PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Raiden Asuka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Philipp Kostyrko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kostyrko is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Fuck Them All. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Asuka
vs
Kostyrko

170 cm
20
163 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

155 cm
22
155 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raiden Asuka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Philipp Kostyrko!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Stewart Dunkirk and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kostyrko is looking to clinch but Asuka is avoiding it.
We've been hearing reports that Asuka has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

Kostyrko drives through and clinches with Asuka against the cage.
Kostyrko with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Knees to the body from Kostyrko.
Kostyrko tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Asuka jumps guard but Kostyrko stands there with Asuka around his waist. Asuka gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Asuka managing to block the knees to the body from Kostyrko.
Kostyrko landing knees to the body.
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 Kostyrko walks away with a smile on his face. Asuka gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Asuka tries to keep at a distance but Kostyrko has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kostyrko tries to land a knee to the head but Asuka blocks with his arms.
Asuka jumps guard but Kostyrko turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raiden Asuka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
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 Kostyrko walks away with a smile on his face. Asuka gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Kostyrko closes the distance and clinches.
Kostyrko is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Asuka is defending well for now.
Kostyrko is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Asuka avoiding damage as Kostyrko throws knees to the body.
Kostyrko landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Kostyrko misses with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asuka wants to break the clinch but can't.
Asuka blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A knee to the head by Kostyrko.
Kostyrko lands a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Kostyrko.
Kostyrko missing with knees to the body.
Asuka jumps guard but Kostyrko stands there with Asuka around his waist. Asuka gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Asuka tries to pull guard but Kostyrko forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Kostyrko is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Kostyrko landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Kostyrko with a knee to the head.
Kostyrko landing some nice looking knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Asuka takes a knee to the side of the body.
Asuka is breathing heavily.
Kostyrko putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Asuka in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Kostyrko working Asuka over with knees to the body.
Kostyrko using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Kostyrko just misses with a elbow thrown towards Asuka's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kostyrko lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Asuka takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kostyrko is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Kostyrko lands a knee to the head.
Kostyrko landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Asuka jumps guard but Kostyrko turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Asuka avoids a wild elbow strike from Kostyrko.
Asuka trying to stall but Kostyrko improves his position.
Asuka avoiding damage as Kostyrko throws knees to the body.
Kostyrko using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Kostyrko.
Asuka dodges an elbow strike from Kostyrko.
Kostyrko misses with a knee strike.
Asuka misses with a knee to the head.
Asuka blocks an elbow strike from Kostyrko.
Kostyrko with a knee to the head.
Kostyrko lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Kostyrko lands a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kostyrko using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Asuka takes a knee to the side of the body.
Kostyrko tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kostyrko tries to land a knee to the head but Asuka blocks with his arms.
Kostyrko lands a knee to the body.
Asuka tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kostyrko smiles and moves away.
Kostyrko tries to clinch but Asuka is having none of it.
Kostyrko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Asuka paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kostyrko tries to clinch but Asuka moves out of range.
Asuka avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kostyrko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Kostyrko forces Asuka back against the cage and clinches.
Asuka tries to pull guard but Kostyrko won't allow it.
Kostyrko scores with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asuka tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kostyrko just stands there and leans against the cage.
Asuka avoiding damage as Kostyrko throws knees to the body.
Kostyrko unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Asuka fails to pull guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kostyrko has Asuka pressed against the cage, preventing Asuka from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kostyrko throws an elbow but misses.
Asuka tries to pull guard but Kostyrko holds him up against the cage and eventually Asuka drops back down to his feet.
Kostyrko looking to throw knees to the head but Asuka is blocking nicely.
Asuka is trying to pull guard but Kostyrko turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Asuka tries to pull guard but Kostyrko forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Knees to the body from Kostyrko.
Kostyrko landing knees to the body.
Kostyrko looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Asuka blocks an elbow strike from Kostyrko.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kostyrko scores with a knee to the head.
Asuka takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kostyrko putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Asuka in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Kostyrko scores a nice knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kostyrko working Asuka over with knees to the body.
Kostyrko tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kostyrko tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Philipp Kostyrko seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Asuka tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A knee to the head by Kostyrko.
Kostyrko tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Asuka jumps guard but Kostyrko turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Asuka wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kostyrko tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kostyrko landing knees to the head.
Asuka pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Asuka tries to break the clinch but Kostyrko is controlling the position.
Asuka is trying to pull guard but Kostyrko turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raiden Asuka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kostyrko landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kostyrko with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Asuka is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asuka fails to pull guard.
Kostyrko scores with a knee to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Kostyrko obliges.
Kostyrko landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Asuka blocks the elbow strike.
Kostyrko tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Asuka jumps guard but Kostyrko turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Kostyrko lands a good knee to the midsection. Asuka won't want to take too many of those.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kostyrko scores with a knee to the head.
Kostyrko scores with a knee to the head.
Kostyrko lands a good knee to the midsection. Asuka won't want to take too many of those.
Nice elbow from Kostyrko.
Kostyrko lands a good knee to the midsection. Asuka won't want to take too many of those.
Kostyrko putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Asuka in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Kostyrko landing knees to the head.
Kostyrko has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kostyrko utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Kostyrko crunches a lovely knee into Asuka's ribcage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kostyrko lands an elbow inside that Asuka shrugs off.
Kostyrko scores with a knee to the head.
Kostyrko putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Asuka in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Kostyrko scores with a knee to the head.
Kostyrko keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Asuka's efforts to push away.
Kostyrko lands a knee to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Kostyrko.
A knee to the head by Kostyrko.
Asuka jumps guard but Kostyrko stands there with Asuka around his waist. Asuka gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kostyrko using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Asuka fails to pull guard.
Kostyrko with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Asuka takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asuka is trying to break the clinch but Kostyrko has him pressed against the cage.
Kostyrko lands a nice knee to the body.
Asuka tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kostyrko just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kostyrko scores with a knee to the head.
Kostyrko unloads a knee to the mid-section. Asuka lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Asuka avoids the elbow strike from Kostyrko, against the cage.
Kostyrko with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Kostyrko obliges.
Kostyrko landing knees to the body.
Asuka blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kostyrko utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Kostyrko lands a knee to the head.
Asuka takes a knee to the side of the body.
Kostyrko misses with a knee strike.
Asuka avoiding damage as Kostyrko throws knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kostyrko throws an elbow but misses.
Kostyrko misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Asuka.
Kostyrko misses with a knee to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kostyrko misses with an elbow strike.
Asuka is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kostyrko is keeping busy.
Kostyrko avoiding damage as Asuka throws knees to the body.
Kostyrko misses with a knee to the head.
Kostyrko unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Asuka managing to block the knees to the body from Kostyrko.
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 Kostyrko walks away with a smile on his face. Asuka gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Kostyrko keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Asuka swats away the attempt to clinch by Kostyrko.
Kostyrko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Philipp Kostyrko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Kostyrko fails with an attempt to clinch.
Asuka circles away from the clinch attempt.

