PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Razmig Grigorian (ranked 28 p4p, 7 weight class) and Yoshihiro Asai (ranked 115 p4p, 13 weight class). Grigorian comes to the cage accompanied by Ara Gevorgyan - Artsakh. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Grigorian
vs
Asai

186 cm
25
193 lbs
14 - 1 - 0

172 cm
29
192 lbs
19 - 8 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Razmig Grigorian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yoshihiro Asai !
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Phil Schofield and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grigorian avoids the head kick by Asai .
Asai has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Grigorian is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Grigorian dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Asai . That did some damage!
Grigorian misses with a body kick.
Grigorian with a nice cross.
A low kick from Grigorian misses
and Asai counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A jab from Grigorian misses.
A swing and a miss from Grigorian.
Grigorian attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A little jabbing left from Asai on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Grigorian throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grigorian misses with a low kick.
Asai uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Grigorian.
Asai throws a fast counter high kick but Grigorian manages to duck under it in time.
Asai misses the jab.
Grigorian misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asai displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Grigorian throws out the jab.
Asai connects with a leg kick. Grigorian looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Grigorian misses with a body shot.
It seemed like Asai was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Grigorian takes a swing at Asai 's ribcage but misses.
Asai looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Grigorian goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

It looks like Yoshihiro Asai has been cut.
Jab by Asai .
Grigorian scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Grigorian throws a lazy body kick
and Asai counters with a good low kick that Grigorian was not able to check.
A low kick from Grigorian is predictable there
and Asai counters with a thumping low kick.
Grigorian misses with a left hand
and Asai counters with a series of strikes. Grigorian will be more careful next time no doubt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Asai swings widly with a right hand
and Grigorian connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Asai fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Grigorian manages to avoid it.
Grigorian looks to land a right hand but Asai moved out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grigorian slips under a jab from Asai .
Asai lands a really nice looking cross but Grigorian seems unphased.
Asai throws a poor cross that misses
and Grigorian counters with a stiff right hand.
Grigorian throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Asai looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Asai pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Asai takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Asai steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Grigorian.
Asai misses with a body kick.
Grigorian just misses with a punch to the body.
Asai misses the jab.
Grigorian connects with a looping right hand.
Grigorian's jab looks to have found its range, popping Asai under the eye.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grigorian takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Grigorian thows a leg kick but Asai checks it
and Asai counters with a stiff right hand.
Asai throws a combination that misses
and Grigorian counters with a nice uppercut.
Grigorian connects with a body shot.
Grigorian listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Asai lands a glancing blow to the side of Grigorian's head.
Asai takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Grigorian lands a leg kick that knocks Asai off balance momentarily.
Grigorian motions for Asai to come forward. Grigorian throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Grigorian gets in close and instigates a clinch.
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!
Grigorian misses with some punches.
Grigorian misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Grigorian manages to break the clinch.
Razmig Grigorian seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Grigorian waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Asai .
Asai looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Grigorian avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A low kick from Grigorian misses
and Asai cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Asai on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Grigorian. Grigorian obviously looking to wear him down.
Grigorian shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Grigorian takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Grigorian lands a nice looking body shot.
Asai throws a hook but Grigorian blocks it.
A slow jab from Grigorian misses its intended target.
Grigorian lands with a right hand.
A solid body kick from Grigorian.
Asai lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Grigorian circles away quickly and effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Razmig Grigorian dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Yoshihiro Asai 's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Grigorian connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Grigorian throws a head kick that misses.
Asai cracks the inside of Grigorian's front leg.
Grigorian misses with a low kick.
Grigorian fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Asai is out of range.
A jab from Asai misses.
Grigorian lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Asai attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
I was talking to Grigorian's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Grigorian misses with a punch on the inside.
Grigorian cracks Asai with a nice body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Grigorian fails to land.

Asai breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Grigorian is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grigorian tries to clinch up.
Grigorian connects with a body shot.
Grigorian tries to close the distance and clinch but Asai swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nice body kick from Grigorian.
Grigorian closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Jab by Grigorian.
Asai blocks the body kick.
Asai on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Asai feints a jab promting Grigorian to slip. Asai then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Grigorian slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Asai lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Grigorian backs up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Grigorian uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Asai .

