PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jun Akiyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jurnu Purnu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jun Akiyama had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Akiyama
vs
Purnu

180 cm
24
170 lbs
7 - 10 - 0

178 cm
21
178 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jun Akiyama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jurnu Purnu!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yukihiro Shimada and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Purnu closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Akiyama gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Purnu is pressing down on Akiyama's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Akiyama stops Purnu from standing up.
Purnu not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Akiyama won't allow Purnu to sweep him here.

Purnu working for a triangle but Akiyama defends it easily.
Purnu 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.
Purnu is trying to keep Akiyama in close.
Akiyama wants to control from the top but Purnu keeps moving.
Akiyama knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Purnu on the ground.
Purnu is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Purnu looking for a sweep. Not yet Purnu, not yet.

Purnu has his foot on Akiyama's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Akiyama works his way back into a safe position though.
Akiyama with a flurry of punches that miss.
Purnu being controlled here, momentarily.
Akiyama trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Purnu looking to hit a scissor sweep but Akiyama is one step ahead there.
Purnu working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Akiyama.
Akiyama trying to control but Purnu is working from the bottom.
Akiyama is really struggling to control Purnu but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Jun Akiyama wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Akiyama shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Purnu is trying to defend but Akiyama finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Akiyama trying to control from Purnu's half guard. Purnu has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Akiyama loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Akiyama controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Akiyama looking to pass the guard.
Purnu has a closed guard, preventing Akiyama from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama with a nice head shot there.
Akiyama stopping the sweep attempt from Purnu.
Purnu wants to stand up but Akiyama is controlling him.
Akiyama stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Purnu swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Akiyama throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Akiyama postures up.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Purnu keeping moving, preventing Akiyama from controlling successfully.
Akiyama makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Akiyama throwing strikes but missing.
Akiyama wants to pass the guard but Purnu is keeping the position.
Akiyama trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Akiyama stops Purnu from standing up.
Akiyama lands a couple of elbows.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Akiyama wants to control from the top but Purnu keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jun Akiyama dominated that round.
That's time! Akiyama's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Purnu looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Good work by Akiyama as he checks the leg kick.
No joy there for Purnu, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Purnu changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Akiyama tries to avoid it but Purnu manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Akiyama to the ground. Akiyama escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Akiyama shoots in for a takedown but Purnu shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Purnu enables Akiyama to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Purnu manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Akiyama with a nice head shot there.
Akiyama looking to sit in guard and control but Purnu gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Purnu would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Akiyama is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Purnu defends well.

Akiyama has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Purnu can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Akiyama is trying to keep Purnu in close.

Akiyama has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Purnu is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Akiyama.
Purnu cracks Akiyama with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama wants to control but Purnu postures up.
Akiyama is looking for a sweep.
Purnu content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Jun Akiyama overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Purnu working the ground and pound.

Purnu has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Jurnu Purnu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Purnu works over Akiyama's head and body with a nice combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Akiyama circles away from the clinch attempt.
Akiyama tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Purnu paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Akiyama shoots in but no luck this time.
Akiyama tries to clinch there but Purnu circles away.
Purnu is looking to clinch.
Purnu tries to clinch up.

Akiyama bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Purnu's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Purnu taking punishment in the form of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama is looking to take a break and control but Purnu is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Purnu regains half guard there - taking advantage of Akiyama's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Akiyama throws a strike but Purnu avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Purnu manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Akiyama manages to get himself to full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Akiyama preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Purnu wants to pass the guard but Akiyama is keeping the position.
Akiyama is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jurnu Purnu will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Akiyama fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Purnu avoids it really well and circles away.
Akiyama fails with the takedown.
A head kick misses from Purnu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Akiyama leaves Purnu with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Purnu throws a head kick that misses.
Akiyama fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jun Akiyama. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Akiyama shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Purnu manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Purnu keeping moving, preventing Akiyama from controlling successfully.
Akiyama won't allow Purnu to get back to his feet.
Akiyama showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Purnu trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Akiyama keeps the fight on the outside.
Purnu tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Akiyama manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Good leg kick by Purnu there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Akiyama avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Purnu moves into range and clinches up with Akiyama.
A right hook to the body lands for Akiyama.
Akiyama swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Purnu wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Akiyama wants a takedown but no success here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Purnu is pressed up against the cage. Akiyama has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Purnu down to the mat. Purnu avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Purnu tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Purnu is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Purnu doesn't manage to clinch there - Akiyama circles away.

Akiyama looking to score a takedown here. Purnu is defending well but Akiyama drives through and ends up in Purnu's guard.
Akiyama throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Purnu works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Akiyama would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Akiyama stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Purnu swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Purnu is looking for a triangle but Akiyama pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Purnu kicks Akiyama off and gets to his feet.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Akiyama tries to keep at a distance but Purnu has taken the fight into the clinch.

Purnu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Akiyama slips a straight right by Purnu.
Akiyama misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Purnu with a lazy takedown attempt

and Akiyama counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Akiyama.
Akiyama stopping the sweep attempt from Purnu.

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 Jun Akiyama.
I think Akiyama 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jun Akiyama!