PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ilari Rahamies (ranked 754 p4p, 729 weight class) and Kotaro Asakura (ranked 54 p4p, 51 weight class). Asakura is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Venom by $ B. This should be a great matchup!

Rahamies
vs
Asakura

175 cm
34
145
20 - 12 - 1

173 cm
30
137
20 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Granite chin

FF Gear
Conviction

Hoarse Pills
Bondi MMA 🏝️

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 20 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ilari Rahamies!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kotaro Asakura!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Asakura fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rahamies has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Asakura checks a low kick from Rahamies.
As Rahamies backs off Asakura throws a huge counter combo but Rahamies manages to avoid it all.
Asakura chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rahamies can pounce on him.
Asakura lands a right hook to the body.
Rahamies throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Asakura feints and then cracks Rahamies's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rahamies down.
Asakura moves away from the strike by Rahamies.

Asakura clinches.

Rahamies breaks from the clinch.
Rahamies connects with a good right hand that stumbles Asakura. Asakura circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Rahamies throws the left hand but Asakura avoids the punch easily.
Rahamies throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Asakura throws a big shot that misses.
Rahamies throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Asakura lands a leg kick that knocks Rahamies off balance momentarily.
Rahamies circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rahamies circles away from the clinch attempt.
A quick step to the side and Rahamies tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rahamies comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Rahamies circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rahamies misses with a kick to the body.
Rahamies moves out of range of the leg kick from Asakura.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asakura throws a right and a left that Rahamies avoids nicely.
A swing and a miss from Rahamies.
Asakura tries a quick counter leg kick but Rahamies is wise to it.
Rahamies lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Asakura circles away quickly and effectively.
Rahamies lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Asakura slips a straight right by Rahamies.
Good standup being displayed there by Asakura as he connects with a hook.
Rahamies turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Asakura misses the jab.
Asakura throws a right and a left that Rahamies avoids nicely.
Rahamies circles away from the clinch attempt.
Asakura tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Asakura fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rahamies scores with a jab.
Asakura connects with a right hand. Rahamies shakes it off.
Ilari Rahamies seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Asakura doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rahamies ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Asakura moves away.
Rahamies swinging wildly here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Rahamies 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Asakura lands a jab to the head.
Rahamies ducks under a wild hook from Asakura.
A big left from Asakura misses.
Rahamies lands a nice looking body shot.
Rahamies throws the left hand but Asakura avoids the punch easily.
A jab from Rahamies misses.
A little jabbing left from Asakura on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Rahamies takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Asakura displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rahamies throws out the jab.
Rahamies misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Asakura lands a lovely overhand right.
Rahamies misses with a double jab.
Rahamies throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Asakura.
Rahamies dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Asakura. That did some damage!
Asakura lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Rahamies lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rahamies lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A low kick lands for Asakura.
Asakura dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rahamies. That did some damage!
Rahamies misses with a wild combination.
Asakura scores with a jab to the head.
A nice leg kick from Asakura, right into the meat of the thigh.
Asakura looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rahamies throws a predictable looking body shot
letting Asakura counter with a right hand.
Asakura moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Rahamies will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Asakura throws out a leg kick but Rahamies moves out of range and Asakura only half commits.
Rahamies with a nice cross.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Asakura looks to land a left hand but Rahamies moved out of range nicely.
Some bone on bone action there as Rahamies checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Asakura staying out of range there.
A cross from Rahamies lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asakura takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Rahamies throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Asakura jabbing away but nothing is landing.
It looked like Rahamies wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Asakura throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Rahamies counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Asakura drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Asakura tried to score with a low kick but Rahamies checks it.
Rahamies tried to score with a low kick but Asakura checks it.
Asakura misses with a looping left.
Rahamies misses with a double jab.
Asakura steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rahamies.
Rahamies gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Rahamies lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rahamies defending well as Asakura loads up on a big left hand.
Rahamies lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Rahamies is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Rahamies looks to land a right hand but Asakura moved out of range.
Rahamies connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rahamies takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ilari Rahamies will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Some wild striking there from Asakura.
Rahamies keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Asakura throws a poor cross that misses
letting Rahamies counter with a right hand.
Asakura throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Asakura thuds his shin into the meat of Rahamies's side.
Rahamies throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Asakura on the side of the head.
Asakura's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Rahamies connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Asakura scrambles back to his feet.
Rahamies throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Asakura stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A slow jab from Asakura misses its intended target.
Asakura throws a jab but it's blocked by Rahamies.
Rahamies 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.
A low kick lands for Rahamies.
Rahamies keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Asakura.
Rahamies connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Asakura rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rahamies moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rahamies connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Asakura looks to land a left hand but Rahamies moved out of range nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rahamies checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Rahamies lands a head shot.
Rahamies shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Asakura 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 Rahamies has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Rahamies and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Asakura uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rahamies.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rahamies.
Asakura gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Asakura is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rahamies appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Rahamies. Asakura shrugs it off though.
Rahamies lands a jab to Asakura's midsection.
Asakura slips a jab from Rahamies.
Rahamies throws a body shot but no joy.
It seemed like Asakura was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Rahamies checks a leg kick.
Asakura throws a hook but Rahamies blocks it.
Rahamies thinks about countering with a head kick.
Rahamies misses with a body kick.
Asakura takes a kick to the side of the head.
Asakura's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asakura misses with a wild body shot.
Ilari Rahamies is winning the standup battle so far.
Asakura moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rahamies throws a jab but it's blocked by Asakura.
Rahamies lands a leg kick that knocks Asakura off balance momentarily.
Asakura tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rahamies was well out of range. Poor timing from Asakura.
Rahamies lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Asakura circles away quickly and effectively.
Asakura is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Rahamies!
Asakura listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Rahamies throws a series of punches but Asakura moves out of range.
Rahamies fails to land with a series of punches.
Asakura with a nice calf kick.
Rahamies misses with a looping left.
Asakura throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Asakura throws a low kick but Rahamies moves out of range easily.
The crowd cheers as Asakura lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rahamies doesn't seem phased though.
Rahamies slips under a jab from Asakura.
Asakura throws a low kick but Rahamies moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asakura checks a low kick from Rahamies.
Rahamies throws a leg kick but Asakura checks it.
Asakura avoids a kick to the body.
Asakura scores with a jab. Rahamies acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Rahamies explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Good exchange - Rahamies coming out on top.
Rahamies's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Rahamies duly obliges.
Rahamies throws a poor cross that misses
and Asakura counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rahamies throws a hook but Asakura blocks it.
Asakura flicks out a counter leg kick but Rahamies steps away.
Rahamies misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Asakura rushes Rahamies and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Asakura throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Rahamiess head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Asakura lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Asakura lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Asakura misses with the head strike.
Rahamies misses with a hook to the ribs.
Asakura creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rahamies's defenses.
Rahamies working aggressively here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asakura effectively controlling the action here.
Rahamies digs a right hand underneath Asakura's ribcage. Asakura let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Rahamies misses with a short punch on the inside.
Asakura misses with some punches.
Asakura throws a punch but it's blocked by Rahamies.
Rahamies scores with a hook to the body.

