PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tsuyoshi Akutagawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksander Mirskovich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Akutagawa might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Heroes Comeback. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Akutagawa
vs
Mirskovich

180 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

183 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tsuyoshi Akutagawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Aleksander Mirskovich!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Shigeki Sano and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mirskovich will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mirskovich scores with a sloppy right hand. Akutagawa should have avoided that one.

Mirskovich shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Mirskovich showed some decent athleticism there.
Mirskovich is looking to advance position but Akutagawa won't allow it.

Akutagawa actively working from the bottom here.
Mirskovich is keen to just control but Akutagawa is a slippery customer.
Mirskovich scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
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. Mirskovich connects with a nice short shot to Akutagawa's temple.
Akutagawa is looking for a sweep. Mirskovich is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Akutagawa actively working from the bottom here.
Akutagawa is pressing down on Mirskovich's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Akutagawa escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mirskovich gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Akutagawa is looking for a triangle but Mirskovich pushes his legs off easily.
Mirskovich lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akutagawa throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Akutagawa striking off his back but it's not causing Mirskovich any problems.
Mirskovich slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Mirskovich looks up at the clock and then as Akutagawa takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Mirskovich smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Mirskovich tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Mirskovich has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Mirskovich lands a few punches from side control.
Akutagawa is looking for a sweep.
Mirskovich has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mirskovich is working Akutagawa over with some ground and pound from side control.
Akutagawa is working to avoid the ground and pound but Mirskovich connects with a decent elbow.
Mirskovich tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Mirskovich scoring with punches from side control.
Akutagawa sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Akutagawa is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akutagawa tries to roll over but Mirskovich keeps him under control.
Akutagawa has hold of Mirskovich's hands but Mirskovich slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Mirskovich drops an elbow to the side of Akutagawa's head.
Mirskovich is nestled in close to Akutagawa, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Mirskovich working the head and body with strikes.
Akutagawa moves into full guard.
Mirskovich preventing the sweep.
Mirskovich looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Akutagawa 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.
Mirskovich trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Akutagawa working for a triangle but Mirskovich defends it easily.
Mirskovich lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mirskovich makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Mirskovich keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Akutagawa's head.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Akutagawa fails with the takedown.
Akutagawa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mirskovich paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Mirskovich looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Akutagawa!
Mirskovich landing strikes from the mount.
Mirskovich has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Akutagawa's face.
Mirskovich lands a big elbow.
Akutagawa in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Akutagawa can't escape the position.
Mirskovich scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The referee warns Akutagawa that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Akutagawa is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Mirskovich working the ground and pound effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mirskovich controlling from mount.
Akutagawa tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mirskovich working the ground and pound effectively.
Mirskovich wants to control the pace but Akutagawa is squirming around nicely.
Akutagawa slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Akutagawa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
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. Mirskovich connects with a nice short shot to Akutagawa's temple.
Akutagawa regains full guard. Nicely done.

Mirskovich avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mirskovich is looking to work some ground and pound but Akutagawa has wrist control.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Akutagawa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Akutagawa looking for a guillotine here but Mirskovich defends easily.
Akutagawa 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.
Akutagawa tries to strike from the bottom.
Akutagawa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mirskovich in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mirskovich throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Mirskovich scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Akutagawa tries to buck Mirskovich off but Mirskovich is having none of it.
Mirskovich connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Akutagawa some visible discomfort.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Akutagawa on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Akutagawa is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Mirskovich off and has taken his back!
Akutagawa lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Akutagawa connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Mirskovich to escape the position.
Mirskovich rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mirskovich is looking for a sweep. Akutagawa is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Akutagawa is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Mirskovich has managed to free his arm - good work.
Mirskovich gets back to full guard.
Akutagawa is pushing down on Mirskovich's leg trying to pass to half guard. Mirskovich is fighting to maintain full guard but Akutagawa has managed to sneak the leg through.
Akutagawa looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Ground and pound from Akutagawa.
Mirskovich wants to control but Akutagawa is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Akutagawa tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mirskovich knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Akutagawa is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Akutagawa missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Akutagawa is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Mirskovich defends it well.
Akutagawa wants to free his trapped foot but Mirskovich is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Akutagawa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Akutagawa lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Akutagawa thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mirskovich's head.
Akutagawa uses his free foot to push down on Mirskovich's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Mirskovich.
Mirskovich keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Akutagawa looking to finish Mirskovich with some ground and pound. This is bad for Mirskovich!
A nice elbow there by Akutagawa.

Mirskovich is rocked!

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Akutagawa wants to finish this one by submission but Mirskovich is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Akutagawa.

Akutagawa is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Mirskovich has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Mirskovich defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Akutagawa.
Mirskovich swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

Akutagawa looking for a guillotine from mount but Mirskovich is having none of it.
Akutagawa landing strikes from the mount and Mirskovich is in trouble!
Mirskovich is still in real trouble! Can Akutagawa finish him?

Akutagawa working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Mirskovich seems to have recovered his senses.
Akutagawa forces the positional change into back control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mirskovich grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Akutagawa looking for the choke but no joy.
Mirskovich breaks Akutagawa's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Mirskovich wants to pass the guard but Akutagawa is keeping the position.
Akutagawa lands some strikes from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Akutagawa is on top in guard.
Mirskovich utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mirskovich manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Akutagawa manages to get himself to full guard.

Akutagawa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mirskovich passes Akutagawa's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tsuyoshi Akutagawa will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Mirskovich will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mirskovich shoots in and drives through. Akutagawa sprawls well.
Akutagawa avoids the body shot from Mirskovich.
Mirskovich tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Akutagawa swivels and escapes.
Mirskovich misses with a two punch combination.
Akutagawa digs a good body shot into Mirskovich's ribs.
Akutagawa fails with the takedown.
Mirskovich moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Mirskovich uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Akutagawa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Mirskovich shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Mirskovich was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Mirskovich lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mirskovich lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Mirskovich is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Akutagawa is rocked!
Akutagawa takes a big shot to the dome and his eyes have rolled back in his head! Mirskovich's killer instinct has kicked in as he finishes the fight with more strikes. Impressive finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:29 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Aleksander Mirskovich!