PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kotaro Asakura (ranked 2219 p4p, 24872 weight class) and Mike Barnes (ranked 125 p4p, 297 weight class). Mike Barnes acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Asakura
vs
Barnes

173 cm
20
137
5 - 1 - 0

181 cm
20
144
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kotaro Asakura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Barnes!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Jorge Garcia and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnes misses with a double jab.
Barnes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Asakura circles away.
Asakura darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Asakura connects with an inside leg kick.
Barnes is looking to land body kicks.
Asakura swings for the body but Barnes moves out of range.
Barnes is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Barnes looks to land a left hand but Asakura moved out of range nicely.

Asakura closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Barnes breaks from the clinch.
Barnes getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Barnes throws a combination. Asakura tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Asakura uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barnes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Asakura doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A slapping leg kick lands for Asakura.
Asakura fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barnes manages to avoid it.
Barnes swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Asakura throws a quick counter head kick but Barnes was just out of range.
Asakura is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barnes.
Barnes throws a counter combo.
Barnes shoots in for a takedown but Asakura shows good takedown defense.
Barnes takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
The fighters circle momentarily. Barnes darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Barnes chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Asakura can pounce on him.
Asakura scores with a jab to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asakura throws a leg kick that misses.
Barnes steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Barnes scores with a hook to the body. Asakura takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Barnes misses with a looping left.
Asakura thinks about countering with a head kick.
Asakura throws a head kick but Barnes moves out of range.
Nice uppercut lands for Barnes. That snapped Asakura's head back.
Barnes fakes the leg kick and cracks Asakura in the body.
Barnes lands with a nice body kick.
A left lands for Barnes.
A punch combination from Barnes misses.
A little feinted left hand from Asakura on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Barnes takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Barnes throws a sloppy head kick and Asakura moves out of range easily.
Barnes misses with a double jab.
Asakura misses with a leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Asakura pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Asakura pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Barnes lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Asakura circles away quickly and effectively.
Barnes takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Barnes has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Asakura with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Barnes has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Barnes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes lands a nice shot that snaps Asakura's head back.
Asakura moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Asakura defending well as Barnes loads up on a big left hand.
Barnes takes a swing at Asakura's ribcage but misses.
Asakura throws a looping overhand right but Barnes ducks down to avoid it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Asakura.
Barnes uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Asakura has time to react.
Barnes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Asakura tries to work over Barnes's front leg with a kick but Barnes checks it.
Asakura misses with a leg kick.
Barnes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Barnes bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Asakura throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Asakura scores with a decent looking hook.
Barnes scores with a jab to the body.
Asakura moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Asakura moves out of range of the body kick.
Asakura drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asakura throws a leg kick but Barnes sees it coming and moves out of range.
Barnes is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Asakura had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Barnes throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Asakura sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Barnes shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Asakura sprawls well. Asakura wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Barnes gets slowly back to his feet.
Kotaro Asakura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Barnes.
Barnes 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.
Asakura doesn't manage to clinch there - Barnes circles away.
Barnes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Asakura's jab looks to have found its range, popping Barnes under the eye.
Barnes thuds a left hand into Asakura's body.

