PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tyson Asakura (ranked 878 p4p, 1229 weight class) and Vlad Darko (ranked 128 p4p, 174 weight class). Asakura's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, JJBA - Giorno's Theme. Darko is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Ominous Drumming. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Asakura
vs
Darko

180 cm
30
173
14 - 8 - 0

178 cm
41
180
26 - 16 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Heavy handed

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 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tyson Asakura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 16 - 2, fighting out of New York, Vlad Darko!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Asakura connects with a crisp jab.
A slow jab from Darko misses its intended target.
A low kick from Darko misses
and Darko takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Asakura has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Black Swans in the buildup to the fight.
Darko slips under a jab.
Darko on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Darko circles away from the clinch attempt
enabling Darko to counter with a crisp jab.
Tyson Asakura seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice body kick from Darko.
Asakura misses with a left hand
enabling Darko to counter with a crisp jab.

It looks like Tyson Asakura has been cut.

Darko closes the distance and pushes Asakura back into the cage.
Darko slowing the pace effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darko is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Darko stalling in the clinch.
Asakura letting Darko take a breather here.

Asakura escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Asakura shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Asakura decides to return to a standing position.

Asakura darts in and clinches Darko up against the cage.
Darko is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Darko blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asakura throws a head punch that misses.

Asakura's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Asakura wants to clinch up but Darko keeps it at a distance.
Asakura throws a looping overhand right but Darko ducks down to avoid it.
Asakura lands with a thumping leg kick.
Nice takedown defense from Darko. No joy for Asakura on that attempt.
Darko swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
The crowd cheers as Asakura lands an impressive looking overhand right. Darko doesn't seem phased though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Darko throws a lazy uppercut
and Asakura counters with a straight right hand.
Darko pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Darko throws a leg kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darko misses with a hook.
Donk. Darko catches Asakura right on the button with a cross.
Asakura cracks Darko with a good jab.
Asakura throws a lazy uppercut
and Darko connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Asakura throws a jab but it's blocked by Darko.
Asakura throws a lazy right hand but Darko sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Darko flicks out a counter leg kick but Asakura steps away.
Asakura moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Darko takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Asakura throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Darko counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Darko steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Asakura.
Asakura dips to his left and cracks Darko with an uppercut!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Asakura misses with a hook
and Darko counters with an inside leg kick.
Asakura pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Darko looks to land a right hand but Asakura moved out of range.
Darko moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A punch combination from Asakura misses.
Darko keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Darko with the counter takedown but Asakura avoids it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Asakura looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tyson Asakura dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tyson Asakura's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nice body punch from Darko.
Darko takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Asakura thows a left - swing and a miss!
Asakura is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Darko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Asakura.
Darko feints a counter leg kick.
Darko takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Darko throws a hook to the side of Asakura's head but Asakura sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Asakura throws a big counter combination but Darko scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Darko bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Asakura scores with a crisp jab that stopped Darko in his tracks.
Asakura is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Darko can do to turn this around?
Darko tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Asakura manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darko needs to keep his hands up - Asakura had a free shot at his head there.
Asakura throws a right and a left that Darko avoids nicely.
Asakura rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Darko counters with a stiff right hand.
Asakura throws a poor cross that misses
and Darko counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Darko feints and then cracks Asakura's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Asakura down.
Darko lands a leg kick that knocks Asakura off balance momentarily.

Asakura scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Darko is looking to reverse the position.
Asakura working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Asakura trying to control the action but Darko is working from the bottom.
Asakura is really struggling to control Darko but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Asakura are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Asakura tries to advance to mount but Darko denies him.
Darko struggling a bit here.
Darko gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Darko looking for submissions off his back.
Asakura throwing shots but Darko is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asakura trying to control the action but Darko is working from the bottom.
Darko trying to control here.
Darko tries to roll over but Asakura keeps him under control.
Darko has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Asakura is working away from the top position though.
Darko tries to roll over but Asakura keeps him under control.
Asakura not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Asakura is thwarting Darko's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Darko regains full guard. Nicely done.
Asakura stays in close to Darko's body and controls the position.
Darko controls Asakura momentarily but Asakura frees himself.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Asakura fails in his attempt to clinch.
Darko throws a poor cross that misses
and Asakura counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Asakura blocks a head kick by Darko.
Darko takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tyson Asakura dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tyson Asakura's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Asakura closes the distance and pushes Darko back into the cage.
Asakura working aggressively here.
Asakura misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Darko.

Asakura manages to break the clinch.
Darko slips under a jab from Asakura.
Darko is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Asakura with a body shot.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Asakura misses with a body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Asakura breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Darko catches Asakura with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Asakura darts in trying to clinch
and Darko counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asakura misses with a double jab.
It seemed like Darko was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Darko circles away from the clinch attempt
and Darko counters with a straight right hand.
Good shot there by Darko.
Darko looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Asakura lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Asakura shoots in for a takedown but Darko shows good takedown defense.
Vlad Darko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darko uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Asakura.
Darko now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Asakura rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Darko counters with a nice uppercut.
Asakura bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Darko's head backwards.

Asakura closes the distance and pushes Darko back into the cage.
Darko working some nice short punches in the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Asakura breaks from the clinch.
Asakura digs a good body shot into Darko's ribs.
Darko thows a leg kick but Asakura checks it
letting Asakura counter with a right hand.
Darko walks into a straight right hand from Asakura.
Darko scores with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darko defending well as Asakura loads up on a big left hand.
Asakura backing away here, and Darko unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Darko takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Asakura misses with an uppercut. Darko saw that one coming.
A jab from Asakura misses.
Darko throws a push kick but Asakura slaps the foot to one side.
Darko circles away from the clinch attempt.
Darko shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Asakura counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Darko ducks under a wild hook from Asakura.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Darko takes a swing at Asakura's ribcage but misses.
Asakura swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Darko.
Asakura throws a hook to the side of Darko's head but Darko sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A little jabbing left from Darko on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Asakura connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Darko's hands.
Asakura lands a body shot.
Asakura throws a poor cross that misses
and Darko counters with an inside leg kick.
Darko tries to work over Asakura's front leg with a kick but Asakura checks it.
Asakura fires out a quick counter leg kick but Darko just manages to avoid it.
Nice uppercut lands for Darko. That snapped Asakura's head back.
Tyson Asakura is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Tyson Asakura's cut is getting worse.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Darko gets tackled into the cage by Asakura. Asakura maintains the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tyson Asakura showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Asakura 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tyson Asakura!
An out of breath Tyson Asakura thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.