PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Eric Brooks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoel Askren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Brooks
vs
Askren

188 cm
19
182 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

186 cm
21
179 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

Center Cage Clothing $15 max

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eric Brooks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Yoel Askren!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brooks scores with a body shot.
Brooks listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Askren throws a lazy uppercut
and Brooks counters with a right hand to the body.
Askren ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Brooks moves away.
Brooks throws a counter high kick but Askren was just alert enough to avoid it.
Brooks bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Askren's head.
Some wild striking there from Brooks.
Askren throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nice body punch from Brooks.
Brooks uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Askren.
Askren tries to clinch there but Brooks circles away.
Brooks bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Askren's head backwards.
Brooks avoids the head kick by Askren.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Brooks misses the jab.
Askren throws a looping overhand right but Brooks ducks down to avoid it.
Askren tries to clinch there but Brooks circles away.
Brooks cracks Askren with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Brooks lands a lovely overhand right.
Askren avoids the head kick by Brooks.
Askren feints the counter takedown.
Brooks misses with a head kick.
Brooks throws a head kick but Askren moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brooks tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Askren moves into the clinch.
Askren has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Brooks after a bit of a struggle.
Brooks looking to slow down the pace here.

Askren has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Brooks is trying to keep an underhook but Askren manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Brooks tries to roll over but Askren keeps him under control.
Brooks is trying to control but can't.
Brooks slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Askren stands and throws Brooks's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Askren looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Brooks is avoiding damage well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brooks struggling a bit here.
You can see the frustration on Brooks's face as Askren controls the position.
Brooks wants to control but Askren postures up.

Askren looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Brooks being controlled for a moment.
Askren wants to lay and pray for a moment but Brooks keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brooks is trying to control Askren's posture but Askren avoids it.
Brooks tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Askren wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Brooks stops Askren from passing to mount.
You can see the frustration on Brooks's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Brooks wants to get back to his feet but Askren drags him back down.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Askren darts in and clinches Brooks up against the cage.
Brooks blocks a body shot from Askren.
Brooks struggles to land a body shot inside as Askren controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Brooks is trying to stall.

Askren's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Askren tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Brooks paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Askren shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Brooks desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Brooks trying to control here.
Askren moves into full mount! Brooks won't be happy about that!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Yoel Askren will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Brooks is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Brooks throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Askren.
A head kick misses from Brooks.
Brooks tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Askren's coach down at was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Askren's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Brooks throws a head kick but Askren moves out of range.
Askren misses with a straight left.
Askren attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
A counter left hand to the body from Brooks misses its target.
Askren moves into range and connects with a jab.
Brooks tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A jab from Brooks does it's job there.

Askren closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Brooks lands with a short shot to the head.
Brooks throws an elbow that misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Brooks doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Brooks lands a right hand that snaps the head of Askren backwards.
Brooks taking a breather.
Brooks misses with a body punch.
Brooks misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brooks misses with a punch to the body.
Brooks tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Askren's elbow.
Askren lands with a light punch inside.
Askren blocks a body shot from Brooks.
Brooks swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Brooks can't find room to land a body shot as Askren controls the action.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Askren is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Askren manages to break the clinch.
Askren defending well as Brooks loads up on a big left hand.
A slow jab from Brooks misses its intended target.

Askren instigates a clinch.
Brooks working aggressively here.
Askren blocks an elbow strike.
Askren lands a left hand that snaps the head of Brooks backwards.
Brooks tries a body shot but Askren blocks it.

Askren escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Askren throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Askren rushes Brooks and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Askren.
Askren dodges an elbow strike from Brooks.

Askren wants the takedown. Brooks is fighting it off but Askren persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Brooks's guard against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Askren stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Brooks swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Brooks is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Askren won't allow Brooks to sweep him here.
Askren is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Askren trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren stopping the sweep attempt from Brooks.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Brooks not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Askren gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Brooks misses with some punches.
Askren wants to take the fight to the mat but Brooks manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Askren lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A short right from Askren.
Askren leaning his opponent against the cage.
Askren leaning against his opponent.
Askren receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Brooks gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Askren.
Eric Brooks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoel Askren.
Brooks misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Askren.
Brooks throws a head punch that misses.
Askren throws a head punch that misses.
Askren swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Brooks gets underhooks to prevent Askren's takedown attempt.
Askren lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Brooks backwards.

Askren escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Brooks pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Brooks takes a swing at Askren's ribcage but misses.
Brooks punishes Askren's body with a nice straight punch.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Brooks throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A big left from Brooks misses.
Askren wants to clinch.

Brooks gets tackled into the cage by Askren. Askren maintains the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Yoel Askren will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Askren shoots in and gets a takedown into Brooks's guard.
Brooks trying to keep a closed guard but Askren is proving a slippery customer.
Askren not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Brooks holds on and takes a little breather.
Brooks trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brooks wants to sweep but no luck.
Askren working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Brooks's head.
Askren throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Brooks works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brooks is trying to keep Askren in close.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Askren moves away from the strike by Brooks.

Askren has Brooks up against the cage in a clinch.
Brooks pushes off an throws an elbow but Askren leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Askren's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Askren lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Brooks misses with an elbow strike.
Askren blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Askren goes for a takedown in the clinch but Brooks prevents it.
Askren tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Brooks letting Askren take a breather here.
Brooks looking to slow down the pace here.
Brooks blocks an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brooks struggles to land a body shot inside as Askren controls his hands.
Askren working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Askren is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Brooks is defending well.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Askren.

Askren has hold of one of Brooks's legs. Brooks is fighting the takedown attempt but Askren gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Askren wants to pass the guard but Brooks is keeping the position.
Brooks utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Askren stopping the sweep attempt from Brooks.
Askren throwing strikes but missing.
Askren seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askren landing some decent shots from guard.
Brooks avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice body punch from Brooks.

Brooks tries to keep at a distance but Askren has taken the fight into the clinch.
Yoel Askren seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A hook to the body from Brooks.
Askren pressing his opponent against the cage.
Askren goes for a takedown in the clinch but Brooks prevents it.
Eric Brooks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoel Askren.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Yoel Askren is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Askren avoiding damage.
Askren working aggressively here.
Brooks tries to work over Askren's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Askren blocks a body shot from Brooks.
Brooks looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Askren blocks a body shot from Brooks.
Brooks tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Askren's elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Brooks lands an elbow inside that Askren shrugs off.
Brooks takes a shot to the head.
Eric Brooks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Askren lands a hook that snaps the head of Brooks backwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yoel Askren comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Askren winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Yoel Askren!
After winning the bout, Yoel Askren thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.