PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gilmat Kirk (ranked 2243 p4p, 1535 weight class) and Yoshihiro Asai (ranked 139 p4p, 94 weight class). Kirk kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Lords of Iron. Asai is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Grand Sword. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kirk
vs
Asai

170 cm
31
148
5 - 1 - 0

172 cm
42
140
38 - 25 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Voodoo Nutrition

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Gilmat Kirk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 38 - 25 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yoshihiro Asai !
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Wesley Smith and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Asai with the inside leg kick.
Yoshihiro Asai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Asai has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kirk.
Asai throws a head kick but Kirk moves out of range.
Good work by Kirk as he checks the leg kick.
A low kick from Asai misses

and Kirk decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Asai 's guard.

Kirk drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Asai dives on top into guard.

Kirk wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Kirk has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Asai has passed into side control.
Kirk tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Asai easily slips into full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kirk sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Asai decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asai lands a jab to the head.
Kirk is looking to clinch.
Asai dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kirk. That did some damage!
Asai connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Kirk throws a sloppy head kick and Asai moves out of range easily.
Kirk takes one to the side of the head.
Asai looks to throw the jab but Kirk is out of range.
Kirk closes the distance looking to clinch
and Asai makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Asai throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kirk appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asai looks to throw the jab but Kirk is out of range.
Kirk avoids the body shot from Asai .

Kirk closes the distance and pushes Asai back into the cage.
Kirk goes for a takedown attempt but Asai pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Asai misses the jab.
Asai works the jab nicely.
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 nice shot to the body.

Kirk drives through and clinches with Asai against the cage.
Asai prevents the takedown attempt.
Asai lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kirk lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Asai .
Asai tries to throw a body punch but Kirk avoids it by throwing Asai back against the cage.

Kirk tightens his grip and picks Asai up, before dumping him to the ground. Asai manages to land in guard.
Kirk stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Asai swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kirk throws a strike but Asai rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kirk is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kirk is trying to keep Asai in close.

Kirk had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Asai defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kirk 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.

Kirk throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Asai escapes and throws Kirk's legs to the side, diving into side control!
You can see the frustration on Kirk's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirk is looking to reverse the position.
Kirk struggling a bit here.
Kirk manages to work his way to half guard, despite Asai 's best efforts.
Kirk wants to control but Asai is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Asai is taking a breather. Kirk says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Kirk wants to improve his position but Asai is controlling well.
Kirk trying to control here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kirk tries to close the distance and clinch but Asai swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Asai throws a nice inside leg kick.
Asai moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Asai dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kirk. That did some damage!
Asai has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Kirk looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Asai manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Kirk keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Asai doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kirk has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Asai avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Kirk has picked Asai up - he's going for a ride! Kirk dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Kirk looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Kirk is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirk is pressing down on Asai 's thigh, looking to free his foot. Asai is holding on for now.

Kirk is working for a kimura but Asai is defending it quite comfortably.

Kirk seems to be looking for submissions.
Kirk wants to pass to mount but Asai is defending the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Asai is defending against the submission attempts here by Kirk.

Kirk is trying to work for a kimura but Asai is defending well.

Kirk seems to be working for a kimura but Asai defends the submission attempt.

Kirk in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Asai tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Kirk!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Gilmat Kirk!
Gilmat Kirk decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
Yoshihiro Asai spoke after the fight, saying 'Ill Train Harder And Win My Next Fight'.