PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Raiden Asuka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leo Galante (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Leo Galante enters the cage!

Asuka
vs
Galante

170 cm
23
163 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

172 cm
21
161 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good elbows
Determined

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raiden Asuka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Leo Galante!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Paul Tew and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Galante fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Asuka sprawls well initially but Galante persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Galante wants to work for an arm triangle but Asuka is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Galante wants to lay and pray for a moment but Asuka keeps working.
The fighters are battling for position here. Asuka manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Galante working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

Asuka looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Galante pushes down on Asuka's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Asuka looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Galante takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The fighters are battling for position here. Asuka manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Galante trying to control but Asuka is working from the bottom.
Galante tries to free his leg and advance position but Asuka is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Galante wants to control from the top but Asuka keeps moving.
Galante really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Asuka. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Asuka had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Galante defends it easily.
Galante works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Asuka trying to hold on to Galante's head to control him but Galante postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Galante prevents Asuka from improving his position.
Galante wants to lay and pray for a moment but Asuka keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Asuka tries to get to full guard but Galante has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Galante lands strikes from half guard.
Asuka slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Galante trying to control the position from guard on top but Asuka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Asuka is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Galante defends well.
Asuka keeping moving, preventing Galante from controlling successfully.
Asuka wants to sweep here but Galante controlling him for the moment.
Asuka is trying to control the position but Galante postures up.
Asuka bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Galante's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Galante looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Asuka puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Galante has his hands clasped together around Asuka's back. He's all about the action.
Asuka tries to pass the half guard into mount. Galante knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Asuka is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Galante has managed to free his arm - good work.
Asuka trying to mount his opponent but Galante defends it.
Galante trying to hold on to Asuka's head to control him but Asuka postures up.

Asuka is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Galante has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Galante is looking for a sweep. Asuka is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Galante slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Asuka sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Galante's guard.
Galante regains full guard. Nicely done.
Galante keeping moving, preventing Asuka from controlling successfully.
Galante looking to hit a scissor sweep but Asuka is one step ahead there.
Asuka trying to control the position from guard on top but Galante is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Raiden Asuka will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Galante lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Asuka cracks Galante with an open hand slap.
Asuka gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Galante counters with a nice uppercut.
Galante loads up on a big right hand but Asuka slips the punch.
Asuka lands a jab to Galante's midsection.

Galante feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Galante drops back, looking for a kneebar! Asuka looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Asuka looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Asuka!

Asuka wants to lay and pray for a moment but Galante keeps working.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Galante is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asuka is looking to take a break and control but Galante is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Asuka is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Galante knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Galante is trying to get back to half guard.
Galante is being controlled here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Asuka tries to advance to mount but can't.
Raiden Asuka overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Asuka trying to control the position but Galante is working away.
Galante is looking to reverse the position.
Asuka remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Galante is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Asuka's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asuka is looking to stall here but Galante recovers full guard.
Asuka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Galante is keeping the position for now.
Asuka is working hard here to advance position.
Asuka trying to control the position from guard on top but Galante is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Galante pulls Asuka in close to prevent any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Galante misses with the combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Asuka misses with the combination.

Galante closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Asuka did well to prevent Galante getting side control.

Galante is trying to work for a kimura but Asuka is defending well.
Asuka won't allow Galante to pass to mount.
Asuka is staying active underneath Galante, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Asuka moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Asuka looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Galante showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Galante throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Galante keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Galante feints and as Asuka raises his hands in defense, Galante changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Galante is pushing down on Asuka's leg trying to pass to half guard. Asuka is fighting to maintain full guard but Galante has managed to sneak the leg through.
Asuka moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Galante must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Asuka had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Galante defends it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Asuka throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Galante won't allow Asuka to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Galante is looking to advance position but Asuka has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Galante really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Asuka looking to control but Galante is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Galante tries to hold on but Asuka postures up.
Asuka trying to control but Galante is having none of it.
Asuka looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Asuka working for a guillotine from mount but Galante is in no mood to give up.
Asuka controlling his opponent.
Asuka tries to control but Galante wriggling away.
Asuka controlling the pace for now.
Asuka trying to control but Galante is having none of it.
Galante tries to lock up and control but Asuka gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Asuka looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Galante is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Galante can do anything to dispel that myth.
Galante is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Galante can't escape the position.
Asuka wants to control the pace but Galante is squirming around nicely.

Galante defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Asuka.
Galante is looking to improve his position but Asuka isn't that keen on the idea.
Asuka trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Galante tries to hold on but Asuka postures up.
Galante is squirming around, avoiding Asuka's attempts to control the action.
Galante wants to control but Asuka is having none of it.
Galante really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Asuka trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Galante defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Asuka.
Galante is working to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raiden Asuka showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Asuka has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raiden Asuka!
After winning the bout, Raiden Asuka thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Leo Galante spoke after the fight, saying 'Dat was a fluuuke my boy. When's the rematch ?'.