PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Michael Washington (ranked 24539 p4p, 3067 weight class) and Prime Asiago (ranked 538 p4p, 370 weight class). Washington comes to the cage accompanied by The Rising. Asiago has chosen 300 Violin Orchestra as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Washington
vs
Asiago

173 cm
22
165
2 - 4 - 1

177 cm
20
165
5 - 4 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Lethal high kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Michael Washington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Prime Asiago!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Gregory Folan and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Washington darts in and clinches Asiago up against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Washington just misses with a elbow thrown towards Asiago's brow.
Asiago struggles to land a body shot inside as Washington controls his hands.
Washington lands an elbow that stopped Asiago in his tracks for a moment.
Washington controlling the action here for a moment.
A hook to the body from Washington.
Washington using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Washington manages to break the clinch.
Washington misses with a jab to the body
and Asiago counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Washington rushes Asiago and presses him up against the cage.

Washington manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Washington moves into range and clinches up with Asiago.
Asiago swings wildly with an uppercut but Washington uses good head movement to avoid it.
Asiago tries to work over Washington's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Washington escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asiago thuds his right hand into Washington's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Asiago throws a head kick that misses.
Asiago pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Washington tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Washington clinches.
Asiago tries a body shot but Washington blocks it.
Asiago tries a body shot but Washington blocks it.
Come on Washington - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Washington.
Washington utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Still in the clinch, Washington scores with a nice short uppercut.
Washington tries to land knees in the clinch but Asiago avoids the damage to the body.
Washington lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Asiago backwards.

Washington pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Washington clinches.
Asiago throws a punch but it's blocked by Washington.
Washington with an attempt at a knee that misses.
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!
Asiago misses with a body punch.

Washington pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Washington blocks a head kick by Asiago.

Washington has closed the distance and engaged Asiago in a clinch.
Asiago tries a body shot but Washington blocks it.

Washington breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Asiago tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Washington has Asiago up against the cage in a clinch.

Washington lands a takedown into guard.
Washington with a flurry of punches that miss.
Asiago is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Washington has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Washington stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Asiago moves out of range of the body kick from Washington.
Washington misses with a double jab.
Washington uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Asiago.
Asiago throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Washington moves into the clinch successfully.
Washington slowing the pace effectively.
A head punch on the inside from Asiago fails to land.
Washington throws an elbow but it misses.

Washington breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Asiago fails in his attempt to clinch.
Asiago thows a leg kick but Washington checks it

and Washington counters with a single leg into guard. Asiago didn't expect that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Washington controlling from the top position.
Washington postures up in Asiago's guard and throws a big left but Asiago blocks it.

Washington stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Asiago throws a head kick but Washington moves out of range.
Washington tries to clinch up but Asiago circles away and keeps his distance.
A looping hook to the body misses from Asiago. Washington does a little dance to reset his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Washington looking to score a takedown here. Asiago is defending well but Washington drives through and ends up in Asiago's guard.

Washington stands and steps away. Asiago gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Washington closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Asiago did well to prevent Washington getting side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Washington avoids the head kick by Asiago.
Washington throws a head kick but Asiago moves out of range.

Washington has managed to clinch.

Washington breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Washington closes the distance and pushes Asiago back into the cage.
Asiago misses with the head strike.
Washington blocking some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Asiago.

Washington manages to break the clinch.
Washington shoots in but Asiago avoids the takedown attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Asiago swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've been told by Washington's head coaches at Cozad MMA Montreal that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Washington keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Washington clinches up with Asiago and pushes him back against the cage.
Washington landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Washington pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Washington throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Asiago was covering up waiting for the punch and Washington finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Asiago is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Washington presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Washington is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Asiago can do to turn this around?
Asiago blocks an elbow strike.
Washington landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Asiago on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Good body shot from Washington.

Washington has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Asiago regains guard immediately.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Washington decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asiago throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Asiago just misses with a punch to the body.

Washington clinches.
Washington lands a nice knee to the body.
Washington lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Asiago or not.

Washington pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Prime Asiago seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Washington wants to clinch up but Asiago keeps it at a distance.
Washington is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Washington takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Washington lands with a cross.
Asiago is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Washington rather than just go for the knockout.

Washington takes the fight into the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Asiago fails to land.
Asiago lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Washington struggles to land a body shot inside as Asiago controls his hands.
Washington prevents a body shot from Asiago.
Washington leaning his opponent against the cage.

Washington manages to break the clinch.
Washington blocks a head kick by Asiago.

Washington forces Asiago back against the cage and clinches.
Washington fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Washington breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Asiago is looking to clinch but Washington is avoiding it.
Washington seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Washington tries to clinch up but Asiago circles away and keeps his distance.
Washington tries to close the distance and clinch up but Asiago swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Washington tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Washington tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Washington wants to clinch up but Asiago keeps it at a distance.

Washington closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Asiago kicks off Washington and gets to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Washington fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Asiago throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Washington punishes Asiago's body with a nice straight punch.
Washington doesn't manage to clinch there - Asiago circles away.
Washington throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Asiago throws a fast counter high kick but Washington manages to duck under it in time.
Asiago throws a head kick that half lands.
Washington walks into a jab.
Asiago tries to clinch but Washington is having none of it.
Asiago fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Asiago throws a head kick but Washington moves out of range.
Washington attempts a counter takedown but Asiago avoids it well and moves away.
Asiago takes a swing at Washington's ribcage but misses.
It looked like Washington was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
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 Michael Washington will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Some wild striking there from Washington.
Washington on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Washington wants to clinch.
Asiago tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Washington throws a right hand that Asiago ducks under and follows up with a left that Asiago also avoids with ease.

Washington gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Washington lands an uppercut.
Asiago working aggressively here.
Washington tries to pull guard but Asiago holds him up against the cage and eventually Washington drops back down to his feet.
Asiago tries to work over Washington's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Washington breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Asiago misses with a head kick.

Washington gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Washington escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Asiago misses with a head kick.

Washington gets a double leg takedown into Asiago's guard.
Washington trying to control but Asiago is working from the bottom.

Washington gets to his feet. Asiago looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Asiago misses with a straight right.
Washington throws a right and a left that Asiago avoids nicely.
Asiago misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick from Asiago lands but Washington takes it in his stride.
Asiago misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Washington.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Asiago misses with a head kick.
Washington tries to bum rush Asiago with a series of wild strikes but Asiago uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Asiago is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Asiago avoids the body shot from Washington.
Asiago throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Washington throws a big counter combination but Asiago scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Washington is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Washington tries to clinch up.
Washington misses with a few strikes there.
Asiago throws a nice head kick!
Asiago throws a head kick but Washington moves out of range.
A jab from Washington misses.
Asiago is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Asiago throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Washington moves into the clinch successfully.

Washington manages to break the clinch.

Washington moves into the clinch successfully.
A knee to the head by Washington.
Asiago misses with a hook to the ribs.
Asiago blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Asiago struggles to land a body shot inside as Washington controls his hands.

Washington escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Asiago throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Asiago thows a left - swing and a miss!
Asiago throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Asiago throws a leg kick but Washington moved away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Washington utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Washington is pushing Asiago up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Washington jumps guard.
Prime Asiago has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Washington working for a triangle but Asiago defends it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Asiago avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Michael Washington is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Asiago throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Washington works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Washington showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Washington, 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Washington!
Michael Washington spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.
In defeat, Prime Asiago stepped up to the mic, saying 'I'll be back'.