PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Wayne Cambell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Askren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Askren has chosen Kanye West-Stronger as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cambell
vs
Askren

178 cm
21
177 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

170 cm
25
178 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Good takedowns
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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Wayne Cambell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ben Askren!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Santiago Holmes and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Askren closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Cambell to the mat! Cambell manages to get full guard.
Askren pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cambell is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cambell wants to sweep here but Askren controlling him for the moment.
Cambell keeping moving, preventing Askren from controlling successfully.
Cambell definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Askren drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Askren jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Askren looking to pass the guard.
Cambell is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Askren wanted to stand there but Cambell had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Askren has gone for a leg lock! Cambell slips out almost immediately though and dives into Askren's guard.
Cambell knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Askren on the ground.

Cambell got a little sloppy there for a moment and Askren has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cambell has managed to get both his arms back between Askren's legs - danger averted.
Cambell is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Cambell missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cambell lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Askren looking for a guillotine here but Cambell defends easily.
Cambell throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Cambell in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cambell accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cambell trying to control but Askren is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cambell postures up and lands a big shot to Askren's brow.
Askren keeping moving, preventing Cambell from controlling successfully.
Askren controls Cambell momentarily but Cambell frees himself.
Cambell throws a big right hand that misses.
Cambell postures up.

Askren escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cambell gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Cambell chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cambell in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cambell landing with the ground and pound.
Cambell working some strikes from top position.

Askren has his foot on Cambell's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cambell works his way back into a safe position though.
Askren can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cambell controls the pace.
Cambell postures up and lands a big shot to Askren's brow.
Cambell postures up in Askren's guard and throws a big left but Askren blocks it.
Cambell postures up.
Askren looks winded!

Askren working for a triangle but Cambell defends it easily.
Cambell lands a couple of elbows.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cambell postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cambell showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Cambell looking to pass the guard.
Cambell working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Cambell landing some decent shots from guard.
Cambell with a nice head shot there.
Cambell is working Askren over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Cambell is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Askren keeping moving, preventing Cambell from controlling successfully.
Cambell is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Askren has momentary wrist control but Cambell slips an elbow through the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wayne Cambell dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cambell gets the takedown into side control.
Askren is not content to let Cambell control the position.
Askren is looking to regain half guard here but Cambell keeps moving and retains side control.
Cambell tries to score with some ground and pound. Askren controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Cambell is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Askren is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Cambell landing strikes.
Askren tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Askren managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Cambell.
Askren tries to bench press Cambell off him but Cambell keeps the position.
Cambell cracks Askren with a big right hand but Askren just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cambell is working Askren over with some ground and pound from side control.
Cambell wants to control but Askren is keeping him busy.
Askren takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Askren taking a bit of punishment here - Cambell scoring with strikes.

Askren is rocked!
Askren on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Askren is still in real trouble! Can Cambell finish him?
Cambell grinds an elbow into Askren's temple.
Wayne Cambell overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Askren is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Cambell off and has taken his back!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cambell is really stuck here.
Well, with Askren on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Cambell is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

Cambell is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Askren gets his way!
Askren is breathing heavily.
I really don't envy Cambell right now.
Askren seems to have recovered his senses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cambell wants to control his opponent's hands but Askren gets his hands free.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Askren is trying to stick to Cambell's back but Cambell is turning into Askren. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Askren's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Cambell.
Cambell throws an elbow that misses. Askren uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cambell's guard. Nice move by Askren!
Askren preventing the sweep.
Cambell is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cambell is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cambell keeping moving, preventing Askren from controlling successfully.
Cambell managing to control the position.
Cambell on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Cambell tries to get out of the position.
Cambell is trying to control the position but Askren postures up.

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

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ben Askren was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Cambell shoots in and gets a takedown into Askren's guard.
Cambell slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Cambell looking to pass the guard.
Cambell with a flurry of punches that miss.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cambell trying to control the position from guard on top but Askren is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cambell throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wayne Cambell dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Askren throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Cambell was covering up waiting for the punch and Askren finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Cambell keeping moving, preventing Askren from controlling successfully.

Cambell is looking for a triangle but Askren pushes his legs off easily.
Cambell has a closed guard, preventing Askren from standing up.
Cambell wants to sweep here but Askren controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren trying to control but Cambell is working from the bottom.
Cambell is pulling down on Askren's head. It's preventing any offense from Askren, at least for the moment.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ben Askren hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Cambell shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Cambell was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Askren prevents Cambell from moving into mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Askren's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Cambell tries to move into full mount but can't pass Askren's legs.
Askren gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Cambell takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Askren taking some punishment here, with Cambell in his half guard.
Askren controlling the position for now.
Askren is looking to control Cambell's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Askren avoid being mounted?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cambell takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cambell winds up and cracks Askren with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Askren won't allow Cambell to pass to mount.

Cambell is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Askren has managed to free his arm - good work.
Askren slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Askren looking to control.
Wayne Cambell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cambell is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Cambell has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cambell tries to free his leg and advance position but Askren is retaining full guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ben Askren wasn't active enough on the ground.

Askren drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Askren is looking to take a break and control but Cambell is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
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!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Wayne Cambell.
Well Cambell 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wayne Cambell!
In his post fight interview, Wayne Cambell started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.