PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yoshihiro Asai (ranked 336 p4p, 45 weight class) and Pablo Noriega (ranked 500 p4p, 61 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Asai might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Kaze Ni Nare. Noriega has chosen MS-13 Mara Salvatrucha as his entrance music. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Asai
vs
Noriega

172 cm
36
140 lbs
28 - 13 - 1

181 cm
32
155 lbs
12 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 28 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yoshihiro Asai !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Pablo Noriega!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yuuki Gou and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Asai on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Noriega. Noriega obviously looking to wear him down.
Noriega throws a lazy right hand but Asai sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
We've been informed that Noriega has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Decent striking displayed by Asai there.
Asai connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Noriega's hands.
Asai takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Asai looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Noriega steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Asai .
Noriega scoring well with a low kick there.
Pablo Noriega seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Asai waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Noriega.
Asai looks to land a right hand but Noriega moved out of range.
Noriega tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Noriega blocks a jab.
Asai throws an ugly left hook that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Noriega moves into the clinch.
Noriega blocking some punches.
Noriega tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
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!
A hook to the body from Asai .
Asai lands a body shot.
Noriega working aggressively here.
Asai blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Noriega misses with a short punch on the inside.
Noriega prevents Asai from breaking the clinch.
Asai lands a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Noriega breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Noriega throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Asai lands with a slapping head kick.
Yoshihiro Asai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A swing and a miss from Noriega.
Asai slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Asai ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Asai throws a head kick that misses.

Noriega fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Asai , pushing him back against the ropes.
Asai blocking some punches.

Asai breaks from the clinch.
Noriega throws out a leg kick but Asai moves out of range and Noriega only half commits.
Asai throws a hook to the side of Noriega's head but Noriega sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Noriega tries to clinch up.
Noriega throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Asai swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Asai throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Noriega tried to score with a low kick but Asai checks it.
Noriega misses with a two punch combination.
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!
Asai lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asai cracks the inside of Noriega's front leg.
Asai scores with a nice head shot.
Asai looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Asai uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Asai does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Asai pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Noriega wants to counter the offense by Asai and move into the clinch position.
Noriega blocks a head kick by Asai .
Asai lands an overhand right.
Asai scores with a nice head shot.
Noriega throws a nice looking combination but Asai bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Asai tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Asai swings for the body but Noriega moves out of range.
Asai tries to move into range but Noriega moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Asai is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
A swing and a miss from Noriega.
Noriega thumps Asai with a low kick.
Asai walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Noriega tries to score with a low kick but Asai moves his leg out of the way.
Noriega slips a jab from Asai .
Noriega tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Asai was well out of range. Poor timing from Noriega.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noriega throws the left hand but Asai avoids the punch easily.
Asai misses with a straight right.
A jab from Noriega misses.
Asai throws a head kick but Noriega moves out of range.
Noriega appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Asai throws a looping overhand right but Noriega ducks down to avoid it.
Noriega throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Asai stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Noriega with a lazy takedown attempt
and Asai makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Noriega really felt that one!
Asai throws out a leg kick but Noriega moves out of range and Asai only half commits.
Noriega throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Asai sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A jab from Asai does it's job there.
Asai checks a leg kick.
Asai throws a sloppy head kick and Noriega moves out of range easily.
Noriega fakes the leg kick and cracks Asai in the body.
Asai blocks a jab.
Asai blocks the body kick.
Asai connects with a leg kick. Noriega looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Noriega dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A jab lands there for Asai .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asai throws a big shot that misses.
Noriega pivots, looking for a leg kick but Asai is out of range and Noriega settles back down.
Asai connects with a leg kick. Noriega looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Noriega lands with a cross.
Asai tries a head kick but it misses.
Asai takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A bone on bone clash there as Asai blocks the leg kick.
A jab lands there for Noriega.
Noriega tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Asai throws a low kick but Noriega avoids it.
Asai throws a chopping leg kick but Noriega manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Noriega with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A telegraphed right hand from Asai misses the target.
Noriega sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Asai dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Noriega. That did some damage!
Asai takes one to the side of the head.
Noriega listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Noriega throws out a loose jab but Asai uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Yoshihiro Asai will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Noriega throws out a leg kick but Asai moves out of range and Noriega only half commits.
Noriega blocks a head kick by Asai .
A big right from Noriega misses.
Asai throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Asai misses with a jab, cross combination.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Noriega! But no joy.
Noriega pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Noriega throws a jab but it's blocked by Asai .
Noriega throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Asai sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A leg kick checked by Asai .
Noriega buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Asai throws a head kick but Noriega moves out of range.
Noriega swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Asai looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Noriega misses with a looping left.
Noriega lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Asai misses with a body shot.
Asai throws an overhand right that lands on Noriega's shoulder, as Noriega tries to avoid the shot.
Asai swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Asai is looking to slow Noriega down with leg kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Noriega forces Asai back against the ropes and clinches.
Asai misses with a hook from the clinch.
Noriega doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Noriega lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Noriega breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Noriega ducks under a wild hook from Asai .
Asai lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Asai .
Yoshihiro Asai is winning the standup battle so far.

Noriega rushes Asai and presses him up against the ropes.
Noriega lands with a short shot to the head.
Asai swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Noriega prevents Asai from breaking the clinch.
Asai misses with a hook to the ribs.

