PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sami Sekunda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexei Akinfejew (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alexei Akinfejew is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Sekunda
vs
Akinfejew

200 cm
18
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
22
300 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Decent elbows
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sami Sekunda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alexei Akinfejew!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sekunda pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Akinfejew will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sekunda throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
No joy there for Akinfejew, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A leg kick checked by Sekunda.
Sekunda could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Akinfejew misses with a few strikes there.
Akinfejew misses with a wild combination.

Sekunda clinches up with Akinfejew and pushes him back against the cage.
Akinfejew working hard to break the clinch.
Sekunda lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Alexei Akinfejew has been cut.
Sekunda gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Sekunda is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Akinfejew pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Akinfejew gets underhooks to prevent Sekunda's takedown attempt.
Sekunda tries to land knees in the clinch but Akinfejew avoids the damage to the body.
Sekunda gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Akinfejew avoiding damage as Sekunda throws knees to the body.
Sekunda missing with knees to the body.
Sekunda missing with knees to the body.
Akinfejew jumps guard but Sekunda stands there with Akinfejew around his waist. Akinfejew gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Akinfejew blocks an elbow strike.
Akinfejew prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sami Sekunda. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sekunda has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Akinfejew is trying to keep an underhook but Sekunda manages to get the takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akinfejew gets full guard.
Akinfejew is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Sekunda wants to get back to his feet.
Akinfejew missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Akinfejew sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sekunda defending well though.
Akinfejew thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sekunda's head.
Akinfejew slips a nice elbow through Sekunda's hands, connecting with Sekunda's forehead.
Akinfejew throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akinfejew misses with a head shot. Sekunda uses the momentum to regain guard.
Sekunda preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Akinfejew trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sekunda wants to stand up but Akinfejew is controlling him.
Sekunda knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Akinfejew on the ground.
Sekunda preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Akinfejew loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akinfejew chips away with some ground and pound.
Akinfejew stops Sekunda from standing up.
Akinfejew loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Akinfejew is looking to work some ground and pound but Sekunda has wrist control.
Sekunda utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Akinfejew with a flurry of punches that miss.
Akinfejew scoring with some ground and pound.
Akinfejew loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Akinfejew postures up in Sekunda's guard and throws a big left but Sekunda blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sekunda is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Akinfejew with a flurry of punches that miss.
Akinfejew looking to pass the guard.
Akinfejew throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sekunda works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sekunda preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexei Akinfejew dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alexei Akinfejew's cut.
That's time! Sekunda's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Akinfejew throws a series of punches but Sekunda avoids them all with ease.
Sekunda ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Akinfejew moves away.
Sekunda looks to score with a jab to the body but Akinfejew is just out of range.
Sekunda pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sekunda tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Akinfejew paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Akinfejew misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Akinfejew takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Sekunda gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Akinfejew.

It looks like Sami Sekunda has been cut.
Sekunda misses with an attempted mid kick.
Sekunda defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Akinfejew.
Sekunda takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A head kick by Akinfejew misses

and Sekunda counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Sekunda prevents Akinfejew from breaking the clinch.
Sekunda leaning his opponent against the cage.
Akinfejew has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sekunda goes for a takedown attempt but Akinfejew pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Alexei Akinfejew seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No joy there for Akinfejew, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Akinfejew is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akinfejew misses with a wild combination.
Akinfejew swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Akinfejew checks the leg kick.
Sekunda showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Akinfejew.
Sekunda shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sekunda tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Akinfejew wants to clinch but Sekunda slips to the side

and Sekunda counters by moving into the clinch.
Akinfejew is trying to break the clinch but Sekunda is controlling him.
Sekunda misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Akinfejew.
Sekunda gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Sekunda is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Akinfejew can't fight it off and eventually Sekunda manages to take the fight to the floor. Akinfejew looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sekunda pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Akinfejew is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Akinfejew pushes Sekunda off and gets back to his feet.

Sekunda gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sekunda tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sami Sekunda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice elbow from Sekunda.
Sekunda has Akinfejew pushed against the cage.

