PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hank Johnstone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chingiz Akayev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnstone comes to the cage accompanied by Hardrock Hallelujah by Lordi. Akayev has chosen the lamentations of women as his entrance music. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Johnstone
vs
Akayev

193 cm
25
272 lbs
16 - 7 - 0

192 cm
22
275 lbs
8 - 0 - 2

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

{GTI} - HGH Nutrients

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hank Johnstone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 2, fighting out of St Petersburg, Chingiz Akayev!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Vladimir Khabensky and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akayev scores with a shot to the body.
Johnstone connects with a body shot.
Akayev cracks a nice hook into Johnstone's ribs.
Akayev throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Johnstone stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Johnstone is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Johnstone fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Akayev looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A big right from Johnstone misses.
A jab from Akayev misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Johnstone misses the target.
Johnstone takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Johnstone looks to land a right hand but Akayev moved out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnstone waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Akayev.
Akayev connects with the punch.
Johnstone scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Akayev doesn't seem bothered though.
Akayev ducks under a wild hook from Johnstone.
Hank Johnstone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Akayev circles away from the clinch attempt.
Akayev moves in looking to clinch but Johnstone pushes him off.

Akayev clinches up with Johnstone and pushes him back against the cage.
Johnstone misses with some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Akayev.
A head punch on the inside from Johnstone fails to land.
Johnstone tries to throw a body punch but Akayev avoids it by throwing Johnstone back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Johnstone.
A short right from Johnstone.
Johnstone misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Akayev is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Akayev has clasped his hands together around Johnstone's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnstone struggling a bit here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnstone defending against the ground and pound.
Akayev moves into full mount!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johnstone is in all sorts of trouble here.
Akayev trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Johnstone working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akayev pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Johnstone wants to control but Akayev is having none of it.
Johnstone is working to get back to half guard.

Akayev is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Johnstone can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Johnstone regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akayev trying to mount his opponent but Johnstone defends it.
Johnstone trying to control here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Akayev looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Johnstone tries to get to full guard but Akayev has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Hank Johnstone will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Johnstone misses with a hook.
A slow jab from Akayev misses its intended target.
Akayev with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Akayev throws a big shot that misses.
Johnstone scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Akayev slips a jab from Johnstone.
Johnstone throws a big shot that misses.
A punch combination from Johnstone misses.
Akayev bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Akayev takes a swing at Johnstone's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akayev staying out of range there.
Johnstone throws a jab when Akayev was well out of range.
Akayev avoids the body shot from Johnstone.
Johnstone missing with a left hand there. Akayev was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Johnstone moves in looking to clinch but Akayev pushes him off.
Akayev ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Hank Johnstone is winning the standup battle so far.
Johnstone wants to clinch up but Akayev keeps it at a distance.
Akayev closes the distance but Johnstone moves to the side
and Johnstone counters with a three punch combo that has Akayev backing up. Akayev nods at Johnstone to acknowledge the strikes.
Akayev fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnstone misses with an uppercut.
Johnstone throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Akayev is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Johnstone rather than just go for the knockout.
Johnstone lands with a nice combination. Akayev backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Chingiz Akayev has been cut.
Akayev with a jab.
Johnstone throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nice defenses there by Akayev.
Akayev ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Johnstone connects with a body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Akayev uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Johnstone.
Johnstone connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Johnstone lands a glancing blow to the side of Akayev's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnstone looks to clinch
and Akayev counters with a nice body shot.
Johnstone looks to score with a jab to the body but Akayev is just out of range.
Akayev blocks a jab.
Akayev misses with a body shot.
Johnstone misses with a series of wild punches.
Johnstone bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Akayev swings for the body but Johnstone moves out of range.
Johnstone misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Akayev counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Akayev changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnstone avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Akayev steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Johnstone.
Akayev cracks a nice hook into Johnstone's ribs.
Akayev defending well as Johnstone loads up on a big left hand.
Akayev lands a slapping body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Akayev defending well as Johnstone loads up on a big left hand.
Hank Johnstone is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Akayev drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Akayev tries to advance to mount but Johnstone denies him.
Akayev takes a little break here. Johnstone wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Hank Johnstone will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Chingiz Akayev's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. 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.

Akayev smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
The fighters circle momentarily. Akayev darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Akayev keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Johnstone.
Johnstone throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Akayev sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Akayev lands a jab to Johnstone's midsection.
Akayev swings away with a body shot that misses
letting Johnstone counter with a right hand.
Johnstone throws a hook to the side of Akayev's head but Akayev sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Johnstone throws an overhand right that lands on Akayev's shoulder, as Akayev tries to avoid the shot.
Akayev dives in and grabs Johnstone's left leg, looking for a takedown. Johnstone pushes down on Akayev's head and hops out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Johnstone, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A big right from Johnstone misses.
Akayev displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Johnstone throws out the jab.
Akayev misses with a series of wild punches.
Johnstone uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Akayev.
Akayev moves away from the strike by Johnstone.
Johnstone stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Akayev fails with the takedown.
Johnstone lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Akayev circles away quickly and effectively.
Chingiz Akayev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akayev ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A combination from Johnstone does no damage.
Akayev ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Johnstone moves away.
Akayev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Johnstone paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Johnstone clobbers Akayev with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Johnstone misses with a body shot
and Akayev counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Akayev slips under a jab.
Johnstone fails with an attempt to clinch.
Akayev wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnstone misses with a body punch
and Akayev counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Akayev jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Akayev connects with a right hand. Johnstone shakes it off.
Johnstone thows a body shot but no joy.
Johnstone lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Akayev at a distance.
Johnstone thows a left - swing and a miss!
Akayev digs a good hook to Johnstone's body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Johnstone throws a right hand that Akayev ducks under and follows up with a left that Akayev also avoids with ease.
Johnstone tries to clinch up but Akayev circles away and keeps his distance.
Akayev missing with a left hand there. Johnstone was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Johnstone takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnstone throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Akayev counters with a right hand to the body.
Johnstone misses with a body punch
and Akayev connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Akayev moves out of range as Johnstone strikes.

Akayev closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

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

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Chingiz Akayev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Johnstone has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!