PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yusuf Akumi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simon Veien (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Veien has chosen Faded line, Lamb of God as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Yusuf Akumi is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Akumi
vs
Veien

170 cm
23
180 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

178 cm
19
173 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Tianada's Nutrition Superstore

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Yusuf Akumi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Simon Veien!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Aafke Stam and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akumi fails with a takedown attempt.
Akumi shoots in but Veien avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nice sprawl there from Veien as Akumi shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yusuf Akumi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Akumi has a takedown stuffed.

Akumi looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Veien manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Akumi thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Veien is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Veien wants to sweep here but Akumi controlling him for the moment.
Veien keeping full guard, as Akumi tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akumi sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Veien's guard.
Akumi could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Akumi is trying to work for a kimura but Veien is defending well.
Akumi is breathing heavily.
Akumi wants to advance to full mount but Veien doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Akumi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Veien had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Akumi defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Akumi won't allow Veien to sweep him here.

Akumi postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Veien is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Akumi, into his guard.

Veien avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Veien must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veien is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Veien trying to control but Akumi is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Akumi throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Veien escapes and throws Akumi's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Veien moves into full mount!
Veien controlling from the full mount.

Veien stands up from mount. Strange move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veien tries for a takedown but Akumi circles away easily

and Akumi counters with a takedown into side control.
Veien gets back to half guard.
Veien slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Veien wants to stand and escape but Akumi is having none of it.
Veien is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Akumi is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Akumi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akumi is looking to advance position but Veien has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Akumi tries to reverse the position but Veien maintains control.
Akumi is working hard here to advance position.
Akumi is in a horrible position here. Veien smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Akumi is squirming around, avoiding Veien's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Simon Veien will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Veien takes the fight into the clinch.
Akumi goes for a takedown in the clinch but Veien prevents it.
Akumi has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Veien is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Akumi tries to score a body lock takedown but Veien shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yusuf Akumi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Akumi has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Veien avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Veien.

Veien decides to pull guard.
Veien wants to stand and escape but Akumi is having none of it.

Veien looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Akumi forces his way into half guard.
Akumi prevents Veien from standing back up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Veien is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Akumi is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Akumi is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Veien still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Veien has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Akumi is looking to regain half guard here but Veien keeps moving and retains side control.

Veien decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Akumi has his takedown stuffed

and Veien counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veien tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Veien looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Akumi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Veien takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Akumi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Veien pulls his head out easily.
It looks like Veien is going to stand back up.
Akumi manages to get to full guard.

Veien avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Akumi has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Veien can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Veien makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Veien trying to control but Akumi is working from the bottom.

Akumi had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Veien defends it easily.

Akumi is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Veien is aware though and is defending well.

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.
Veien trying to control but Akumi is working from the bottom.

Veien avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Akumi looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Veien passes into half guard.

Akumi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Simon Veien has got the better of the ground game so far.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Akumi manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Veien is stalling in the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Veien showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Veien wants to clinch up but Akumi keeps it at a distance.
Veien throws a half hearted mid kick.

Veien clinches.
Veien is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Akumi drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Veien gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Veien is pressed up against the cage. Akumi has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Veien down to the mat. Veien avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Akumi shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Veien is trying to defend but Akumi finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Akumi is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Veien won't allow Akumi to pass to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veien is pressing down on Akumi's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Akumi is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Veien is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Veien has escaped and now he's on top!
Veien trying to stand up but can't free himself from Akumi's guard.
Veien trying to control but Akumi is working from the bottom.
Veien showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Veien would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

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.
Veien trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Akumi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Veien gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Akumi keeping moving, preventing Veien from controlling successfully.

Akumi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Veien got a little sloppy there for a moment and Akumi has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Veien has managed to get both his arms back between Akumi's legs - danger averted.

Akumi throws his legs up looking for a submission but Veien uses it to pass to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akumi tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Veien wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Veien gets to mount! Akumi was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Veien trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Veien prevents Akumi from getting the reversal.
Veien controlling the position easily from mount.
Akumi can't escape the position.

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.
Veien looking to control but Akumi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Akumi slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Akumi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Veien pulls his head out easily.

Veien decides to return to a standing position.

Akumi feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Akumi works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Veien wants to get back to his feet.
Veien trying to hold on to Akumi's head to control him but Akumi postures up.
Yusuf Akumi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Simon Veien is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Veien is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yusuf Akumi showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Veien 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yusuf Akumi!