PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Wesley Shutes (ranked 1059 p4p, 1304 weight class) and Tyson Asakura (ranked 141 p4p, 174 weight class). Asakura has chosen JJBA - Giorno's Theme as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Tyson Asakura told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Shutes
vs
Asakura

182 cm
32
177
12 - 9 - 0

180 cm
29
173
13 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
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 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Wesley Shutes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tyson Asakura!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Matti Vanhoillinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shutes throws a low kick but Asakura moves out of range easily.
Shutes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Asakura now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Shutes pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Shutes lands an overhand right.
We've been told by Shutes's head coaches at Shut Up & Train! {$1000} that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
A chopping leg kick lands by Shutes.
Shutes throws a nice outside leg kick.

Shutes gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Asakura breaks the clinch.
Asakura tries a head kick but it misses.
Shutes lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Asakura backs up against the cage.
Shutes swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Asakura is looking for the big counter here.
Shutes lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Shutes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Asakura manages to avoid it.
Asakura walks forward, straight into a front kick from Shutes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shutes thumps Asakura with a low kick.
Shutes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shutes lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shutes tries to clinch there but Asakura circles away.
A shot to the body from Shutes misses
and Asakura counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nice defenses there by Shutes.
Shutes feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Shutes lands with a nice body kick.
Asakura throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Asakura tries to bum rush Shutes with a series of wild strikes but Shutes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The fighters circling - Asakura throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Wesley Shutes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shutes tries to land a leg kick but Asakura saw it coming and moves away.
Asakura takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Asakura moves into range and connects with a jab.

Shutes gets tackled into the cage by Asakura. Asakura maintains the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Asakura fails to land.
Asakura missing with knees to the body.
Asakura throws a punch but it's blocked by Shutes.

Asakura breaks the clinch.
Shutes is looking to clinch but Asakura is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asakura closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shutes lands a front kick.
Shutes avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Shutes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Asakura was well out of range. Poor timing from Shutes.
Shutes is looking to land body kicks.
It seemed like Asakura was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Asakura looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Shutes throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Asakura connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Asakura throws out a loose jab but Shutes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Shutes throws a nice outside leg kick.
Shutes just misses with a punch to the body.
Asakura fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Shutes looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Asakura jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Shutes misses with a low kick.
Shutes scores with a spinning back kick!
Shutes misses with a low kick as Asakura jumps back.
Shutes lands a nice looking kick to the body. Asakura takes a step back to recover.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shutes lands a right hook to the body.
Asakura checks the leg kick nicely there.
Asakura uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Shutes has time to react.
Shutes misses with a low kick.
Shutes avoids a punch combination nicely.
Shutes swings for the body but Asakura moves out of range.
Shutes lands an overhand right.
Asakura lands a nice shot to the body.
Shutes is looking to wear down Asakura with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Asakura lands with an overhand left.
Asakura takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Shutes misses with a low kick.
Shutes throws a shot to the body.
Shutes throws a low kick but Asakura avoids it.
Asakura swats away the attempt to clinch by Shutes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Asakura will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Shutes swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Shutes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Asakura.
Asakura takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Shutes connects with a crisp jab.

Shutes shoots in and bounces Asakura off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Shutes controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Wesley Shutes dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Asakura throws a jab but it's blocked by Shutes.
Asakura throws a hook to the side of Shutes's head but Shutes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Shutes tries to counter by clinching up but Asakura breaks away and moves out of range.
Asakura misses with a straight left.
It looked like Shutes wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Shutes waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Asakura.
Shutes throws a nice inside leg kick.
Shutes walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Shutes tries to score with a low kick but Asakura moves his leg out of the way.
Asakura jabs Shutes right on the nose. Shutes blinks but takes it well.

Asakura rushes Shutes and presses him up against the cage.
Asakura fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Asakura is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Shutes is defending well for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shutes landing knees to the head.

Asakura breaks from the clinch.
That kick from Shutes tenderised Asakura's leg. Asakura is trying to keep his angry face on.
Shutes scoring well with a low kick there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Asakura tries to sprawl but Shutes drives through with a takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asakura pushes Shutes off looking to stand but Shutes dives back in and keeps control.
Shutes wants to control but Asakura is keeping him busy.
Asakura gets full guard.
Shutes's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Shutes's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Asakura is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Shutes is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Asakura pulls Shutes in close to prevent any damage.
Shutes wants to control from the top but Asakura keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Asakura might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
A chopping leg kick lands by Shutes.

