PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Yoshihiro Asai (ranked 1421 p4p, 1657 weight class) and Lester Burnham (ranked 87 p4p, 100 weight class). Asai comes to the cage accompanied by Grand Sword. Burnham has chosen All Star Chuck Taylors as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Asai
vs
Burnham

172 cm
42
140
37 - 24 - 2

170 cm
29
143
16 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition

Conviction
Core Combat

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 37 - 24 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yoshihiro Asai !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lester Burnham!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Francis DeMontford and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Asai dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Burnham. That did some damage!
We've been told by Asai 's head coaches at Tran MMA Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Burnham lands with a right hand.
Some bone on bone action there as Burnham checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Asai lands a nice looking body kick.
Burnham misses with a looping right.
Burnham jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Burnham takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Burnham stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Asai .
Nice defenses there by Asai .
Asai misses with a looping left.
Asai uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Burnham tries a head kick but it misses.
Asai misses with a hook. Burnham ducked under it nicely.
Asai looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Burnham shoots in but no luck this time.
Asai tried to counter with a leg kick but Burnham avoided it.
Asai clobbers Burnham with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
A nice inside leg kick there by Asai . That's going to slow Burnham down.
Burnham's coach down at Tin Can Athletics was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Burnham's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Burnham tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Asai was well out of range. Poor timing from Burnham.
Burnham misses with a low kick.
Burnham throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burnham chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Asai can pounce on him.
Asai blocks a head kick by Burnham.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Asai . Burnham shrugs it off though.
Burnham throws a body kick that misses.
Burnham has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Burnham there as he acknowledges the shot.
Burnham on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Asai looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Asai slips a straight right by Burnham.
Burnham tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Asai swivels and escapes.
Burnham takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Asai throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Burnham misses with a jab, cross combination.
Asai ducks under a wild hook from Burnham.
Burnham slips under a jab from Asai .
Burnham uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Asai .
This has been an exciting period of action!
Asai throws a sloppy body shot

and Burnham counters by moving into the clinch.
Burnham blocks an elbow strike.
Burnham jumps guard but Asai turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Yoshihiro Asai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lester Burnham.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asai tries to throw a body punch but Burnham avoids it by throwing Asai back against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Asai just misses with a elbow thrown towards Burnham's brow.
Asai misses with a knee strike.
Burnham goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Burnham.
Asai lands a nice uppercut.
Burnham takes a knee right on the jaw!
Burnham tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Asai swings wildly with an uppercut but Burnham uses good head movement to avoid it.
Asai misses with a hook from the clinch.
Asai tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Asai throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Burnham prevents a body shot from Asai .

Burnham breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Burnham takes one to the side of the head.
Yoshihiro Asai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
No joy there for Burnham, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Asai scores with a nice head shot.
Burnham moves out of range as Asai strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Asai does it's job there.

Burnham is rocked!
Burnham shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Asai sprawls well. Asai wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Burnham gets slowly back to his feet.
Asai feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Burnham misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Asai .
Asai lands a nice hook to Burnham's body. Burnham takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Asai displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Burnham throws out the jab.
Asai half committed to a counter leg kick.
Asai blocks a head kick by Burnham.
An attempted straight right counter from Asai misses the target.
Burnham misses with a wild combination.
Burnham dives in and grabs Asai 's left leg, looking for a takedown. Asai pushes down on Burnham's head and hops out.
It looked like Asai wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Burnham takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Burnham drives through with a takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Asai seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Burnham is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Asai is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Asai has escaped and now he's on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burnham trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Burnham working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Asai doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Asai manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Burnham throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Asai escapes and throws Burnham's legs to the side, diving into side control!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshihiro Asai dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Burnham fails to land the takedown.
Asai takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Asai attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Asai lands with a nice body kick.
Lester Burnham is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Asai looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Asai wants to land a leg kick but Burnham is out of range.
Burnham throws an overhand right that lands on Asai 's shoulder, as Asai tries to avoid the shot.
Asai is looking for a counter combo.
Burnham displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Asai throws out the jab.
Burnham misses with a low kick as Asai jumps back.
Burnham checks a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Asai connects with a body shot.
Burnham walks into a left hand.
Burnham lands a head kick. Asai smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Burnham throws a head kick that misses.
Asai was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Burnham dips to his left and cracks Asai with an uppercut!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Asai lands with a good body shot.
Asai is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Burnham can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burnham swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Asai throws a quick counter head kick but Burnham was just out of range.
Burnham fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Crunch! Asai slams his shin into Burnham's torso.
Asai tries to score with a low kick but Burnham moves his leg out of the way.
Burnham steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Asai . That one must have hurt.
Asai throws a low kick but Burnham avoids it.
Burnham lunges at Asai with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Asai 's hand.

Burnham feints and as Asai raises his hands in defense, Burnham changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Asai is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Burnham presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Burnham has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Asai is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Burnham takes an elbow to the temple.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Asai breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Asai throws a nice inside leg kick.
Burnham lands with a good body shot.
Asai throws a leg kick which misses Burnham's front leg but catches the back leg as Burnham tries to avoid it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Asai .