Noriega breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Asai looking to land some kicks to the body here.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Noriega! But no joy.
Asai pivots, looking for a leg kick but Noriega is out of range and Asai settles back down.
Asai swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Noriega throws a lazy head kick
enabling Asai to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Asai misses the shot to the body.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Asai has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Noriega.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asai slips a straight right by Noriega.
Asai takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Noriega looks to clinch
and Noriega takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Asai tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Noriega was well out of range. Poor timing from Asai .
Noriega throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Asai swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Asai with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Noriega misses with a wild body shot.
A counter left hand to the body from Asai misses its target.
Noriega's corner calls for a 1-2. Noriega obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Asai throws a head kick but Noriega moves out of range.
Noriega steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Asai .
Noriega throws a series of strikes that have Asai backpedaling.
Noriega throws a poor cross that misses
and Asai counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Asai feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Noriega's calf.
Asai lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Asai waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Noriega.
Asai misses with a hook. Noriega ducked under it nicely.
Asai throws the kick towards the body but Noriega avoids it.
Noriega shapes to counter with a head kick.
Asai is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Asai throws a hook but Noriega blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noriega fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Asai looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Asai steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Noriega.
Asai lands with a nice body punch.
Asai throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A big right from Noriega misses.
Asai jabs Noriega right on the nose. Noriega blinks but takes it well.
Noriega tries a head kick but it misses.
Noriega keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Noriega slips a jab from Asai .
Asai comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Asai throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Noriega tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Asai manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Asai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Noriega.
A punch lands to the side of Noriega 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Asai connects with a crisp jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Asai tries a low kick but Noriega avoids it.
Noriega cracks Asai with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asai slips under a jab.
Asai throws a wild body kick that Noriega sees coming a mile off.
Asai misses with a body kick.
Asai uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Noriega.
Asai digs a good body shot into Noriega's ribs.
A nice leg kick lands there from Asai .
Nice shot lands for Asai .
Noriega tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Asai paws at him with a jab and circles away.
It looked like Asai was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Noriega.
Noriega ducks under a wild hook from Asai .
Noriega walks into a left hand.
Noriega tries to clinch but Asai is having none of it.
A left lands for Asai .
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Noriega throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Asai blocks a jab.

Noriega rushes Asai and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Still in the clinch, Noriega scores with a nice short uppercut.
Asai lands with a short punch from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshihiro Asai dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Noriega misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Asai throws a front kick that sends Noriega stumbling back into the ropes.
A big right from Noriega misses.
Noriega lands a leg kick that knocks Asai off balance momentarily.
Noriega walks into a left hand.
Noriega moves out of range of the body kick.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Asai lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Noriega has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Noriega and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Noriega cracks the inside of Asai 's front leg.
Asai ducks under a wild hook from Noriega.
Noriega keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Asai motions for Noriega to come forward. Asai throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Noriega only half commits to the counter leg kick.
A lazy body kick from Asai
and Noriega counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Noriega scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Asai scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Asai scores with a body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Noriega slips a jab from Asai .
Asai looks to score with a jab to the body but Noriega is just out of range.
Noriega misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noriega keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Asai staying out of range there.
Asai throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Asai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Noriega.
Noriega scores with a jab.
Asai moves out of range as Noriega throws a body kick.
Noriega slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Noriega cracks Asai with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A head kick misses from Noriega.
Noriega throws a shot from downtown. Asai moves away and avoids it.
Asai lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Asai dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Noriega. That did some damage!
Asai throws a right and a left that Noriega avoids nicely.
Asai cracks Noriega with a good jab.
Noriega missing with a left hand there. Asai was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Noriega throws out a loose jab but Asai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Asai goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asai tries to land a front kick but Noriega steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Asai avoids the body shot from Noriega.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Good standup being displayed there by Noriega as he connects with a hook.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Noriega.
Asai moves out of range of the leg kick from Noriega.
Asai slips under a jab.
A good leg kick by Noriega.
Noriega slips a straight right by Asai .
Asai looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Asai changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Noriega misses with a hook.
Asai misses with a body kick.
Asai misses with a wild body shot.
Noriega lands a right hook to the body.
Noriega ducks under a wild hook from Asai .
Noriega fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Asai manages to avoid it.
Asai looks for the body kick but Noriega saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noriega takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Asai jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Noriega is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Asai .
Noriega ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Asai moves away.
Noriega needs to keep his hands up - Asai had a free shot at his head there.
Noriega wants to clinch up but Asai keeps it at a distance.
Asai lands a high kick!
Asai throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Asai takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Noriega blocks a jab.
Asai connects with an inside leg kick.
Noriega misses with a head kick.
Good work by Asai as he checks the leg kick.
Asai fires out a quick counter leg kick but Noriega just manages to avoid it.
Noriega will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Asai lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Pablo Noriega has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Some bone on bone action there as Noriega checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Noriega moves out of range of the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noriega throws a body punch but Asai moves out of range.
Asai avoids the body shot from Noriega.
Asai looks to land a left hand but Noriega moved out of range nicely.
Asai has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Noriega.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Noriega lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Noriega uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Asai .
Noriega stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Asai .
Noriega displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Asai throws out the jab.
Asai on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Noriega. Noriega obviously looking to wear him down.
Asai fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Noriega has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Asai throws a leg kick that misses.
Noriega slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
A decent looking cross lands there for Asai .
Asai lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Noriega misses with a leg kick.
Asai dips to his left and cracks Noriega with an uppercut!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Yoshihiro Asai .
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Asai , winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yoshihiro Asai !
Yoshihiro Asai thanked the fans post fight for their support.