Sekunda gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Akinfejew is looking to control Sekunda's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Akinfejew avoid being mounted?
Akinfejew is pressing down on Sekunda's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Akinfejew keeping full guard, as Sekunda tries to pass.
Sekunda throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sekunda trying to control but Akinfejew is working from the bottom.
Akinfejew is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Akinfejew has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sekunda slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Sekunda loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sekunda throws a strike but Akinfejew rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Sekunda might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Akinfejew trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Akinfejew wants to clinch.
Sekunda throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Akinfejew.
Sekunda avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sekunda throws a nice looking combination but Akinfejew bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Horrible takedown by Akinfejew or perhaps it was just good defense by Sekunda which made him look bad.
Sekunda swats away the attempt to clinch by Akinfejew.

Sekunda instigates a clinch.

Sekunda has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Akinfejew regains guard immediately.
Akinfejew looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sekunda is one step ahead there.
Sekunda prevents Akinfejew from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sami Sekunda dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Sekunda's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Akinfejew swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Sekunda moves into the clinch.
Akinfejew tries to circle away but Sekunda has him pinned against the cage.
Akinfejew is trying to force a seperation but Sekunda has the dominant position.
Sekunda trying to stall but Akinfejew improves his position.
Sekunda is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Akinfejew is defending well for now.
Sekunda is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Akinfejew is defending well for now.
Sekunda lands a nice elbow.
Sekunda tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Akinfejew avoids it.
Sekunda keeps control of Akinfejew as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Akinfejew is trying to break the clinch but Sekunda is controlling him.
Sekunda lands an elbow just above Akinfejew 's eye.
Sekunda lands an elbow just above Akinfejew 's eye.
Sekunda lands a nice elbow.
Akinfejew is trying to force a seperation but Sekunda has the dominant position.
Sekunda goes for a takedown in the clinch but Akinfejew prevents it.
Akinfejew managing to block the knees to the body from Sekunda.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Akinfejew wants to break free but Sekunda has control.
Sekunda trying to control the position but instead, Akinfejew has worked for underhooks and has pushed Sekunda into the cage.
Sekunda lands an elbow that stopped Akinfejew in his tracks for a moment.
Sekunda prevents Akinfejew from breaking the clinch.
Sekunda lands a nice elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sekunda can't get the takedown.
Akinfejew looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Akinfejew breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Akinfejew takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A combination from Akinfejew does no damage.
Akinfejew takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Akinfejew throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Sekunda walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Sekunda ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Sekunda feints and as Akinfejew raises his hands in defense, Sekunda changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Akinfejew wants to stand but Sekunda is controlling the position.
Sekunda pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Akinfejew is keeping the position for now.
Akinfejew is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Akinfejew has momentary wrist control but Sekunda slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sekunda throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Akinfejew works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sekunda lands a couple of digs.
Akinfejew trying to keep a closed guard but Sekunda is proving a slippery customer.
Sekunda postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Akinfejew throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sekunda.
Akinfejew throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sekunda attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Sekunda fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Akinfejew manages to avoid it.
Akinfejew throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Akinfejew ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Akinfejew gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Akinfejew keeping moving, preventing Sekunda from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akinfejew throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Sekunda has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sekunda trying to control the position from guard on top but Akinfejew is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sekunda stops Akinfejew from standing up.
Sekunda trying to control the position from guard on top but Akinfejew is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Akinfejew tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sekunda wants to control from the top but Akinfejew keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Akinfejew takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Sekunda moves out of range as Akinfejew throws a body kick.
Sekunda swings for the body but Akinfejew moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sekunda tries to close the distance and clinch up but Akinfejew swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Akinfejew rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sekunda moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Akinfejew will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Sekunda clinches.
Nice elbow from Sekunda.
Sekunda is trying to drag Akinfejew to the mat but Akinfejew just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sami Sekunda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sekunda lands an elbow just above Akinfejew 's eye.
Akinfejew looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Sekunda turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Sekunda stands up and beckons Akinfejew to his feet.
Sekunda checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Sekunda misses with a kick to the body.
Akinfejew takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Akinfejew throws a series of punches but Sekunda avoids them all with ease.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sami Sekunda showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sekunda 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sami Sekunda!