PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yoshihro Akiyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Inuyasha Kagome (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kagome has chosen How It's Going Down as his entrance music. Inuyasha Kagome has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Akiyama
vs
Kagome

190 cm
24
195 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

185 cm
21
200 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoshihro Akiyama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Inuyasha Kagome!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Ren Mimura and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kagome wants to land a leg kick but Akiyama is out of range.
Akiyama fails to land the takedown.
Akiyama throws a hook but Kagome avoids it easily.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Akiyama.

Akiyama tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Akiyama has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Akiyama trying to control the action but Kagome is working from the bottom.
Akiyama scoring with punches from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Akiyama goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Kagome has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Akiyama but great work by Kagome.
Akiyama tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Kagome presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Kagome looking to control but Akiyama is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Akiyama tries to reverse the position but Kagome maintains control.
Akiyama sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Akiyama tries to roll over but Kagome keeps him under control.
Akiyama is looking to get back to full guard here but Kagome has managed to pass to side control instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama is trying to escape the mount.
Kagome trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Akiyama is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kagome wants to control the pace but Akiyama is squirming around nicely.
Akiyama keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Akiyama tries to hold on but Kagome pushes him away.
Akiyama is looking to get to half guard.
Kagome tries to control but Akiyama wriggling away.
Akiyama working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Akiyama gets back to half guard.
Kagome really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Akiyama. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Akiyama looking for subs from the bottom but Kagome mounts him!
Akiyama is trying desperately to improve position.
Akiyama is working hard here to advance position.
Akiyama sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Akiyama is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshihro Akiyama dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Akiyama throws a hook but Kagome blocks it.
A head kick from Kagome lands but Akiyama takes it in his stride.
A good leg kick by Kagome.
Akiyama fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kagome avoids it really well and circles away.
Kagome dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Akiyama. That did some damage!
Inuyasha Kagome seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akiyama fails to land the takedown.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

Kagome gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kagome not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Akiyama trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Akiyama slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Akiyama wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kagome, who protects the arm well.

Akiyama working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kagome can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kagome takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Akiyama misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Kagome works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Kagome blocking the ground and pound attempt from Akiyama.
Akiyama working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Kagome's thigh. Kagome counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Akiyama thows a big elbow that misses.
Kagome keeping moving, preventing Akiyama from controlling successfully.

That's four 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.
Kagome can't keep his opponent in guard - Akiyama advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Akiyama is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Akiyama is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Akiyama postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Akiyama has gone for a leg lock! Kagome slips out almost immediately though and dives into Akiyama's guard.
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 Yoshihro Akiyama will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kagome moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Yoshihro Akiyama is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Akiyama closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Kagome trying to control here.

Akiyama seems to be looking for submissions.
Akiyama is trying to control. Kagome wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akiyama throwing shots but Kagome is blocking nicely.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Akiyama connects with a nice short shot to Kagome's temple.
Akiyama missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Akiyama is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Akiyama trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Akiyama swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Kagome is now in Akiyama's guard. A big mistake from Akiyama there, giving up the dominant position!
Kagome wants to get up but he can't break Akiyama's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama working a defensive guard here.
Akiyama is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kagome is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Akiyama bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kagome's guard.
Akiyama wants to pass the guard but Kagome is keeping the position.

Akiyama drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kagome dives on top into guard.
Akiyama throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Kagome puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Akiyama tries to roll over but Kagome keeps him under control.
The fighters are battling for position here. Akiyama manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kagome tries to stand but Akiyama is controlling from the bottom.
Akiyama is looking to sweep but instead, Kagome has passed into half guard.

Akiyama is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kagome pulls his head out easily.
Akiyama wants to get back to full guard but Kagome has passed into side control.
Inuyasha Kagome has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kagome misses with a head shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yoshihro Akiyama showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Akiyama, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yoshihro Akiyama!