PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Turtle Poole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shin Asuka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Poole
vs
Asuka

167 cm
20
155 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

170 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Turtle Poole!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shin Asuka!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Poole scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Poole feints and as Asuka raises his hands in defense, Poole changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Poole stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Asuka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Poole tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Asuka moves into the clinch.
Asuka misses with a knee strike.
A bit of stalling here from Asuka.
Asuka gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Turtle Poole has been cut.
Asuka keeps control of Poole as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Poole changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Asuka fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Asuka tries for a takedown but Poole circles away easily

and Poole counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Poole.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Asuka keeping full guard, as Poole tries to pass.
Poole stays in close to Asuka's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poole thows a big elbow that misses.

Poole stands up from Asuka's guard - Poole perhaps looking for a knockout.

Poole feints and as Asuka raises his hands in defense, Poole changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Poole is breathing heavily.
Asuka keeping moving, preventing Poole from controlling successfully.
Poole stays in close to Asuka's body and controls the position.
Asuka wants to stand up but Poole is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asuka keeping moving, preventing Poole from controlling successfully.
Poole is stalling in the full guard.
Poole throwing strikes from guard but Asuka blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Poole stands and steps away. Asuka gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Poole tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Asuka swivels and escapes.
Asuka with a poor takedown

and Poole counters with a takedown into side control.
Asuka is not content to let Poole control the position.
Asuka wants to control but Poole postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Poole has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Asuka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Poole tries to clinch up but Asuka circles away and keeps his distance.
A head kick misses from Asuka.
Asuka looks to throw the jab but Poole is out of range.

Poole tries to keep at a distance but Asuka has taken the fight into the clinch.
Asuka stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
The crowd are getting on Asuka's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Poole takes a knee right on the jaw!

Asuka breaks from the clinch.
Asuka is looking to clinch.
Asuka throws a hook but Poole blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Turtle Poole dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Turtle Poole's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Poole avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Asuka tries to clinch but Poole is having none of it.
Asuka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Poole closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Poole wants to control but Asuka is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Poole controls the position from side control.
Asuka tries to improve position but can't.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poole tries to advance to mount but Asuka denies him.

Poole decides to stand back up. Poole steps back and let's Asuka get back to his feet.
Asuka shoots and misses
and Poole counters with a head kick.
Asuka tries to clinch there but Poole circles away.
Asuka moves in looking to clinch but Poole pushes him off.

Asuka closes the distance and clinches.
Poole is trying to break free.

Asuka decides to pull guard.

Poole decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Asuka, up you get!
Asuka closes the distance looking to clinch
and Poole counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asuka swinging wilding here.
Poole leaves Asuka with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Poole tries to clinch but Asuka moves out of range.
Poole keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Turtle Poole has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shin Asuka.
Asuka throws a sloppy head kick

and Poole counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Poole.

Poole gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Poole wants to lay and pray for a moment but Asuka keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poole missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Asuka pushes Poole off looking to stand but Poole dives back in and keeps control.
Poole is looking to advance position but Asuka won't allow it.

Poole is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Asuka sees it coming and defends easily.
Asuka tries to kick Poole off but Poole keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Poole throwing shots but Asuka is blocking nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Poole looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Poole shoots in looking for a takedown. Asuka tries to sprawl out of it but Poole keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Asuka manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Asuka with a lazy takedown attempt

and Poole counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Poole trying to control the action but Asuka is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Poole is trying to work for a kimura but Asuka is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Turtle Poole dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Turtle Poole's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Asuka has closed the distance and engaged Poole in a clinch.
Asuka jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Poole walks away with a smile on his face. Asuka gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Asuka closes the distance and pushes Poole back into the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Asuka lands a nice elbow.
Asuka lands an elbow just above Poole 's eye.
Asuka landing knees to the head.
Poole tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Poole looking to stall.
Asuka lands a damaging elbow.
Poole drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Asuka drags the fight down to the ground.
Asuka looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asuka keeping moving, preventing Poole from controlling successfully.
Poole wants to get up but he can't break Asuka's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Poole stopping the sweep attempt from Asuka.
Poole has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Asuka is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Asuka wants to stand but Poole is controlling the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Asuka is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Poole misses with a head kick.
Asuka wants to clinch.

Asuka gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Asuka pulls guard effortlessly.
Poole trying to control but Asuka is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poole tries to free his leg and advance position but Asuka is retaining full guard.
Asuka wants to stand and escape but Poole is having none of it.
Poole wants to control from the top but Asuka keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Poole circles away from the clinch attempt.
Poole avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Asuka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Poole paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Asuka displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Poole.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Turtle Poole. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fight stays on the outside here - Asuka looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shin Asuka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Poole misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Asuka tries to clinch up but Poole circles away and keeps his distance.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Asuka tries to clinch there but Poole circles away.
Poole looks for a takedown but Asuka sprawls well.
Turtle Poole is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The fight stays on the outside here - Asuka looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shin Asuka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Poole 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Turtle Poole!