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.
Asakura lands a glancing blow to the side of Shutes's head.
Asakura scores with a nice right hand.
Wesley Shutes is winning the standup battle so far.
Shutes motions for Asakura to come forward. Shutes throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Shutes throws a lazy right hand but Asakura sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Asakura waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Shutes.
Asakura throws the left hand but Shutes avoids the punch easily.
Shutes lands with a straight right. Asakura didn't see that one coming.
Asakura throws out a loose jab but Shutes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Asakura keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Shutes fails with a takedown attempt.
Shutes throws a leg kick
and Asakura counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Shutes misses with a jab to the body
and Asakura counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Shutes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Asakura was well out of range. Poor timing from Shutes.
Shutes circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Asakura blocks the leg kick.
Shutes throws an overhand right that lands on Asakura's shoulder, as Asakura tries to avoid the shot.
Shutes finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Asakura misses with an uppercut.
Asakura is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Shutes.
Asakura misses with an uppercut. Shutes saw that one coming.
Shutes misses with a body kick.
Asakura swinging wildly here.
Asakura's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Asakura checks a low kick from Shutes.
Shutes finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Shutes thumps Asakura with a low kick.

Shutes closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A short left from Asakura.

Asakura breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shutes attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Shutes throws a low kick but Asakura moves out of range easily.
Asakura throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Shutes.
A shot to the liver by Asakura. Beautiful body shot.
Shutes moves away from the strike by Asakura.
Asakura connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Shutes's hands.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Asakura swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Shutes.
Shutes fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Asakura has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Shutes fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Asakura is out of range.
Shutes throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Asakura counters with a one-two to the body.
Shutes throws a leg kick that misses.
Shutes lands a front kick.
Shutes misses with a hook. Asakura ducked under it nicely.
Shutes dips to his left and cracks Asakura with an uppercut!
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.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Shutes throws a low kick, looking for Asakura's leg but Asakura calmly moves out of range.
Shutes moves out of range as Asakura strikes.
Asakura has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Shutes.

Shutes closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
You can see the frustration on Asakura's face as Shutes controls the position.
Shutes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Asakura keeps working.
Asakura is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shutes is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Asakura will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Shutes trying to control the action but Asakura is working from the bottom.
Asakura is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Asakura throws a body punch but Shutes moves out of range.
Asakura takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Shutes 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 Asakura has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Asakura and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Asakura steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Shutes.
Shutes throws a leg kick but Asakura sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Asakura swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Shutes connects with a leg kick.
Shutes throws a shot to the body.
Shutes throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Asakura swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Shutes's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Asakura connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Shutes scrambles back to his feet.

Asakura fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Shutes, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asakura misses with a hook from the clinch.
Shutes blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Asakura misses with some punches.

Asakura breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shutes swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Shutes finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
A solid leg kick lands there for Shutes.
Shutes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Asakura manages to avoid it.
Shutes throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Asakura.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shutes connects with a body shot that sends Asakura's belly button to the back.
Asakura jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Shutes misses with a hook to the body
enabling Asakura to counter with a crisp jab.
Shutes throws a low kick but it's checked well by Asakura.
Asakura looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Shutes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Asakura does it's job there.
Shutes throws the kick towards the body but Asakura avoids it.
Asakura tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Shutes throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Shutes misses with a low kick.
Asakura displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Shutes connects with a crisp jab.

Asakura has taken the fight to the clinch.
Shutes drops down looking for an ankle pick but Asakura pulls his leg out and moves away.
Asakura scores with a jab.
A low kick from Shutes misses
and Asakura counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Shutes thinking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Asakura - just one landing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shutes throws a front kick aimed at Asakura's knee but Asakura avoids it well.
Shutes misses the jab.
Asakura throws out a counter right but Shutes avoids it with no problem.
Shutes attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Asakura throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Shutes sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Asakura misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shutes.
Asakura on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Asakura fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Shutes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Asakura.
Shutes ducks under a wild hook from Asakura.
Decent striking displayed by Asakura there.
Shutes throws a wild body kick that Asakura sees coming a mile off.
Shutes wants to slow Asakura down by chopping away at his legs.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tyson Asakura.
I think Asakura has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tyson Asakura!
A very excited looking Tyson Asakura made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.