PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kaoru Nagashima (ranked 1304 p4p, 1062 weight class) and Jake Askren (ranked 146 p4p, 117 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Nagashima
vs
Askren

178 cm
29
150
11 - 14 - 0

170 cm
25
145
11 - 10 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

IC&E Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kaoru Nagashima!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 1, fighting out of London, Jake Askren!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Winston Howard and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nagashima fails with a takedown attempt.

Askren has Nagashima up against the cage in a clinch.

Nagashima jumps guard.
Nagashima throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Nagashima has his foot on Askren's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Askren works his way back into a safe position though.
Askren looking to pass the guard.
Askren working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Askren landing with the ground and pound.
Nagashima striking off his back but it's not causing Askren any problems.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askren with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Nagashima is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Askren defends well.
Askren distracts Nagashima with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Askren pushes down on Nagashima's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Nagashima misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nagashima is trying to get back to full guard.
Askren blocks the strikes from Nagashima.
Nagashima punching from the bottom.
Nagashima punching from the bottom.
Askren tries to pass to full mount but Nagashima defends it.
Nagashima misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Nagashima looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nagashima misses with some strikes from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Askren lands strikes from half guard.
Askren works his way into full mount!
Askren is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Askren landing strikes, looking to finish!
Nagashima is trying to escape the mount.
Nagashima is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Askren cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nagashima can't escape the position.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Askren cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Askren landing shots from mount.
Askren landing punches.
Nagashima is in all sorts of trouble here.
Nagashima throwing punches from his back. He's mounted here but still fighting back.
Nagashima throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Askren lands a big elbow.
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!
Askren working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Nagashima is rocked!
Askren in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Oh Nagashima is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Askren postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Nagashima in real trouble here! The ref calls for Nagashima to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:47 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jake Askren!
During a confident post fight interview, Jake Askren thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
The defeated Kaoru Nagashima had this to say: 'I meditated on the mountain but my understanding was off, Akirono has left me this day, I will return stronger and aligned'.