Asuka Kuramochi vs Sayaka Isoyama
(Front Street Japan trialist vs Front Street Japan)
(BBU Debut vs 0-2)
Results: BBU; Story: Vassago

BEFORE: The preliminary card of the fourth edition of International Jewels PPV kicks off with singer Asuka Kuramochi's trial session against veteran Sayaka Isoyama. While Front Street Japan boasts a strong JMD group led by Harumi Nemoto and Yoko Matsugane, team owner Ayako Hamada opts to push for standard rules' prospects as well having introduced Sayumi Michishige 18 months ago already. Former champion Mikie Hara is still on the roster however she's poised to join the JMD division in the near future leaving a gaping hole to fill. Ms Hamada reckons both Michishige and Kuramochi can make plenty of noise going forward however Asuka must first deal with Isoyama whose career appears to be stuck in neutral following a defeat to journeywoman Zoe Lister over two years ago.

Asuka Kuramochi wears a black bikini set with red trim and red gloves. Long black hair straight with bangs. Sayaka Isoyama wears a black bikini set with blue trim and blue gloves. Long black hair straight with bangs. Due to PPV television window requested by Fuji TV the fight is scheduled for six rounds in the flyweight division.

Round 1:
This is a half-hearted start from the rookie and Sayaka gets rolling first sticking her jab into the singer's tummy and clipping her jaw with a quick uppercut. It wakes Asuka up but she fails to split the older girl's guard and gets countered over the top which allows Isoyama to assume control of the ensuing action. Asuka shows some nifty footwork to avoid more trouble but she's chased around the ring thereafter and that doesn't sit well with several fans in the audience. If Sayaka was supposed to receive the cannon fodder treatment, she definitely didn't get that memo and she rattles the newcomer with a late hooking swing to comfortably run away with the opening round.

Round 2:
Kuramochi hesitates to pull the trigger even when she has Isoyama in point-blank range and only gets going when the older brunette whacks her over the top again. Sayaka keeps plugging along to snap Asuka's head back until she finally gets caught with a seemingly wayward hook on the nose. However Asuka fails to back that punch up and Sayaka soon finds her rhythm; she begins to tackle the younger girl to the body and pounds her into the ropes where she outworks the rookie and snaps her head repeatedly. Perhaps the pressure to deliver is too much for the singer but she hasn't really landed a single combo on her opponent and Sayaka thrives on this lack of offensive skill to win another round.

Round 3:
Asuka needs to get going here and fast; she settles into a hectic mid-range dispute but neutralizes Sayaka's aggressive push with a belting hook to the body that makes the actress think better off it. Both girls circle each other for a while before Isoyama launches a head-hunting assault that bounces off the high guard and enables Kuramochi to stick a proper combo on the chest instead. Sayaka still leans on the other girl and tries to whack her with another uppercut however the singer's supreme footwork allows her to weave away from danger before blasting the older brunette on the nose. Ugh! Asuka delivers a proper one-two strike that wobbles Isoyama and another quick swing nails her on the temple to sink her on visibly jelly knees. Asuka suddenly goes up-tempo and pounds Isoyama into the ropes but runs out of time to build on her advantage.

Round 4:
Both women swing wide of the target early on but Asuka eventually finds her targets first and clubs the older woman on both temples to trap her in the center of the ring. She pierces Isoyama's guard with an uppercut double and thumps her on the heels with a steady jabbing rally. Sayaka tries to brawl herself out of danger but eats a faceful of leather during the second minute and backs off to reboot her plans. However Kuramochi's all over her with a sustained jabbing pressure and while it fails to truly punish the actress, Sayaka must rally to avoid getting exposed and settles into a late clinch which neutralizes Asuka's aggressive push.

Round 5:
This is still a very even contest but Sayaka begins to falter in her close range execution which allows Asuka to channel the counter-punching magic instead. She slows the older brunette down when she scythes her across the lips and adds a belting hook to the body. Sayaka clips Asuka's chin with a half-hearted response but the rookie's firmly in her groove now and pounds the veteran back to the ropes with a heavy push upstairs during the second minute. Isoyama lacks agility to escape the rish and bellows out against the ropes while Asuka tackles her to the body and leaves her yelping for respite come the final few seconds. Kuramochi does everything she can to secure Ms Hamada's vote of confidence except for landing that haymaker killer punch but perhaps too much was expected from her on debut night in first place?

Round 6:
Sayaka tries to grind out a decision as we head into the final round but she gets outworked in close range again and a couple of nasty uppercuts punish her chin to the point she doesn't have the strenght to rally back into contention anymore. Asuka gets a little more animated as she pushes for a knockdown and rains punches all over the staggered veteran who swings single punches from behind the guard but can't make an impact anymore. She gets glued to the spot when Kuramochi pounds her to the body and it's all about the rookie in the final minute as she has the older brunette rocking on visibly soft knees. However the killer punch is nowhere to be found and Isoyama survives the last punishment helped on by some clinching efforts that Asuka can't deal with in time. She actually rattles the veteran with a late punch after the bell and that gets the crowd excited but it's too late to force a stoppage and we go to the scorecards. Comes back 58-56 on all cards for your UD6 winner Asuka Kuramochi!!!

AFTER: The new girl in town looks downright upset and tells Front Street Japan coach Kei Mizutani she'd have Sayaka on the canvas in the next round already. She took a while before kicking into a proper gear and rallied rounds three to six to comfortably win on the scorecards but even so, she needs another test session to confirm her status. Rio Natsume follows the same path and wasn't signed on the back of her destruction of Miri Hanai last fall herself. Asuka's true potential hasn't been discovered tonight and Charlie Webster has her doubts especially when compared to Sayumi Michishige's more impressive debut a while back but there's hope the new prospect lets it loose during her second fight as she was visibly uncomfortable with all the buzz surrounding her BBU introduction. The only way is up.

Final result: Asuka Kuramochi def. Sayaka Isoyama UD6.