PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ankai Mitsuomi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takeshi Akutagawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Akutagawa has chosen Tomoyasu Hotei - Battle Without Honor as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mitsuomi
vs
Akutagawa

225 cm
25
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
20
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Prefers standup

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, Ankai Mitsuomi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takeshi Akutagawa!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Shirou Masuda and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mitsuomi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Akutagawa.
Akutagawa throws a right hand that misses
and Mitsuomi makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Akutagawa really felt that one!
Takeshi Akutagawa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Akutagawa throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Akutagawa misses with a straight left.
Akutagawa throws a hook to the side of Mitsuomi's head but Mitsuomi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The fighters circling - Akutagawa throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Akutagawa avoids a punch combination nicely.
Mitsuomi slips under a jab from Akutagawa.
Akutagawa is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Some wild striking there from Akutagawa.
Mitsuomi works the jab nicely.
A swing and a miss from Akutagawa.
Akutagawa misses with a lunging right hand
and Mitsuomi counters with a three punch combo that has Akutagawa backing up. Akutagawa nods at Mitsuomi to acknowledge the strikes.
Akutagawa misses the jab.
Mitsuomi shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Akutagawa eats them both and turns towards Mitsuomi to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Akutagawa throws a series of punches but Mitsuomi avoids them all with ease.
Mitsuomi doesn't manage to clinch there - Akutagawa circles away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Nice body kick there by Mitsuomi.
Akutagawa blocks the body kick.
Akutagawa dodges the punch combination from Mitsuomi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Akutagawa misses.
Akutagawa looks to land a combination but Mitsuomi avoids it well.
Takeshi Akutagawa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Some wild striking there from Akutagawa.
Mitsuomi dodges the punch combination from Akutagawa.
Akutagawa looks gassed!
Akutagawa on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Akutagawa looks to land a right hand but Mitsuomi moved out of range.
Akutagawa circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mitsuomi lets loose with a powerful body kick. Akutagawa will feel that in the morning.
Akutagawa takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Mitsuomi throws a head kick that Akutagawa semi-blocks.
Akutagawa defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mitsuomi.
Mitsuomi tries to clinch there but Akutagawa circles away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mitsuomi throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Mitsuomi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mitsuomi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mitsuomi lands a leg kick that knocks Akutagawa off balance momentarily.
Mitsuomi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Akutagawa circles away.
Mitsuomi slips a straight right by Akutagawa.
Akutagawa looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mitsuomi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Akutagawa as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ankai Mitsuomi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Akutagawa throws the left hand but Mitsuomi avoids the punch easily.
Mitsuomi misses with a series of wild punches.
Akutagawa misses with a hook. Mitsuomi ducked under it nicely.
Akutagawa takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Mitsuomi ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Mitsuomi really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mitsuomi throws a head kick that half lands.
A big right from Akutagawa misses.
Some wild striking there from Akutagawa.
Mitsuomi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Mitsuomi.
Akutagawa throws a good cross that connects.
Mitsuomi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Akutagawa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Akutagawa might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Mitsuomi tries to clinch but Akutagawa moves out of range.
Akutagawa blocks a head kick by Mitsuomi.
A punch combination from Akutagawa misses.
Mitsuomi misses with a series of wild punches.
A jab from Akutagawa misses.
Mitsuomi scores with a nice body kick.
Akutagawa takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Mitsuomi is looking to clinch.
Mitsuomi takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Mitsuomi tries to close the distance and clinch but Akutagawa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A big right from Akutagawa misses.
Mitsuomi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Akutagawa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mitsuomi misses with a two punch combination.
Mitsuomi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Akutagawa misses with a few strikes there.
A left and a right from Mitsuomi both land. Nice combination.
Mitsuomi misses with a body kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Akutagawa misses the target.
Mitsuomi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Akutagawa but Akutagawa pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Akutagawa tests Mitsuomi's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Mitsuomi bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Mitsuomi misses with the combination.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Akutagawa misses with a looping right.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Akutagawa throws a poor cross that misses
and Mitsuomi counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Akutagawa misses with a double jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ankai Mitsuomi dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A head kick from Mitsuomi lands but Akutagawa takes it in his stride.
Akutagawa throws a series of punches but Mitsuomi moves out of range.
Mitsuomi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mitsuomi moves out of range of the strikes.
Ankai Mitsuomi is winning the standup battle so far.
Akutagawa is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mitsuomi.
Akutagawa has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Mitsuomi.
Akutagawa looks to throw the jab but Mitsuomi is out of range.
Mitsuomi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Akutagawa.
Mitsuomi slips a straight right by Akutagawa.
Akutagawa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ankai Mitsuomi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Akutagawa misses with a hook.
Mitsuomi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Akutagawa.
Akutagawa looks to land a left hand but Mitsuomi moved out of range nicely.
Mitsuomi ducks under a wild hook from Akutagawa.
Mitsuomi slips under a jab.
Mitsuomi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Akutagawa throws a jab but it's blocked by Mitsuomi.
Mitsuomi looks to land a combination but Akutagawa avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mitsuomi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Akutagawa.
Akutagawa misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Akutagawa looks to land a right hand but Mitsuomi moved out of range.
The fighters circling - Akutagawa throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mitsuomi goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Akutagawa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Akutagawa throws a nice looking combination but Mitsuomi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Akutagawa dodges the punch combination from Mitsuomi.
Nice defenses there by Mitsuomi.
Akutagawa throws a jab but it's blocked by Mitsuomi.
A big right from Akutagawa misses.
Mitsuomi throws a nice head kick!
Akutagawa swats away the attempt to clinch by Mitsuomi.
Mitsuomi throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akutagawa looks to land a right hand but Mitsuomi moved out of range.
