PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Usko Pekkala (ranked 3560 p4p, 5875 weight class) and Akhtar Assad (ranked 389 p4p, 516 weight class). Akhtar Assad has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Pekkala
vs
Assad

177 cm
22
163
3 - 0 - 0

182 cm
22
168
2 - 5 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Seventh Circle Clothing

Hoarse Pills
Seventh Circle Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Usko Pekkala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Akhtar Assad!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Assad scores with a hook to the body. Pekkala takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
We've been hearing reports that Pekkala has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Akhtar Assad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pekkala gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Assad tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Pekkala is able to avoid easily.
Pekkala appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Assad jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Pekkala tries to counter with a takedown but Assad is quick to defend against it.
Sloppy strikes from Assad. Those never looked like landing.
It looked like Pekkala wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Assad cracks Pekkala with a right hand to the side of the head.
Assad lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pekkala circles away quickly and effectively.
Pekkala was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Pekkala displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Assad throws out the jab.

Assad gets caught napping as Pekkala dives in and scores a takedown. Assad manages to retain guard.
Assad looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pekkala is one step ahead there.
Assad not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Assad trying to control the position here.
Pekkala stays in close to Assad's body and controls the position.
Pekkala preventing the sweep.
Pekkala sitting in guard here, content to control.
Pekkala stopping the sweep attempt from Assad.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Assad misses with a jab, cross combination.
Pekkala tries to counter with a takedown but Assad is quick to defend against it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Pekkala feints and as Assad raises his hands in defense, Pekkala changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Assad keeping full guard, as Pekkala tries to pass.
Pekkala loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Assad is adopting a defensive guard.
Let's hope that Assad has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Assad throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Assad looking to control.
Assad managing to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Assad misses with a series of wild punches.
Pekkala ducks under a wild hook from Assad.
Pekkala ducks right into an uppercut from Assad.
Pekkala checks a leg kick.
Assad scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Assad misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pekkala fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Assad avoids it really well and circles away.
Assad throws a big shot that misses.
Pekkala is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Assad.
Assad circles away from the clinch attempt.
Assad keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Pekkala gets the takedown into side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Akhtar Assad dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Assad misses with a wild combination.
Pekkala throwing a counter right hand but Assad manages to avoid it.
Pekkala will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Pekkala takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A right-left combo lands from Assad.
Assad closes the distance and lands a one-two.
We've been informed that Assad has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Assad jabs at Pekkala's body.

Pekkala shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Pekkala showed some decent athleticism there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Assad tries to roll over but Pekkala keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Assad keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Assad tries to get to full guard but Pekkala has control of the leg.
Pekkala is controlling the pace.
Assad trying to get back to full guard but Pekkala takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Assad tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Pekkala avoids the attempt from Assad to control.
Pekkala can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Assad is looking to escape.
Usko Pekkala overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Assad gets back to half guard.
Assad is positioning himself well to prevent Pekkala advancing to mount.
Assad trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Assad keeping hold of Pekkala's head, controlling as best he can.
Pekkala not doing much here.

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.
Assad gets full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Assad can do anything to dispel that myth.
Pekkala scoring with punches to the head and body.
Assad is pulling down on Pekkala's head. It's preventing any offense from Pekkala, at least for the moment.
Pekkala is looking to pass into half guard but Assad pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Assad is in guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Assad trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Assad is looking to work some ground and pound but Pekkala has wrist control.
Usko Pekkala has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pekkala avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akhtar Assad comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Assad 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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 18:20
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 18:20
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 18:20

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akhtar Assad!
Akhtar Assad gave a mention to Seventh Circle Clothing in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).