Asakura moves into the clinch successfully.
Asakura throws an elbow but it misses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Asakura.
Asakura content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Barnes wants to break the clinch but can't.
Barnes wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barnes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Barnes connects with a nice looking jab.
Asakura misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mike Barnes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Asakura slips a jab from Barnes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barnes takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Asakura gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Asakura defending well as Barnes loads up on a big left hand.
Asakura avoids the body shot from Barnes.
Barnes misses with a hook.
Asakura tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Barnes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Asakura looks to land a right hand but Barnes moved out of range.
Asakura walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Barnes checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Asakura slips under a jab from Barnes.
Barnes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Barnes checks a leg kick nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Asakura misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Asakura fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Barnes has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Barnes shoots in and drives through. Asakura sprawls well.
Kotaro Asakura is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Barnes misses with a body shot.
Asakura is looking to counter the offense by Barnes and move into the clinch.
A head kick misses from Barnes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mike Barnes will probably get the nod.
That's time! Asakura's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Asakura looks for the body kick but Barnes saw that one coming.
Barnes throws a leg kick
and Asakura cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Asakura moves out of range of the body kick.
A punch combination from Barnes misses.
Asakura lets loose with a powerful body kick. Barnes will feel that in the morning.
Barnes circles away from the clinch attempt.
Barnes lands a jab to the nose.
Asakura listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Barnes throws a shot from downtown. Asakura moves away and avoids it.
Asakura is looking to counter the offense by Barnes and move into the clinch.
Barnes throws a series of punches but Asakura moves out of range.
Asakura misses with a low kick.
It looks like Asakura has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Asakura fails in his attempt to clinch.
The crowd cheers as Barnes lands an impressive looking overhand right. Asakura doesn't seem phased though.
Asakura tries to clinch up but Barnes circles away and keeps his distance.
Barnes shoots in for a takedown but Asakura shows good takedown defense.
Donk. Barnes catches Asakura right on the button with a cross.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Asakura throws a lazy uppercut
and Barnes counters with a straight right hand.
Asakura slips a jab from Barnes.
Asakura throws an overhand right that lands on Barnes's shoulder, as Barnes tries to avoid the shot.
Asakura slips under a jab from Barnes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Asakura, as that shot connected.
Barnes throws a leg kick but Asakura checks it.
Asakura tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Asakura walks into a left hand.
Mike Barnes seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Barnes ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Asakura slips a straight right by Barnes.
Asakura wants to land a leg kick but Barnes is out of range.
Asakura wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A clash of legs there as Barnes blocks the low kick.
Asakura looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Barnes takes a swing at Asakura's ribcage but misses.
Asakura tries to clinch there but Barnes circles away.
Asakura buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Barnes throws a sloppy head kick and Asakura moves out of range easily.
Barnes turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Barnes tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Asakura defends well and Barnes ends up having to push Asakura into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Asakura swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Asakura misses with a body shot.
Barnes looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barnes shoots in looking for a takedown but Asakura manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Barnes's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kotaro Asakura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Barnes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asakura lands with an uppercut that bounces Barnes off the cage and back into range.
Asakura walks into a straight right hand from Barnes.
Asakura throws a low kick but Barnes avoids it.

Asakura rushes Barnes and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Barnes's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Asakura gets through Barnes's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Barnes blocks an elbow strike from Asakura.
Asakura lands a nice elbow.
Barnes blocks a body shot from Asakura.
Barnes wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Asakura has him pressed against the cage.
Asakura can't find room to land a body shot as Barnes controls the action.
Asakura lands a damaging elbow.
Barnes is trying to break the clinch but Asakura has him pressed against the cage.
Asakura just leaning against Barnes, taking a breather.
Asakura tries to throw a body punch but Barnes avoids it by throwing Asakura back against the cage.
Asakura lands a damaging elbow.
Asakura gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Barnes is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Asakura gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Asakura lands a nice elbow.
Asakura lands an elbow that stopped Barnes in his tracks for a moment.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Asakura just misses with a elbow thrown towards Barnes's brow.
Asakura pushes Barnes back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Asakura throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Kotaro Asakura has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Asakura lands a nice elbow.
Asakura misses with a punch to the body.
Asakura creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Nice body punch from Asakura - that landed with a thud.
A hook to the body from Asakura.
Barnes takes an elbow to the temple.

