PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Asaki Hioko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Haruo Iwao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Asaki Hioko has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Hioko
vs
Iwao

178 cm
22
178 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
22
178 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Asaki Hioko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Haruo Iwao!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Taro Takaoka and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Iwao shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hioko's guard.
Iwao looking to pass the guard.
Iwao won't allow Hioko to get back to his feet.
Iwao tries to free his leg and advance position but Hioko is retaining full guard.
Iwao is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Iwao drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Iwao jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Iwao stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hioko swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hioko avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Iwao shoots in and drives through. Hioko sprawls well.
Iwao throws a front kick aimed at Hioko's knee but Hioko avoids it well.
A cross from Hioko lands.
Iwao throws a head kick but Hioko moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hioko fails to land with a series of punches.
Iwao throws a sloppy head kick and Hioko moves out of range easily.
Hioko fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Iwao takes one to the side of the head.
Hioko scores with a leg kick.
Hioko works Iwao's body with a nice hook.
Iwao looks gassed!
Iwao gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Hioko lands a jab to Iwao's midsection.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Hioko moves into range and connects with a jab.
Iwao takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Hioko digs a good body shot into Iwao's ribs.
Iwao tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Iwao with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hioko dips to his left and cracks Iwao with an uppercut!
Iwao throws a nice inside leg kick.

Iwao bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Iwao tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Iwao has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Iwao looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Hioko is avoiding damage well.

Iwao wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hioko, who protects the arm well.
You can see the frustration on Hioko's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hioko is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hioko can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iwao tries to advance to mount but Hioko denies him.
Iwao in side control, throwing shots but Hioko defends.
Iwao fails to land a wild elbow strike.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hioko looks to score with a jab to the body but Iwao is just out of range.
Iwao throws a head kick that misses.
Hioko fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hioko avoids the head kick by Iwao.
Iwao shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hioko lands with a nice body punch.
Hioko throws a right hand that Iwao ducks under and follows up with a left that Iwao also avoids with ease.
Hioko lands a right hook to the body.
Hioko connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Iwao momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hioko lands a head kick!
Hioko scores with a body shot.
Hioko jabs at Iwao's body.
Hioko thuds a left hand into Iwao's body.
A nice combination there by Hioko.
Hioko throws the left hand but Iwao avoids the punch easily.
Hioko misses with an uppercut.
Asaki Hioko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hioko takes a swing at Iwao's ribcage but misses.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Hioko!
Iwao misses with a head kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Hioko blocks the leg kick.
Iwao keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hioko.

Hioko gets caught flat footed, as Iwao shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Iwao pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hioko is keeping the position for now.
Iwao thows a big elbow that misses.
Iwao won't allow Hioko to get back to his feet.
Iwao slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Iwao tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Hioko is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Iwao is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hioko is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Hioko prevents Iwao from improving position.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Hioko is pushing Iwao's head away, looking to escape. Iwao manages to hold on to the position though.
Iwao in side control, throwing shots but Hioko defends.
Hioko wants to get back to his feet.

Iwao is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hioko is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Hioko gets back to half guard.

Iwao looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Hioko is trying to stand back up but Iwao is controlling him

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hioko misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Iwao.
Hioko misses with an uppercut.
Iwao throws a body punch but Hioko moves out of range.
Iwao throws a nice inside leg kick.
Hioko connects with a crisp jab.
Iwao doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Hioko misses with an uppercut. Iwao saw that one coming.
Iwao ducks under a wild hook from Hioko.
Iwao takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Iwao takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Hioko feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Iwao's calf.
Hioko lands a jab to the nose.
Iwao has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Hioko lands a slapping body shot.
Iwao has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Iwao there as he acknowledges the shot.
Hioko misses with a body shot.
Iwao tries a head kick but it misses.
Hioko waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Iwao.
Hioko scores with a shot to the body.
Iwao closes the distance and clinches up with Hioko, looking for a takedown. Iwao pushes Hioko against the cage but Hioko circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Asaki Hioko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Haruo Iwao.
Iwao walks into a straight right hand from Hioko.
Hioko lands an overhand right.
Hioko sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Iwao takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hioko lands with a nice body punch.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Iwao shoots in for a double leg but Hioko sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hioko is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Iwao throws a head kick but Hioko moves out of range.
Iwao on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Hioko's corner calls for a 1-2. Hioko obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Hioko throws a series of strikes that have Iwao backpedaling.
Hioko is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Iwao takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Hioko works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Hioko lands a body shot.
Hioko throws a series of punches but Iwao avoids them all with ease.
Iwao blocks a low kick nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hioko scores with a jab to the head.
Iwao has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Hioko throws a hook but Iwao blocks it.
Iwao throws a head kick that misses.
A clash of legs there as Hioko blocks the low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Asaki Hioko dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Hioko uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Hioko avoids a kick to the body.
Iwao swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Iwao tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Iwao throws a lazy uppercut
and Hioko counters with a nice uppercut.
Hioko throws a shot to the body.
Hioko connects with a nice looking jab.
Iwao throws a head kick but Hioko moves out of range.
Iwao takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Hioko lands a jab to the head.
A shot to de liver by Hioko. Beautiful body shot.
Iwao gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A punch combination from Hioko misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Iwao throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Iwao misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hioko keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hioko misses the shot to the body.
Hioko checks a leg kick.
Hioko scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Hioko keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hioko catches Iwao with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Asaki Hioko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hioko throws a big shot that misses.
Some bone on bone action there as Hioko checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Hioko keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hioko throws a shot from downtown. Iwao moves away and avoids it.
Hioko throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Asaki Hioko is winning the standup battle so far.
Iwao gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Hioko counters with a left and a right that stings Iwao.
Hioko misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hioko misses with an uppercut.
Iwao pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hioko pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Iwao swings for the body but Hioko moves out of range.
Hioko connects with a crisp jab.
Hioko lands the left hand.
Iwao uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hioko.
Hioko cracks Iwao with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Iwao avoids the body shot from Hioko.
Hioko lands with a hook. Iwao tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Iwao throws a head kick that misses.
Iwao throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Hioko misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Iwao dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hioko. That did some damage!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hioko looks to score with a jab to the body but Iwao is just out of range.
Iwao throws a head kick but Hioko moves out of range.
Iwao takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Hioko throws a hook but Iwao avoids it easily.

Iwao shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Hioko is trying desperately to improve position.
Hioko knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Iwao on the ground.
Iwao throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Hioko is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Iwao has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Iwao working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Hioko is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.
Iwao throws some wild stikes that Hioko manages to avoid easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Iwao misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Hioko tries to lock up and control but Iwao gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Iwao throwing strikes here but Hioko is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Hioko tries to buck Iwao off but he can't manage it.

Iwao working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Iwao punching from mount but Hioko doing a good job of avoiding damage.

Iwao with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Iwao looking to ground and pound but Hioko is blocking nicely.
Iwao takes Hioko's back.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Iwao working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Iwao is trying to stick to Hioko's back but Hioko is turning into Iwao. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Iwao's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Hioko.

Iwao has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Hioko should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Iwao has tightened it up now! Hioko should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5:35 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Haruo Iwao!