Asuka closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kostyrko did well to prevent Asuka getting side control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Kostyrko is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Asuka is pressing down on Kostyrko's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kostyrko is holding on for now.

Asuka is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kostyrko is just riding it out for now. Asuka eventually gives up the hold.
Asuka wants to take a breather but Kostyrko is having none of it.
Kostyrko is looking for a sweep. Asuka is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Asuka seems to be working for a kimura but Kostyrko defends the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kostyrko trying to hold on to Asuka's head to control him but Asuka postures up.

Asuka is working for a kimura but Kostyrko is defending it quite comfortably.

Asuka is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kostyrko is just riding it out for now. Asuka eventually gives up the hold.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kostyrko is looking to improve his position.
Philipp Kostyrko is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kostyrko really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Asuka. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kostyrko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kostyrko tries to get to full guard but Asuka has control of the leg.
Asuka will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Asuka tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Kostyrko.
Kostyrko slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kostyrko tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Asuka stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kostyrko swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kostyrko is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Asuka slips nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kostyrko tries to roll over but Asuka keeps him under control.

Asuka is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Kostyrko is defending against the submission attempts here by Asuka.
Kostyrko keeping control of the position.
Asuka not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Asuka is working for a kimura but Kostyrko is defending it quite comfortably.
Kostyrko is looking to improve his position.

Asuka is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kostyrko defends it well.
Kostyrko moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Asuka trying to control the position from guard on top but Kostyrko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raiden Asuka showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kostyrko has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Philipp Kostyrko!
A victorious Philipp Kostyrko thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.