PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michael Cole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshihiro Asai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cole comes to the cage accompanied by I Won't Back Down. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Cole
vs
Asai

175 cm
24
200 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

172 cm
25
192 lbs
11 - 2 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Aspire Clothing
MayheM sportswear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Cole!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yoshihiro Asai !
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Franklyn Lucas and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Asai throws a head kick that misses

and Cole counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Asai keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Cole thows a huge punch but Asai dodges it nicely.
Asai blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cole.

Cole is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Asai is looking to improve his position.
Cole perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cole lands a nice short elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cole wants to lay and pray for a moment but Asai keeps working.
Asai moves into full guard.
Asai working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cole.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Asai holds on and takes a little breather.
Cole trying to control but Asai is working from the bottom.
Cole working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Asai controls Cole momentarily but Cole frees himself.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cole accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Asai working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cole.
Cole throws a big elbow that misses.
Cole trying to control but Asai is working from the bottom.
Asai preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Cole connects with a couple of short punches.
Cole is looking to work some ground and pound but Asai has wrist control.
Cole with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cole throws a big right hand that misses.
Cole has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Asai keeping moving, preventing Cole from controlling successfully.
Cole cracks Asai with a solid left hand.
Cole wants to control from the top but Asai keeps moving.
Asai not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Asai manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cole manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cole is pulling down on Asai 's head to control his posture.
Cole wants to sweep here but Asai controlling him for the moment.
Asai is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Asai wants to get up but he can't break Cole's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Cole seems keen to control Asai 's posture.
Asai wants to stand but Cole is controlling his posture from full guard.
Asai is fighting to break Cole's control of his arms but Cole is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
A slow jab from Asai misses its intended target.
Cole shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cole avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Asai throws a jab but it's blocked by Cole.
Asai shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Asai lands a big head kick that sends Cole tumbling to the mat! Asai takes a step backwards and waves Cole back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Cole is rocked!

It looks like Michael Cole has been cut.
Asai looks for a left high kick but can't connect. Asai backs up to catch a breather... no he lunges forward with a huge flying knee that smacks Cole's temple! It sends Cole violently to the canvas! The crowd goes nuts as Asai celebrates and the doctors try to help Cole!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:47 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Flying Knee). Yoshihiro Asai !
Yoshihiro Asai is the new middleweight champion!