PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kai Asakura (ranked 2782 p4p, 2434 weight class) and Joel Gomez (ranked 198 p4p, 173 weight class). 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
Gomez

173 cm
26
139
3 - 2 - 0

190 cm
26
135
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

BANZAI 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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kai Asakura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Joel Gomez!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Daniel Bishop and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gomez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gomez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Asakura defends it nicely.
Asakura throws a series of strikes that have Gomez backpedaling.
A punch combination from Asakura misses.
Gomez is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Asakura lands a head kick!
Asakura lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A right-left combo lands from Asakura.
Good standup being displayed there by Asakura as he connects with a hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Asakura scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Gomez looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asakura throws a one two combo.
Gomez misses with a takedown
and Asakura counters with a one-two to the body.
Kai Asakura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joel Gomez.
Asakura lands with a cross.
Asakura throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
A low kick lands for Asakura.
Asakura scores with a three punch combo!
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!
Gomez takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Asakura is working the combinations to good effect here.
Gomez tries to move into range but Asakura moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Asakura getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Gomez moves forwards but Asakura connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Asakura lands a head kick!
Asakura stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Asakura wants it to stay on the feet.
Asakura lands with a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gomez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Asakura is fending him off so far but Gomez persists. Nope, Asakura circles away and we're back to standing.
Asakura throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Gomez shoots in for a takedown but Asakura shows good takedown defense.
Asakura connects with a good right hand that stumbles Gomez. Gomez circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Asakura is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Asakura lunges at Gomez with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Gomez's hand.
Kai Asakura seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Asakura thumps Gomez with a low kick.
Gomez moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Gomez takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Asakura with a nice cross.
Asakura lands with a nice body kick.
Gomez is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Gomez's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Asakura connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Gomez scrambles back to his feet.
Asakura is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Asakura misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asakura lands a two punch combo.
Donk. Asakura catches Gomez right on the button with a cross.
A nice combination there by Asakura.
Asakura scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Kai Asakura is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Asakura swinging wildly here.
Asakura throws out a powerful jab.
Asakura is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Asakura goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gomez on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asakura scores with a hook to the body. Gomez takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Asakura throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Gomez stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Gomez doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Asakura counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gomez walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Asakura scores with a jab. Gomez acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Asakura closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Gomez dives in for a single leg takedown but Asakura sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Asakura jabs Gomez right on the nose. Gomez blinks but takes it well.
Asakura with a hook.
Gomez has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Left hook, right uppercut from Asakura.
Gomez misses with a takedown attempt - Asakura sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Asakura swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kai Asakura dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gomez throws a right hand that Asakura ducks under and follows up with a left that Asakura also avoids with ease.
Gomez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Asakura circles away.
Asakura throws a series of strikes that have Gomez backpedaling.
Gomez is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Horrible takedown attempt by Gomez or perhaps it was just good defense by Asakura, which made it look bad.
Asakura pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Gomez back to the cage. Asakura follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Asakura lands with a straight right. Gomez didn't see that one coming.
Gomez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Asakura seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Kai Asakura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joel Gomez.
Asakura lands the left hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Asakura lands a nice looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asakura misses with a wild combination.
Asakura connects with a single shot there.
A head kick from Asakura lands but Gomez takes it in his stride.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Asakura, as that shot connected.
Jab from Asakura.
Gomez shoots for a double leg takedown but Asakura sprawls well. He's pushed Gomez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Asakura catches Gomez with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with each other but Gomez might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Asakura has got the better of the exchanges.
Gomez has his takedown stuffed
enabling Asakura to counter with a crisp jab.
Gomez is breathing heavily.
Asakura connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Gomez is rocked!
Gomez is trying desperately to land a takedown but Asakura is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Gomez.
Gomez drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Gomez is still on wobbly legs! Can Asakura finish him?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Asakura keeps Gomez at a distance using the push kick.
Gomez seems to have recovered his senses.
Asakura moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A left lands for Asakura.
Asakura scores with a one two! Gomez had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Asakura is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gomez can do to turn this around?
Gomez closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kai Asakura is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Asakura cracks Gomez with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Asakura throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Gomez's head.
Asakura lands a really nice looking cross but Gomez seems unphased.
Asakura throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gomez lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Asakura connects with the punch.
Asakura connects with a looping right hand.
Asakura comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Asakura lands a jab-cross combination.
Gomez walks into a left hand.
Gomez throws a series of punches but Asakura moves out of range.
Asakura tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Asakura lands the left hand.
Asakura lands the left hand.
Asakura lands with a straight right. Gomez didn't see that one coming.
Asakura lands with a nice body punch.
Kai Asakura is winning the standup battle so far.
Asakura throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Asakura lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Asakura uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Gomez has time to react.
A cross from Asakura lands.
Gomez takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Asakura throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Asakura tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Asakura throws a sloppy head kick and Gomez moves out of range easily.
As Asakura backs off Gomez throws a huge counter combo but Asakura manages to avoid it all.
Gomez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Asakura counters with a thumping low kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Asakura lands a high kick!
Asakura scores with a jab.
Gomez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kai Asakura dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Gomez walks into a straight right hand from Asakura.
Asakura scores with a push kick.
Gomez fails with the takedown.
Asakura moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Gomez tries to clinch but Asakura moves away
letting Asakura counter with a right hand.
Asakura lands a lovely overhand right.
Gomez has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Asakura.
Asakura lands a really nice looking cross but Gomez seems unphased.
Asakura definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters circle momentarily. Asakura darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Asakura lands with a hook. Gomez tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Asakura jabs Gomez right on the nose. Gomez blinks but takes it well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A lazy left from Asakura finds it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Asakura darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Asakura lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Nice body punch from Asakura.
Asakura connects with a body shot.
Asakura keeps the fight on the outside.
Asakura connects with a high kick.
No joy there for Gomez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Asakura works the jab nicely.
Asakura's jab looks to have found its range, popping Gomez under the eye.
Asakura feints a jab promting Gomez to slip. Asakura then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Gomez slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gomez fails to land the takedown.
Gomez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gomez has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asakura lands a high kick!
A decent looking body kick lands there for Asakura.
Asakura moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Asakura connects with a good right hand that stumbles Gomez. Gomez circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A jab from Asakura finds it's way through Gomez's defenses.
Gomez moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Gomez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kai Asakura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joel Gomez.
Asakura uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Gomez takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asakura moves into range and connects with a jab.
Asakura smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Decent striking displayed by Asakura there.
Gomez is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Asakura sizes up Gomez with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Gomez shoots in for a takedown but Asakura shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
It looked like Asakura was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Gomez has managed to clinch.

Asakura's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Asakura slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Gomez feints and as Asakura raises his hands in defense, Gomez changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gomez stays in close to Asakura's body and controls the position.
Asakura keeping full guard, as Gomez tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomez trying to control but Asakura is working from the bottom.
Gomez slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Gomez lands a few punches from side control.
Gomez is looking to take a break and control but Asakura is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Joel Gomez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kai Asakura is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Asakura is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Gomez has just dragged him back down to the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kai Asakura showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Asakura, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 30:25
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:25
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kai Asakura!
After winning the bout, Kai Asakura thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
In defeat, Joel Gomez stepped up to the mic, saying 'I’ll be back and better next time , it just wasn’t my night tonight . THANK YOU TO ALL THE FANS !'.