PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kenjiro Akiyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yushin Okami (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Akiyama
vs
Okami

200 cm
23
197 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
184 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenjiro Akiyama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yushin Okami!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Okami closes the distance but Akiyama moves to the side

and Akiyama holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Okami is trying to drag Akiyama to the mat but Akiyama just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Akiyama leaning his opponent against the cage.

Akiyama breaks the clinch.
Akiyama keeps the fight on the outside.

Okami darts in and clinches Akiyama up against the cage.
Akiyama fails to pull guard.
Okami is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Okami keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Akiyama's efforts to push away.
Akiyama goes for a takedown in the clinch but Okami prevents it.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Akiyama escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Okami gets caught napping as Akiyama dives in and scores a takedown. Okami manages to retain guard.

Okami looking for a guillotine here but Akiyama defends easily.
Akiyama slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Akiyama really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Okami looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama tries to free his leg and advance position but Okami is retaining full guard.
Akiyama slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kenjiro Akiyama wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Okami blocks a head kick by Akiyama.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Akiyama enables Okami to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Akiyama manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Okami slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Okami stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Akiyama misses with a body shot.
Akiyama tries to land a body kick

and Okami counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Okami.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Okami looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okami thows a big elbow that misses.
Okami trying to control the position from guard on top but Akiyama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Akiyama is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Akiyama on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Akiyama tries to get out of the position.
Okami working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Okami won't allow Akiyama to sweep him here.
Okami looking to pass the guard.
Akiyama tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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.
Okami trying to stand up but can't free himself from Akiyama's guard.
Okami trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Akiyama is breathing heavily.
Okami pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Akiyama is keeping the position for now.
Akiyama working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Okami.
Okami works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Akiyama trying to control from the bottom.
Akiyama keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yushin Okami dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Akiyama darts in trying to clinch

and Okami counters with a takedown into side control.
Okami cracks Akiyama with a big elbow.
Akiyama can't do much from the bottom here.

Okami tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Okami has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Okami wants to lay and pray for a moment but Akiyama keeps working.
Akiyama knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Okami on the ground.
Akiyama is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Okami are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Okami looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
You can see the frustration on Akiyama's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Akiyama has one of Okami's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Okami working the ground and pound but Akiyama is defending the strikes.
Okami working the ground and pound but Akiyama is defending the strikes.
Okami wants to lay and pray for a moment but Akiyama keeps working.
Okami working the ground and pound from side control.
Okami trying to control the action but Akiyama is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okami misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Yushin Okami has got the better of the ground game so far.
Akiyama is trying to control Okami's posture but Okami avoids it.
Okami connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Akiyama some visible discomfort.
Akiyama wants to control but Okami postures up.

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.
Okami trying to control the action but Akiyama is working from the bottom.
Akiyama manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Okami lands a nice short elbow.
Okami wants to pass to mount but Akiyama is defending the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yushin Okami showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Akiyama is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Okami.
Akiyama looks to clinch

and Okami counters with a shoot takedown. Akiyama fights it but they end up in guard.
Okami prevents Akiyama from getting back to his feet.
Akiyama wants to sweep but no luck.
Okami trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Akiyama throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Okami has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Okami postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Okami wants to pass the guard but Akiyama is keeping the position.

Akiyama has his foot on Okami's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Okami works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akiyama keeping moving, preventing Okami from controlling successfully.
Okami postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Akiyama is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Okami is controlling him.
Okami trying to control the position from guard on top but Akiyama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Akiyama utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Okami preventing the sweep.
Akiyama will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Akiyama keeping moving, preventing Okami from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Okami is looking to work some ground and pound but Akiyama has wrist control.
Okami lands a couple of elbows.
Okami trying to control the position from guard on top but Akiyama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Okami thows a big elbow that misses.
Okami throwing strikes from guard but Akiyama blocks nicely.
Akiyama keeping moving, preventing Okami from controlling successfully.
Okami scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okami with a flurry of punches that miss.
Okami throwing strikes but missing.
Okami throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Akiyama works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Okami wants to control from the top but Akiyama keeps moving.
Okami passes Akiyama's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Akiyama is looking to get back to full guard here but Okami has managed to pass to side control instead.
Okami creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama is not content to let Okami control the position.
Akiyama defending against the ground and pound.
Okami trying to control the position but Akiyama is working away.

Okami stands up and beckons Akiyama to his feet.
Okami will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kenjiro Akiyama has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yushin Okami is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kenjiro Akiyama is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Okami tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Akiyama swivels and escapes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yushin Okami comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Okami winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yushin Okami!