PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Daigo Asai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Yakovchenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yakovchenko is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Kenny Loggins - Danger Zone. Igor Yakovchenko has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Asai
vs
Yakovchenko

175 cm
23
165 lbs
9 - 7 - 1

177 cm
23
160 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

DJs Locker

Perkele!
Hardcore Nutrition

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 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Daigo Asai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Igor Yakovchenko!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yakovchenko checks a leg kick.
Asai misses with an uppercut. Yakovchenko saw that one coming.
A lazy body kick from Yakovchenko
and Asai counters with a straight right hand.
Asai defending well as Yakovchenko loads up on a big left hand.
Yakovchenko bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Yakovchenko misses the jab.
Yakovchenko tries to clinch there but Asai circles away.
Asai takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Yakovchenko connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Asai misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Yakovchenko counters with a slapping leg kick.
Asai misses with a kick to the body
and Yakovchenko connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Yakovchenko connects with a good right hand that stumbles Asai. Asai circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Asai lands a nice looking body shot.
Asai lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
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!
Asai wants to clinch up but Yakovchenko keeps it at a distance.
A head kick misses from Asai.
Yakovchenko misses with a wild body shot.
Asai tries a head kick but it misses.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Yakovchenko is looking to clinch but Asai is avoiding it.
Asai swings for the body but Yakovchenko moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asai throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Asai tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Yakovchenko paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Yakovchenko connects with a solid leg kick.
Yakovchenko is looking to score with low kicks.
Yakovchenko sizes up Asai with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Asai is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Asai walks forward, straight into a front kick from Yakovchenko.
Asai lands with an overhand left.
Asai throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Asai gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Yakovchenko is looking to land body kicks.
Asai misses with a looping left.
Asai blocks a leg kick.
Asai waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Yakovchenko.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Yakovchenko, right into the meat.
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!
Yakovchenko misses with a hook.
Asai tries to clinch there but Yakovchenko circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yakovchenko scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Yakovchenko gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Yakovchenko takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Asai takes a jab right on the kisser.
Yakovchenko uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Asai.
Yakovchenko scores with a spinning back kick!

Asai moves into the clinch.

Asai breaks from the clinch.
A big left from Yakovchenko misses.
Nice cross by Yakovchenko.
Yakovchenko fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Asai takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Yakovchenko fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Asai looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Asai is looking to clinch but Yakovchenko is avoiding it.
Yakovchenko blocks a head kick by Asai.
Yakovchenko misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yakovchenko buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Asai avoids the head kick by Yakovchenko.
Asai tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Yakovchenko paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Yakovchenko moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Yakovchenko goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Yakovchenko misses with a low kick as Asai jumps back.
Yakovchenko tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Asai is able to avoid easily.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Asai.
Asai throws a head kick but Yakovchenko moves out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Yakovchenko avoiding damage as Asai throws knees to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Yakovchenko.
Asai prevents a body shot from Yakovchenko.
Asai blocking some punches.
Yakovchenko tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asai dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Asai.
Yakovchenko tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Asai's elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yakovchenko misses with a hook to the ribs.
Asai tries to land a knee to the head but Yakovchenko blocks with his arms.
Yakovchenko misses with a punch to the body.
Asai lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Yakovchenko.
A short right from Asai on the inside.
A left hand lands to the body for Yakovchenko.
Asai misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Asai throws a punch but it's blocked by Yakovchenko.
Yakovchenko working aggressively here.

