PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Yoshihiro Asai (ranked 526 p4p, 1718 weight class) and Keenwah Granes (ranked 31 p4p, 100 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Asai might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Grand Sword. Granes has chosen 敢不敢 as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Asai
vs
Granes

172 cm
45
140
46 - 30 - 2

167 cm
22
140
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Voodoo Nutrition

Conquer

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 46 - 30 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yoshihiro Asai !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Keenwah Granes!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Illya Tyunina and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Asai throws out a loose jab but Granes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Granes throws out a counter right but Asai avoids it with no problem.
Asai motions for Granes to come forward. Asai throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Granes shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Asai keeping moving, preventing Granes from controlling successfully.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Granes won't allow Asai to sweep him here.
Asai is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Asai keeping moving, preventing Granes from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Granes is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asai looking to hit a scissor sweep but Granes is one step ahead there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Asai jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Granes lands a leg kick that knocks Asai off balance momentarily.
Asai misses with a kick to the body.
Asai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Granes.
Asai throws a looping overhand right but Granes ducks down to avoid it.
Granes fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Granes lands a nice shot that snaps Asai 's head back.
Asai looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Asai plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Yoshihiro Asai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Granes cracks Asai with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Asai steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Granes.
Granes misses with a lunging right hand
and Asai counters with a straight right hand.
Asai keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Granes.
Asai throws a hook but Granes blocks it.
Granes has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Asai pushes Granes away with a front kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Granes throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Asai counters with a nice uppercut.
Granes takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Granes lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Nice defenses there by Asai .
Asai misses with an attempted mid kick.
Granes is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Granes blocks a jab.
Asai shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Granes fails with the takedown.
Asai half committed to a counter leg kick.
Both fighters circling a little - Asai finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Granes throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Granes throws an overhand right that lands on Asai 's shoulder, as Asai tries to avoid the shot.
Asai scores with a nice body kick.
A swing and a miss from Granes.
Asai checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Granes avoids the head kick by Asai .
Asai misses with a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Granes on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Asai fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Granes is out of range.
Granes keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Granes takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Asai wants to land a leg kick but Granes is out of range.
Granes swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Horrible takedown attempt by Granes or perhaps it was just good defense by Asai , which made it look bad.
Asai throws a lazy uppercut
and Granes counters with a straight right hand.
Granes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Asai was well out of range. Poor timing from Granes.
Asai walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Granes checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

Granes changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Asai looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Granes trying to control the action but Asai is working from the bottom.
Asai is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Granes works to advance to full mount. Asai defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Granes thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Asai can't escape the position.
Granes with shots to the head and body - Asai looks very uncomfortable down there.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Granes tries to control but Asai wriggling away.
Granes controlling the position easily from mount.
Asai really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Keenwah Granes will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Asai cracks Granes with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Granes rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Asai counters with a nice uppercut.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Granes checks a leg kick.
Granes with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Granes shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Asai is trying to defend but Granes finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Granes working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Asai 's thigh. Asai counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Keenwah Granes has got the better of the ground game so far.
Granes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Granes looking to sit in guard and control but Asai gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Granes is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Granes is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Asai content to stall in guard here.
Asai trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Granes bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Asai 's guard.

Asai is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Granes sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Asai 's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Granes is taking a breather. Asai says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Asai is staying active underneath Granes, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Granes controlling the action here.
Granes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Asai keeps working.
Granes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Granes throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Granes is thwarting Asai 's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Granes slips a nice elbow through Asai 's hands, connecting with Asai 's forehead.
Asai avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Granes.
Asai is staying active underneath Granes, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Granes not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Granes seems to be working for a kimura but Asai defends the submission attempt.
Granes has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Granes wants to take a breather but Asai is having none of it.
Granes looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Granes is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Granes misses with a hook. Asai ducked under it nicely.
Granes moves out of range of the leg kick from Asai .
Asai comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Asai .
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Granes.
A nice leg kick lands there from Asai .

Granes drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Asai is not content to let Granes control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Granes lands some shots froms side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Keenwah Granes will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Asai 's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A head kick misses from Asai .
Granes waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Asai .
Granes connects with the punch.
Granes throws a hook to the side of Asai 's head but Asai sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Granes uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Asai .
Yoshihiro Asai is winning the standup battle so far.
Granes throws a jab but it's blocked by Asai .
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Asai .
Granes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Asai manages to avoid it.
Asai lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Granes looks to throw the jab but Asai is out of range.
Asai throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Granes sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Granes throws a big shot that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Granes throws a jab but it's blocked by Asai .
Jab, jab by Asai - just one landing.
Granes misses with a hook.
Asai fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Granes has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Asai throws a shot from downtown. Granes moves away and avoids it.
Granes with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Granes checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Granes throws a good cross that connects.
Granes scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Nice shot lands for Asai .
Granes throws a lazy right hand but Asai sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Asai fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Granes is out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Asai .
Granes lands a really nice looking cross but Asai seems unphased.
Granes avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Asai moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Asai uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Granes.
Nice uppercut lands for Asai . That snapped Granes's head back.
Asai throws a leg kick which misses Granes's front leg but catches the back leg as Granes tries to avoid it.
Granes darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
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!
Granes blocks the body kick.
Asai waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Granes.
Yoshihiro Asai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Granes scores with a hook to the body. Asai takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Granes blocks a leg kick.
Asai missing with a left hand there. Granes was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Granes wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A big right from Granes misses.
A slow jab from Asai misses its intended target.
Granes is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Granes 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.
Granes lands with an overhand left.
Granes sizes up Asai with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Granes dives in and scores a takedown into Asai 's guard.
Granes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Asai works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Granes postures up in Asai 's guard and throws a big left but Asai blocks it.
Granes trying to control the position from guard on top but Asai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Granes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Asai works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asai wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Granes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Asai works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Granes keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Asai 's head.
Granes won't allow Asai to get back to his feet.
Granes content to stall in guard here.
Asai managing to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Asai with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Granes to score with a decent uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Granes blocks a jab.
Asai rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Granes counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Granes on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Granes lands with an uppercut that bounces Asai off the ropes and back into range.
Asai misses with a kick to the body.
A low kick lands for Granes.
Granes lands an overhand right.
Granes defending well as Asai loads up on a big left hand.
Asai looks to land a body kick but Granes moved away.
Granes throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Granes misses with a takedown attempt - Asai sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Keenwah Granes is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A decent looking cross lands there for Granes.
Asai just misses with a punch to the body.
Asai takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keenwah Granes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Granes has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keenwah Granes!
A less than humble Keenwah Granes misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.
Yoshihiro Asai spoke after the fight, saying 'Ill Train Harder And Win My Next Fight'.