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burnham throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Yoshihiro Asai has been cut.
Burnham blocks a jab.
Asai throws a shot to the body.
Asai feints a jab promting Burnham to slip. Asai then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Burnham slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Burnham tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Asai checks the leg kick.
Asai misses with a hook
and Burnham counters with a right hand to the body.
Burnham has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Asai .
Asai throws a hook but Burnham avoids it easily.
Asai slips a jab and a cross from Burnham.
Burnham blocks a leg kick.
Burnham with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Asai to score with a decent uppercut.
Asai misses with a body kick.
Burnham throws a series of punches but Asai moves out of range.
Asai throwing a counter right hand but Burnham manages to avoid it.
Burnham throws a right and a left that Asai avoids nicely.
Asai thumps Burnham with a low kick.
Burnham works the jab nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burnham throws a head kick that misses.
Burnham slips under a jab.
Asai with the inside leg kick.
Asai chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Jab by Burnham.
Burnham cracks Asai with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Burnham on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Asai displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Burnham shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Asai 's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Burnham throws an elbow that misses. Asai uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Burnham's guard. Nice move by Asai !

Asai wants to get up but he can't break Burnham's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Burnham wants to sweep but no luck.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asai pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Burnham is keeping the position for now.

Burnham had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Asai defends it easily.
Yoshihiro Asai overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Asai tries to free his leg and advance position but Burnham is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Burnham controls Asai momentarily but Asai frees himself.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshihiro Asai dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Yoshihiro Asai 's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Asai lets loose with a powerful body kick. Burnham will feel that in the morning.
Burnham misses with a wild combination.
A little feinted left hand from Asai on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Burnham lands a body shot.
Asai with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Asai throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Asai avoids the head kick by Burnham.
Burnham looks to land a left hand but Asai moved out of range nicely.
Asai thumps Burnham with a low kick.
Burnham scores with a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Asai moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Yoshihiro Asai is winning the standup battle so far.
Burnham misses with a head kick.
Asai throws a leg kick which misses Burnham's front leg but catches the back leg as Burnham tries to avoid it.
Burnham throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Asai .
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice defenses there by Asai .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asai moves out of range of the strikes.
Asai thuds a left hand into Burnham's body.
Asai pushes Burnham away with a front kick.
Burnham takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Burnham throws out a loose jab but Asai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Asai throws a nice inside leg kick.
Asai avoids the body shot from Burnham.
Burnham takes one to the chin there.
Asai looks to land a right hand but Burnham moved out of range.
Asai uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Burnham.
Burnham misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Asai .
Asai lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Burnham at a distance.
Burnham misses the shot to the body.
Burnham will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Asai thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Burnham if he has to take too many more of those.
Asai turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Lester Burnham has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Burnham moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Burnham keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Asai ducks under a wild hook from Burnham.
A combination from Asai does no damage.
Asai scores with a nice head shot.
Asai avoids the head kick by Burnham.
Burnham on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Asai lands a nice leg kick that just misses Burnham's sensitive parts.
Asai pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Asai chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Burnham can pounce on him.
Asai lands a leg kick that knocks Burnham off balance momentarily.
Asai connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Burnham momentarily.
Burnham is still on wobbly legs! Can Asai finish him?
Burnham cracks Asai with an open hand slap.
Burnham is looking to land body kicks.
Burnham seems to have recovered his senses.
Burnham walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asai connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Asai misses with a kick to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Burnham. Those never looked like landing.
Asai appears to be looking for a big counter.
Asai lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Asai lands with a right hand.
Burnham throws a right and a left that Asai avoids nicely.
Burnham throws a head kick that misses.
Nice defenses there by Asai .
Burnham takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Asai moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Nice shot by Asai .
The fighters circle momentarily. Asai darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Burnham throws a nice inside leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Burnham misses with a kick to the body.
Asai tries a head kick but it misses.
Burnham has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Asai pivots, looking for a leg kick but Burnham is out of range and Asai settles back down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asai with the inside leg kick.
Burnham thuds a left hand into Asai 's body.
Burnham takes one on the button.
Asai is looking to land body kicks.
Burnham with the counter takedown but Asai avoids it easily.
Asai throws a hook but Burnham blocks it.
Burnham swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A punch lands to the side of Burnham 's head but he takes it in his stride.
A low kick from Burnham misses
enabling Asai to counter with a crisp jab.
Asai turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Asai slips a jab and a cross from Burnham.
Burnham shoots in for a takedown but Asai shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Asai moves out of range of the body kick from Burnham.
Asai tried to counter with a leg kick but Burnham avoided it.
Asai connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Asai scores with a leg kick.
Burnham's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Asai scores with a crisp jab that stopped Burnham in his tracks.
Burnham fails with a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yoshihiro Asai showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Asai has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 30:27
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yoshihiro Asai !
Post fight, Yoshihiro Asai took to the microphone: 'Thank You Combate And Darren Russell For Your Opportunity, But Im Gonna Joined Grunge FC And Moving Up To Featherweight.'.