Asai breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A lazy left from Yakovchenko finds it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Igor Yakovchenko will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Asai takes one on the button.
Yakovchenko throws a good cross that connects.
Yakovchenko avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A slow jab from Yakovchenko misses its intended target.
Asai looks to score with a jab to the body but Yakovchenko is just out of range.
A big right from Asai misses.
Asai lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Yakovchenko circles away quickly and effectively.
Asai pushes Yakovchenko away with a front kick.
Yakovchenko tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Asai is able to avoid easily.
Asai blocks the body kick.
Asai uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Yakovchenko.
Yakovchenko connects with a leg kick. Asai looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Asai ducks under a wild hook from Yakovchenko.
A looping hook to the body misses from Asai. Yakovchenko does a little dance to reset his feet.
Asai blocks the body kick.
Asai attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Yakovchenko takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Nice defenses there by Asai.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asai connects with a jab.
Yakovchenko looks to score with a jab to the body but Asai is just out of range.
Asai waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Yakovchenko.
Igor Yakovchenko seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Yakovchenko, right into the meat.
Yakovchenko lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Nice body kick there by Asai.
Danga de danga de dang - Asai scores with a four punch combination!
A chopping leg kick lands by Yakovchenko.
Asai moves into range and connects with a jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Asai misses with a looping right.
Asai slips a jab from Yakovchenko.
Asai checks a leg kick.
A big left from Asai misses.
Asai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Asai closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Nice defenses there by Yakovchenko.
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 two minutes gone in the round.
Crunch! Yakovchenko slams his shin into Asai's torso.
Asai bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Yakovchenko.
Asai thows a left - swing and a miss!
A solid leg kick lands there for Yakovchenko.
Yakovchenko scores with a crisp jab that stopped Asai in his tracks.
Yakovchenko misses with an uppercut. Asai saw that one coming.
Asai tries to close the distance and clinch up but Yakovchenko swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Asai missing with a left hand there. Yakovchenko was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Yakovchenko lands a slapping body shot.
Yakovchenko throws a push kick but Asai slaps the foot to one side.
Yakovchenko comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Asai lands with a good body shot.
Asai avoids the body shot from Yakovchenko.
Asai tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Yakovchenko is able to avoid easily.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Yakovchenko.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yakovchenko connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Asai takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Asai walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Asai with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Yakovchenko to score with a decent uppercut.
Yakovchenko tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Asai is able to avoid easily.
Yakovchenko throws a hook but Asai blocks it.
Asai throws the left hand but Yakovchenko avoids the punch easily.
Yakovchenko goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Yakovchenko swings for the body but Asai moves out of range.
Yakovchenko lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Yakovchenko misses with a straight right.
Asai throws a half hearted mid kick.
Yakovchenko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Yakovchenko lunges at Asai with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Asai's hand.
Yakovchenko throws a leg kick that misses.
Yakovchenko misses with a body shot.
Asai cracks Yakovchenko with an open hand slap.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yakovchenko fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Asai looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A slow jab from Asai misses its intended target.
Yakovchenko loads up on a big right hand but Asai slips the punch.
Yakovchenko is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Asai.
Asai explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Asai takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Asai is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Asai blocks the body kick.
Yakovchenko shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Yakovchenko with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Asai thows a body kick. Yakovchenko tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Asai is looking to score with low kicks.
Asai takes a body punch but keeps moving.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Asai throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Asai lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Asai.
Asai thows a leg kick but Yakovchenko checks it
and Yakovchenko finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Asai ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yakovchenko moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Igor Yakovchenko will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Asai looks to score with a jab to the body but Yakovchenko is just out of range.
Yakovchenko misses with a looping right.
Yakovchenko displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Asai throws out the jab.
Yakovchenko scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Yakovchenko bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Asai's head backwards.
A looping hook to the body misses from Asai. Yakovchenko does a little dance to reset his feet.
Yakovchenko throws the kick towards the body but Asai avoids it.
Yakovchenko jabs at Asai's body.
Asai tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Yakovchenko paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Asai takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Yakovchenko looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Asai tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Crunch! Asai slams his shin into Yakovchenko's torso.
Asai tries to clinch there but Yakovchenko circles away.
Asai just misses with a punch to the body.
Yakovchenko lands a body shot.
Yakovchenko lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asai misses with an uppercut
and Yakovchenko cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Yakovchenko throws a shot from downtown. Asai moves away and avoids it.
Asai scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A swing and a miss from Yakovchenko.
Asai throws a push kick but Yakovchenko slaps the foot to one side.
Yakovchenko scores with a shot to the body.
Yakovchenko just misses with a punch to the body.
Yakovchenko has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Asai.
Asai slips a jab from Yakovchenko.
Asai slips a straight right by Yakovchenko.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Yakovchenko.
Asai looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Some bone on bone action there as Asai checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Asai misses with a low kick.
A low kick from Yakovchenko is predictable there
and Asai counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Yakovchenko takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Asai misses with a straight left.
Asai slips a straight right by Yakovchenko.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yakovchenko misses with the body kick
and Asai counters with a series of strikes. Yakovchenko will be more careful next time no doubt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Asai tries to clinch there but Yakovchenko circles away.
A jab from Asai finds it's way through Yakovchenko's defenses.
Asai avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Asai moves out of range of the body kick from Yakovchenko.
Yakovchenko works over Asai's head and body with a nice combination.
Yakovchenko ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Asai moves away.
Yakovchenko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Asai fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Yakovchenko is out of range.
Yakovchenko throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
A nice inside leg kick there by Yakovchenko. That's going to slow Asai down.
Asai throws a head kick that Yakovchenko semi-blocks.
Asai digs a good body shot into Yakovchenko's ribs.
Asai dodges the punch combination from Yakovchenko.
Yakovchenko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Asai misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asai takes a kick to the side of the head.
Asai throws a low kick but Yakovchenko moves out of range easily.
Yakovchenko thuds a left hand into Asai's body.
Asai steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Yakovchenko.
Asai drops his hands momentarily and Yakovchenko takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Asai.

Asai closes the distance and pushes Yakovchenko back into the cage.
Asai wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Asai tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Yakovchenko misses with a hook from the clinch.
Yakovchenko working aggressively here.

Asai manages to break the clinch.
Yakovchenko misses with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asai looks to land a right hand but Yakovchenko moved out of range.
Some wild striking there from Yakovchenko.
Asai throws a wild body kick that Yakovchenko sees coming a mile off.
Asai gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Asai throws a hook but Yakovchenko avoids it easily.
Asai buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yakovchenko throws a push kick but Asai slaps the foot to one side.
Yakovchenko moves into range and connects with a jab.
Yakovchenko swings for the body but Asai moves out of range.
Nice uppercut lands for Asai. That snapped Yakovchenko's head back.
Yakovchenko lands a jab to the nose.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Yakovchenko has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Yakovchenko there as he acknowledges the shot.
Yakovchenko throws a leg kick but Asai checks it.
Daigo Asai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Igor Yakovchenko is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A jab from Asai misses.
Yakovchenko lands with a shot to the body.

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 Daigo Asai.
I think Yakovchenko has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Igor Yakovchenko!
Igor Yakovchenko decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.