Rahamies breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rahamies throws a hook but Asakura blocks it.
Rahamies throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Rahamies moves away from the strike by Asakura.
Rahamies on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A nice leg kick from Rahamies, right into the meat of the thigh.
Asakura fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rahamies manages to avoid it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A head kick misses from Rahamies.
Rahamies staying out of range there.
Rahamies throws a right hand that Asakura ducks under and follows up with a left that Asakura also avoids with ease.
Asakura was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Asakura throws a low kick but Rahamies moves out of range easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ilari Rahamies will probably get the nod.
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. This is the final round!

Asakura connects with a good right hand that stumbles Rahamies. Rahamies circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Kotaro Asakura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rahamies missing with a left hand there. Asakura was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A little jabbing left from Asakura on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Asakura uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Rahamies has time to react.
Rahamies lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Asakura at a distance.
Rahamies misses with a low kick as Asakura jumps back.
Rahamies throws a body shot but no joy.
Asakura throws out a counter right but Rahamies avoids it with no problem.
Asakura misses with a hook.
Asakura avoids the body shot from Rahamies.
Asakura flicks out a counter leg kick but Rahamies steps away.
Rahamies ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Asakura moves away.
Asakura walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Nice shot lands for Asakura.
Asakura takes a jab right on the kisser.
Rahamies moves out of range of the strikes.
Asakura misses with a straight left.
Asakura attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Rahamies is looking for a counter combo.
Asakura misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rahamies.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice uppercut lands for Rahamies. That snapped Asakura's head back.
Rahamies bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rahamies throws a big counter combination but Asakura scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rahamies connects with a nice looking jab.
Rahamies wants to slow Asakura down by chopping away at his legs.
Asakura lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rahamies's sensitive parts.
Asakura is looking to score with low kicks.
Asakura swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rahamies scores with a leg kick.
Rahamies digs a good hook to Asakura's body.
Asakura drops his hands momentarily and Rahamies takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Rahamies swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rahamies walks forward, straight into a front kick from Asakura.
Asakura bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rahamies will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rahamies looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rahamies stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Asakura.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Asakura takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rahamies fakes the leg kick and cracks Asakura in the body.
Rahamies's jab looks to have found its range, popping Asakura under the eye.
Rahamies is looking to land body kicks.
Rahamies scores with a decent looking hook.
Asakura throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Asakura scores with a jab.
Rahamies lands a leg kick that knocks Asakura off balance momentarily.
Rahamies jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Rahamies swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rahamies stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Asakura.
Rahamies throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Asakura is looking to slow Rahamies down with leg kicks.
Asakura loads up on a big right hand but Rahamies slips the punch.
Asakura throws the kick towards the body but Rahamies avoids it.
Asakura misses with an uppercut. Rahamies saw that one coming.
Asakura takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Rahamies moves out of range of the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rahamies ducks under a wild hook from Asakura.
Asakura has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Asakura has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Asakura misses with a looping left.
Asakura loads up on a big right hand but Rahamies slips the punch.
Rahamies throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Asakura missing with a left hand there. Rahamies was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rahamies moves into range and connects with a jab.
Rahamies drops his hands momentarily and Asakura takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Rahamies pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Rahamies avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rahamies just misses with a punch to the body.
Rahamies takes a swing at Asakura's ribcage but misses.
Rahamies cracks Asakura with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Rahamies throws a good cross that connects.
Rahamies's corner calls for a 1-2. Rahamies obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rahamies with a nice calf kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asakura throws a hook to the side of Rahamies's head but Rahamies sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Asakura scores with a hook to the body. Rahamies takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Asakura swings for the body but Rahamies moves out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Rahamies on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Rahamies takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Rahamies connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Rahamies connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Rahamies dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Asakura. That did some damage!
A punch lands to the side of Rahamies 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Rahamies ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Asakura moves away.
Rahamies lands a high kick!
Rahamies lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rahamies scores with a nice body kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A jab from Rahamies misses.
Rahamies misses with a double jab.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd cheers as Asakura lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rahamies doesn't seem phased though.
Asakura wants to land a leg kick but Rahamies is out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ilari Rahamies showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rahamies, 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ilari Rahamies!
A victorious Ilari Rahamies thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.