel looking to control.
Siegel is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Siegel keeping moving, preventing Aster from controlling successfully.

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

Siegel drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Siegel wants to control from the top but Aster keeps moving.
Siegel sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Siegel trying to control the position from guard on top but Aster is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aster controls Siegel momentarily but Siegel frees himself.
Benjamin Siegel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Bill Aster.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Aster, 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bill Aster!