PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ashton Knuckles (ranked 5369 p4p, 258 weight class) and Klahan Metharom (ranked 3415 p4p, 166 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Knuckles
vs
Metharom

160 cm
25
135 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

165 cm
20
135 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Decent elbows
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Juggernaut And Gladiators

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ashton Knuckles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Klahan Metharom!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, George Francis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Metharom.
Knuckles shoots for a double leg takedown but Metharom sprawls well. He's pushed Knuckles's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Metharom tries to land a body kick
and Knuckles counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Knuckles.
Knuckles looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Metharom is fending him off so far but Knuckles persists. Nope, Metharom circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ashton Knuckles. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Metharom clinches up with Knuckles and pushes him back against the cage.
A short right from Metharom.
Knuckles tries to pull guard but Metharom holds him up against the cage and eventually Knuckles drops back down to his feet.

Metharom breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Metharom wants to clinch.
Knuckles throws a low kick, looking for Metharom's leg but Metharom calmly moves out of range.
A nice side step and Metharom releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Knuckles tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Metharom feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Knuckles's calf.
Knuckles swats away the attempt to clinch by Metharom.
Knuckles fires out a quick counter leg kick but Metharom just manages to avoid it.
Metharom moves into range and connects with a jab.
Knuckles doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Metharom feints and then cracks Knuckles's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Knuckles down.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Knuckles is defended easily by Metharom.
Metharom is looking to clinch.
Knuckles keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Metharom missing with a left hand there. Knuckles was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Metharom keeps the fight on the outside.
Knuckles misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Knuckles gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Knuckles throws a front kick that sends Metharom stumbling back into the cage.
Metharom lands a nice hook to Knuckles's body. Knuckles takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Knuckles drives through with a takedown into Metharom's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Metharom looking to hit a scissor sweep but Knuckles is one step ahead there.

Knuckles postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Metharom is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Knuckles, into his guard.

Metharom stays in close to Knuckles's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles trying to keep a closed guard but Metharom is proving a slippery customer.
Metharom must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Knuckles working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Metharom doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Metharom manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Knuckles wants to sweep here but Metharom controlling him for the moment.

Knuckles isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Metharom stacks Knuckles on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Metharom!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Knuckles tries to buck Metharom off but Metharom is having none of it.
Metharom taking a breather here.
Knuckles is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Knuckles wants to control but Metharom postures up.
Metharom controlling from side mount.
Knuckles struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Klahan Metharom dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Metharom clobbers Knuckles with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Metharom fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Metharom wants to clinch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Metharom has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Knuckles shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Metharom throws a head kick that half lands.
Metharom tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Knuckles was well out of range. Poor timing from Metharom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knuckles ducks right into an uppercut from Metharom.
Knuckles takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Knuckles throws a leg kick but Metharom sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A little jabbing left from Metharom on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Knuckles on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Metharom connects with a crisp jab.

Metharom clinches.
Metharom lands a shot to the body.
Knuckles blocks a body shot from Metharom.
Knuckles has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Metharom after a bit of a struggle.
Knuckles misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Metharom.
Knuckles tries to pull guard but Metharom forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ashton Knuckles. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Metharom stalls.

Knuckles pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Knuckles has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Metharom.
Metharom throws a nice outside leg kick.

Metharom clinches with his opponent.
A short right from Metharom on the inside.
Knuckles is trying to break the clinch but Metharom is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Metharom lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Nice body punch from Metharom - that landed with a thud.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Metharom lands a nice uppercut.
Metharom lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Knuckles backwards.
Metharom gets underhooks to prevent Knuckles's takedown attempt.
Metharom taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Metharom tries to work over Knuckles's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Metharom cracks Knuckles with a nice body shot.

Knuckles turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Knuckles manages to end up in side control.

Metharom throws Knuckles to one side and escapes!
Knuckles tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Metharom counters with a left to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Knuckles chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Metharom can pounce on him.

Metharom has Knuckles up against the cage in a clinch.
Metharom misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Knuckles obliges.
Still in the clinch, Metharom scores with a nice short uppercut.
Knuckles tries to pull guard but Metharom holds him up against the cage and eventually Knuckles drops back down to his feet.
Metharom stops a takedown attempt from Knuckles.
Metharom lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Knuckles manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Metharom controls from within his opponent's guard.

Knuckles throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Knuckles throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Knuckles wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Metharom is now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles wants to control but Metharom is keeping busy.
Metharom content to control rather than advance.
Knuckles throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Knuckles is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Metharom's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Metharom's back!
You can see the frustration on Metharom's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Knuckles struggling to land strikes to the head as Metharom covers up.

Metharom is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Knuckles has the hooks in and he's looking for a rear naked choke here. Metharom is defending well but eventually Knuckles manages to get an arm under the chin and he's locked on the RNC! Metharom has no choice but to tap now! He does! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Ashton Knuckles!
Ashton Knuckles managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Juggernaut And Gladiators, into his post fight interview.