Barnes breaks the clinch.
Asakura throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Barnes throws a hook but Asakura blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Asakura moves away.
Asakura was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Barnes misses with a straight left.
Asakura throws a head kick but Barnes moves out of range.
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!
Barnes loads up on a big right hand but Asakura slips the punch.
Barnes misses with a series of wild punches.
Mike Barnes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Asakura takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Asakura doesn't manage to clinch there - Barnes circles away.
Barnes scores with a one two! Asakura had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Barnes tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Asakura defends well and Barnes ends up having to push Asakura into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Barnes misses with a hook. Asakura ducked under it nicely.
Asakura avoids the head kick by Barnes.
Barnes throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Barnes lands a nice shot that snaps Asakura's head back.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Asakura throws a right hand that misses
and Barnes counters with a one-two to the body.
Asakura uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Barnes.
Asakura with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Asakura moves out of range of the strikes.
Asakura feinted there with a counter leg kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kotaro Asakura will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Asakura bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Asakura throws out a loose jab but Barnes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Asakura misses with a wild body shot.
Barnes slips a jab from Asakura.
Barnes missing with a left hand there. Asakura was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Asakura ducks under a wild hook from Barnes.
Barnes lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Asakura backs up against the cage.
Barnes waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Asakura.
Asakura tries to close the distance and clinch but Barnes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Barnes throws a series of punches but Asakura moves out of range.
A solid leg kick lands there for Asakura.
Asakura avoids the head kick by Barnes.
A right-left combo lands from Barnes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A bone on bone clash there as Barnes blocks the leg kick.
Good shot there by Barnes.
Barnes comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Asakura blocks a jab.
Barnes misses with a wild body shot.
A chopping leg kick lands by Asakura.
Asakura cracks Barnes with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes misses with a looping right.
Asakura throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Barnes misses with a head kick.
Nice defenses there by Barnes.
Asakura misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Barnes swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Asakura throws a big shot that misses.
Barnes looks for the body kick but Asakura saw that one coming.
Asakura throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Barnes misses with a wild body shot.
It looked like Asakura wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Asakura takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Left hook, right uppercut from Barnes.
Barnes scores with a jab to the body.

Asakura moves into range and clinches up with Barnes.
Asakura taking a breather.
Asakura throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Asakura gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Asakura looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

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!
With the fighters up against the cage, Asakura throws an elbow but misses.
Asakura avoiding damage.
Asakura lands a left hand.
Asakura throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Barnes is trying to break the clinch but Asakura is controlling him.
Barnes has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Barnes tries to pull guard but Asakura won't allow it.
Barnes wants to take the fight to the mat but Asakura manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Barnes takes a shot to the head.
Asakura just leaning against Barnes, taking a breather.
Asakura lands an elbow that stopped Barnes in his tracks for a moment.
Barnes wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Barnes tries to circle away but Asakura has him pinned against the cage.
Nice elbow from Asakura.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asakura lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Barnes breaks the clinch.
Asakura lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Asakura fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Barnes throws a sloppy head kick and Asakura moves out of range easily.
Barnes misses the shot to the body.
Barnes lands with a shot to the body.
Barnes connects with a body shot that sends Asakura's belly button to the back.
Asakura throws a big shot that misses.
Nice defenses there by Asakura.
Asakura misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Barnes replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Asakura blocks it well.
Barnes scores with a spinning back kick!
Asakura tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Asakura misses with a head kick.
Asakura moves out of range of the body kick from Barnes.
Asakura connects with a leg kick.
Barnes misses with a kick to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barnes lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Asakura circles away quickly and effectively.
Asakura avoids the body shot from Barnes.
Barnes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Asakura moves into the clinch.
Asakura pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Barnes dodges an elbow strike from Asakura.
Nice elbow from Asakura.
Barnes dodges an elbow strike from Asakura.
Asakura lands a nice elbow.
Nice elbow from Asakura.

Barnes manages to break the clinch.
Barnes scores with a hook to the body. Asakura takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Asakura takes a shot to the body in his stride.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barnes blocks a low kick nicely.
Asakura throws a solid leg kick but Barnes takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Asakura.
Asakura throws a chopping leg kick but Barnes manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Despite the aggression on Barnes's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Asakura finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Barnes doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

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 Kotaro Asakura.
I think Asakura has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kotaro Asakura!
Our winner, Kotaro Asakura, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.