Akutagawa throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mitsuomi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
The crowd cheers as Akutagawa lands an impressive looking overhand right. Mitsuomi doesn't seem phased though.
Mitsuomi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mitsuomi misses with an attempted mid kick.
Akutagawa misses with a straight left.
Mitsuomi tries to close the distance and clinch but Akutagawa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sloppy strikes from Akutagawa. Those never looked like landing.
Akutagawa misses with the combination.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Mitsuomi.
Mitsuomi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ankai Mitsuomi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Akutagawa dodges the punch combination from Mitsuomi.
Akutagawa throws an overhand right that lands on Mitsuomi's shoulder, as Mitsuomi tries to avoid the shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mitsuomi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Akutagawa paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akutagawa throws an overhand right that lands on Mitsuomi's shoulder, as Mitsuomi tries to avoid the shot.
Mitsuomi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Akutagawa dodges the punch combination from Mitsuomi.
Akutagawa is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mitsuomi.
Akutagawa throws a right and a left that Mitsuomi avoids nicely.
A left and a right from Mitsuomi both land. Nice combination.
Akutagawa throws a jab when Mitsuomi was well out of range.
Akutagawa slips a jab and a cross from Mitsuomi.
Akutagawa showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mitsuomi.
Mitsuomi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Mitsuomi lands with a kick to the ribs.
Akutagawa displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Mitsuomi misses with a kick to the body.
Akutagawa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mitsuomi connects with a high kick.
Mitsuomi tries to clinch but Akutagawa moves out of range.
Akutagawa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Akutagawa lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A jab from Mitsuomi finds it's way through Akutagawa's defenses.
Mitsuomi throws a head kick that misses.
Akutagawa works over Mitsuomi's head and body with a nice combination.
Akutagawa misses with a hook
and Mitsuomi counters with a body kick.
Mitsuomi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Akutagawa.
Mitsuomi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Akutagawa.
Mitsuomi blocks a jab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Akutagawa swats away the attempt to clinch by Mitsuomi.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Akutagawa takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Mitsuomi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Both fighters circling a little - Mitsuomi finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Takeshi Akutagawa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Mitsuomi throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Akutagawa.
Akutagawa throws a shot from downtown. Mitsuomi moves away and avoids it.
Mitsuomi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Akutagawa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Akutagawa misses with a looping left.
Mitsuomi throws a body kick that misses.
Mitsuomi slips a jab from Akutagawa.
A combination from Mitsuomi does no damage.
Akutagawa loads up on a big right hand but Mitsuomi slips the punch.
Akutagawa misses with a wild combination.
Akutagawa misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Akutagawa throws a looping overhand right but Mitsuomi ducks down to avoid it.
Akutagawa throws a looping overhand right but Mitsuomi ducks down to avoid it.
Akutagawa misses the jab.
Mitsuomi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Akutagawa throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Mitsuomi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mitsuomi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Akutagawa throws a combination. Mitsuomi tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Mitsuomi with that takedown attempt.
Akutagawa scores with a jab. Mitsuomi acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Sloppy strikes from Akutagawa. Those never looked like landing.
Mitsuomi ducks under a wild hook from Akutagawa.
Mitsuomi throws a push kick but Akutagawa slaps the foot to one side.
Mitsuomi moves out of range as Akutagawa strikes.
Akutagawa looks to throw the jab but Mitsuomi is out of range.
Mitsuomi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Akutagawa but Akutagawa pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Akutagawa throws a hook but Mitsuomi blocks it.
Akutagawa misses with an uppercut.
Akutagawa throws a right and a left that both miss.
Akutagawa takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Mitsuomi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mitsuomi is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Mitsuomi throws a push kick but Akutagawa slaps the foot to one side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mitsuomi misses with a wild combination.
Akutagawa throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mitsuomi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Mitsuomi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A solid body kick from Mitsuomi.
Akutagawa throws a looping overhand right but Mitsuomi ducks down to avoid it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mitsuomi.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ankai Mitsuomi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Akutagawa throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Akutagawa waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mitsuomi.
Mitsuomi tries to clinch up but Akutagawa circles away and keeps his distance.
Akutagawa has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Akutagawa there as he acknowledges the shot.
Akutagawa fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mitsuomi scores with the left hand. Akutagawa knows he should have avoided that one.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mitsuomi tries to close the distance and clinch but Akutagawa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mitsuomi misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Akutagawa misses the target.
Mitsuomi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Akutagawa.
Akutagawa throws an off balance right hand
and Mitsuomi counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
A big right from Akutagawa misses.
Mitsuomi throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Mitsuomi is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Mitsuomi tries to clinch but Akutagawa moves out of range.
Akutagawa swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Mitsuomi.
Mitsuomi lands a nice looking kick to the body. Akutagawa takes a step back to recover.
Akutagawa swinging wildly here.
Mitsuomi throws a front kick that sends Akutagawa stumbling back into the cage.
Mitsuomi slips a jab from Akutagawa.
Mitsuomi slips a jab from Akutagawa.
Akutagawa on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mitsuomi tries to clinch but Akutagawa is having none of it.
Akutagawa circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mitsuomi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Akutagawa.
Akutagawa cracks Mitsuomi with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Mitsuomi connects with an inside leg kick.
The fighters circling - Akutagawa throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Akutagawa throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Akutagawa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Mitsuomi throws a head kick but Akutagawa moves out of range.
Akutagawa misses with a few strikes there.
Mitsuomi scores with a nice body kick.
Akutagawa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Akutagawa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mitsuomi shoots for a takedown but Akutagawa saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Mitsuomi is looking to clinch but Akutagawa is avoiding it.
Mitsuomi fails with an attempt to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ankai Mitsuomi.
Well Mitsuomi has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Takeshi Akutagawa!