PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ritsuko Asuke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Toni Sopraano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ritsuko Asuke has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Asuke
vs
Sopraano

163 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
23
180 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

ADCC Champion
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ritsuko Asuke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Toni Sopraano!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Ren Mimura and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sopraano fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Asuke avoids it really well and circles away.
Asuke ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sopraano moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Asuke digs a good hook to Sopraano's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sopraano ducks under a wild hook from Asuke.
Asuke bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Sopraano's head.
Asuke misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sopraano.
Ritsuko Asuke is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice defenses there by Sopraano.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Asuke swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Asuke. Sopraano does a little dance to reset his feet.
Asuke misses the jab.
Sopraano shoots in but no luck this time.
Ritsuko Asuke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asuke swings for the body but Sopraano moves out of range.
Sopraano takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Asuke throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Asuke misses with a looping right.

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.
Good standup being displayed there by Asuke as he connects with a hook.
A jab lands there for Asuke.
Sopraano bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sopraano fails with the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ritsuko Asuke dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sopraano has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Asuke finds it's way round the side to connect with Sopraano's head.
Asuke ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sopraano moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sopraano defending well as Asuke loads up on a big left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asuke swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Asuke lands with an overhand left.
Sopraano slips under a jab.
Asuke really is a fat lump.
Sopraano shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Asuke as he avoids it easily.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

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.
Asuke looks to throw the jab but Sopraano is out of range.
Asuke scores with a hook to the body. Sopraano takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Asuke misses with a body shot.
Sopraano staying out of range there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sopraano slips a straight right by Asuke.
Asuke scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Sopraano doesn't seem bothered though.
Asuke feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Sopraanos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Sopraano uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Asuke.

That's four 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.
Sopraano tries to score a power double leg takedown but Asuke sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sopraano somewhat.
Asuke misses the shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ritsuko Asuke dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Sopraano takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Asuke misses with a straight left.
Asuke misses with a straight right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Asuke misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asuke jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Asuke defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sopraano.
Asuke scores with a punch to the head.
Sopraano looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asuke jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Asuke wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Asuke lands a lovely overhand right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asuke misses the shot to the body.
Asuke changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Asuke misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sopraano.
Asuke works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Toni Sopraano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asuke sizes up Sopraano with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Asuke thows a body shot but no joy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A jab from Asuke finds it's way through Sopraano's defenses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ritsuko Asuke showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Asuke 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ritsuko Asuke!