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grigorian finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Asai ! But no joy.
Asai keeps Grigorian at a distance using the push kick.
Grigorian throws a looping overhand right but Asai ducks down to avoid it.
Asai lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Grigorian scores with a leg kick.
Grigorian throws a sloppy body shot
and Asai counters with a straight right hand.
Nice uppercut lands for Asai . That snapped Grigorian's head back.
Grigorian moves into range and connects with a jab.
Grigorian is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Grigorian lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A clash of legs there as Asai blocks the low kick.
Asai on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grigorian just misses with a punch to the body.
Asai throws a hook to the side of Grigorian's head but Grigorian sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Grigorian was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Grigorian has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Asai avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Asai steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Asai connects with a leg kick. Grigorian looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Asai on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Grigorian works the jab nicely.
Asai scores with a nice strike.
Asai fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Grigorian has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Grigorian tries to clinch there but Asai circles away.
Asai keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Asai feints a counter leg kick.
Grigorian throws a big shot that misses.
Asai throws a hook but Grigorian blocks it.
Razmig Grigorian is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grigorian throws a lazy uppercut
and Asai connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Grigorian is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Asai .
Grigorian misses with a right hand
and Asai counters with a straight right hand.
Jab, jab by Grigorian - just one landing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Asai lands with a slapping head kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Grigorian. Asai does a little dance to reset his feet.
Grigorian throws a lazy head kick
and Asai counters with a straight right hand.
Grigorian tries to work over Asai 's front leg with a kick but Asai checks it.
Asai misses with a straight right.
Grigorian swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A head kick misses from Asai .
Grigorian with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Yoshihiro Asai will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Yoshihiro Asai 's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

A jab from Grigorian finds it's way through Asai 's defenses.
Grigorian throws a series of punches but Asai avoids them all with ease.
Asai is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Asai throws the left hand but Grigorian avoids the punch easily.
Grigorian fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Asai on the side of the head.
Grigorian misses with a body kick.
Grigorian throws a leg kick
and Asai counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Grigorian takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Asai lets loose with a powerful body kick. Grigorian will feel that in the morning.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grigorian tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Asai is able to avoid easily.
Asai moves out of range of the strikes.
Asai misses with a hook.
Asai scores with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asai feints a jab promting Grigorian to slip. Asai then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Grigorian slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Grigorian tries to grapple but his opponent circles
letting Asai counter with a right hand.
Grigorian throws a hook but Asai blocks it.
Asai looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Grigorian cracks the inside of Asai 's front leg.
Asai jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Grigorian throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Grigorian throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Asai scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Asai moves out of range of the leg kick from Grigorian.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asai scores with a leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Grigorian swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Grigorian missing with a left hand there. Asai was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Grigorian moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromAsai .
Grigorian misses with a series of wild punches.
Good standup being displayed there by Asai as he connects with a hook.
Grigorian throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Asai counters with a head kick. That will keep Grigorian thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Grigorian throws an off balance right hand
and Asai counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Grigorian swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Asai takes one on the button.
Asai throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Grigorian sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Asai fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Grigorian has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Asai misses the shot to the body.
Grigorian slips a straight right by Asai .
A bone on bone clash there as Asai blocks the leg kick.
Asai only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Asai bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Grigorian paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Asai waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Grigorian.
Asai takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Asai gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asai with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Grigorian to score with a decent uppercut.
Asai avoids the body shot from Grigorian.
A little jabbing left from Asai on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Grigorian looks to score with a jab to the body but Asai is just out of range.
Grigorian throws a right hand that misses
and Asai counters with a body kick that stops Grigorian in his tracks momentarily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Grigorian moves forwards but Asai connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Asai uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Grigorian.
Asai swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Asai cracks Grigorian with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Asai takes a jab right on the kisser.
Grigorian fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Asai .
Grigorian moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Razmig Grigorian.
Well Grigorian 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 William Gold scores the fight 29:29
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Razmig Grigorian!
Our winner, Razmig Grigorian, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.