PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hector Sanchez (ranked 2306 p4p, 2269 weight class) and Tyson Asakura (ranked 332 p4p, 328 weight class). Asakura has chosen JJBA - Giorno's Theme as his entrance music. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sanchez
vs
Asakura

176 cm
28
175
5 - 3 - 0

180 cm
23
173
5 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hector Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tyson Asakura!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Asakura lands with a nice body punch.
Asakura throws a good cross that connects.
Asakura with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Sanchez takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Asakura takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Asakura shoots in but no luck this time.
Asakura lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Asakura swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Sanchez.
Asakura takes a swing at Sanchez's ribcage but misses.
Asakura lands with a hook. Sanchez tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
We've been informed that Asakura 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.
Sanchez moves out of range as Asakura strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Asakura scores with a nice right hand.
Asakura shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sanchez pinned against the cage. Sanchez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sanchez tries to counter with a takedown but Asakura is quick to defend against it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asakura slips a straight right by Sanchez.

Sanchez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Asakura!
Asakura tries to buck Sanchez off but Sanchez is having none of it.
Asakura wants to control but Sanchez postures up.
Sanchez trying to control the action but Asakura is working from the bottom.
Asakura struggling a bit here.
Sanchez taking a break here but Asakura is having none of it and regains half guard.
Sanchez is looking to advance position but Asakura won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Asakura is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sanchez pulls his head out easily.

Asakura looking for submissions off his back.
Sanchez trying to pass the guard but Asakura defending well.
Asakura is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sanchez's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sanchez's back!
Asakura lands an elbow to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sanchez just trying to survive but Asakura is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Asakura is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Sanchez. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Sanchez is trying to remain composed but Asakura is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Asakura is landing with strikes. Sanchez can't take much more of this.
Asakura is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Asakura gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Asakura gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Asakura apologises and we restart here on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Asakura shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Sanchez wants to sweep here but Asakura controlling him for the moment.
Asakura seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Sanchez wants to sweep here but Asakura controlling him for the moment.
Sanchez looking to control.

Sanchez working for a triangle but Asakura defends it easily.
Sanchez working a defensive guard but Asakura passes into half guard.
Sanchez is looking for a sweep. Asakura is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sanchez is pressing down on Asakura's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asakura lands a couple of elbows.

Sanchez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Asakura lands a couple of digs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Asakura is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Asakura with a nice head shot there.
Asakura sitting in guard here, content to control.
Asakura scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sanchez pulls Asakura in to control the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sanchez is on top in guard.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Asakura has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sanchez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Asakura looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tyson Asakura dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Sanchez enables Asakura to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Sanchez manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Asakura postures up and lands a big shot to Sanchez's brow.

Sanchez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Asakura gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Asakura with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sanchez keeping moving, preventing Asakura from controlling successfully.

Sanchez working for a triangle but Asakura defends it easily.
Asakura lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez wants to sweep here but Asakura controlling him for the moment.
Asakura sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez looking for a sweep. Not yet Sanchez, not yet.

Sanchez is looking for a triangle here but Asakura uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
You can see the frustration on Sanchez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sanchez is not content to let Asakura control the position.
Asakura lands a nice forearm strike.
Sanchez taking punishment in the form of punches.
Asakura cracks Sanchez with a big elbow.
Check out the look on Asakura's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asakura scores with punches from side control.
Asakura working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Asakura cracks Sanchez with a big elbow.
Sanchez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Asakura scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Sanchez to see if he's OK.
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!
Sanchez is looking to reverse the position.
Asakura moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Sanchez is working to avoid the ground and pound but Asakura connects with a decent elbow.
Asakura scoring with punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is trying to improve his position.
Asakura lands a nice forearm strike.
Asakura scoring with punches and elbows.
Asakura lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Sanchez down.
Sanchez gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Sanchez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Asakura working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asakura drops an elbow to the side of Sanchez's head.
Sanchez moves into full guard.
Asakura engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Asakura cracks Sanchez with a solid left hand.
Asakura showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Sanchez trying to keep a closed guard but Asakura is proving a slippery customer.
Asakura is working Sanchez over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Tyson Asakura has got the better of the ground game so far.
Asakura showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Asakura postures up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tyson Asakura showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Sanchez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sanchez shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Asakura darts in looking for a takedown but Sanchez gets double underhooks and turns Asakura into the cage.
Asakura moves out of range of the strikes.
Asakura bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Sanchez's head backwards.
Asakura lands a head shot.

Asakura pushes Sanchez up against the cage in a clinch.

Sanchez turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Sanchez tries to advance to mount but can't.
Asakura tries to buck Sanchez off but Sanchez is having none of it.
Sanchez working away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sanchez has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Sanchez looking to control but Asakura is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asakura keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Sanchez wants to finish this one by submission but Asakura is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Sanchez.
Asakura working to try and regain half guard.

Sanchez is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Asakura is surviving well by controlling Sanchez's body position as best he can.
Asakura really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez trying to control but Asakura is having none of it.
Asakura is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Sanchez jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Asakura manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Asakura manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Sanchez trying to control the action but Asakura is working from the bottom.

Asakura looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez seems to be looking for submissions.
Sanchez is thwarting Asakura's attempts to control the position.
Sanchez wants to pass to mount but Asakura is defending the position.
Sanchez is thwarting Asakura's attempts to control the position.
Sanchez is trying to control. Asakura wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Asakura actively working from the bottom here.
Sanchez trying to mount his opponent but Asakura defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Asakura looking for submissions off his back.
Asakura wants to control but Sanchez is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A telegraphed right hand from Asakura misses the target.
Asakura works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Sanchez pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sanchez closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sanchez walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sanchez. Asakura does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hector Sanchez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Asakura bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Sanchez's head backwards.

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 Hector Sanchez.
Well Asakura has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tyson Asakura!