PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yoshii Akiyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benson Herrington (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Akiyama comes to the cage accompanied by Time to say Goodbye. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Benson Herrington enters the cage!

Akiyama
vs
Herrington

166 cm
20
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

Fighters First Nutrition
Brute

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoshii 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, Benson Herrington!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Akiyama shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Herrington manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Herrington utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Herrington being controlled here, momentarily.
Akiyama passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Akiyama goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Herrington has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Akiyama but great work by Herrington.

Herrington stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Akiyama circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akiyama fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Herrington tries a head kick but it misses.
Akiyama defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Herrington.
Akiyama tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Herrington paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Akiyama tries to clinch but Herrington is having none of it.
Akiyama takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Herrington looks to clinch
and Akiyama counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Herrington with a poor takedown
and Akiyama finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Herrington tries to clinch there but Akiyama circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Herrington or perhaps it was just good defense by Akiyama which made him look bad.
Yoshii Akiyama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benson Herrington.
Akiyama is looking to slow Herrington down with leg kicks.
Herrington is looking to land body kicks.
Herrington lands a nice leg kick that just misses Akiyama's sensitive parts.
Herrington throws a head kick that misses.
Herrington looks gassed!
Herrington fails in his attempt to clinch.

Herrington tries to sprawl but Akiyama drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Akiyama is pressing down on Herrington's thigh, looking to free his foot. Herrington is holding on for now.
Herrington wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama is trying to control the action in half guard but Herrington is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Akiyama takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Yoshii Akiyama just wasn't active enough.
Herrington fails in his attempt to clinch.
Herrington shoots in for a takedown but Akiyama shows good takedown defense.

Herrington gets caught flat footed, as Akiyama shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Herrington being controlled here, momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Herrington wants to stand up but Akiyama is controlling him.

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

Akiyama has closed the distance and engaged Herrington in a clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Akiyama leaning against his opponent.
Herrington can't break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshii Akiyama dominated that round.
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.

Akiyama rushes Herrington and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Herrington gets underhooks to prevent Akiyama's takedown attempt.

Herrington pulls guard successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Herrington wants to stand but Akiyama is controlling the position.
Akiyama trying to control but Herrington is working from the bottom.
Herrington keeping full guard, as Akiyama tries to pass.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Yoshii Akiyama.
Herrington tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Herrington fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Akiyama forces Herrington back against the cage and clinches.
Herrington landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Herrington blocking some punches.
Akiyama is struggling to control the position.
Akiyama is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Herrington is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama slows down the pace here.

Herrington pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Akiyama moves into the clinch successfully.
Akiyama stalling the fight.
Akiyama has a couple of punches blocked by Herrington.
Akiyama misses with a hook from the clinch.
Akiyama is looking to control Herrington's arms but Herrington gets an underhook and turns him. Now Akiyama has his back to the cage.
Akiyama misses with a body punch.
Akiyama gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Herrington.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herrington doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Akiyama manages to break the clinch.
Akiyama closes this distance looking for a takedown but Herrington circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoshii Akiyama. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Herrington tries to close the distance and clinch but Akiyama swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Yoshii Akiyama is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Akiyama is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Herrington takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Herrington gets tackled into the cage by Akiyama. Akiyama maintains the clinch.
Akiyama is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herrington is trying to push Akiyama away but Akiyama has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Herrington is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Akiyama to keep the fight standing.
Akiyama is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Herrington is trying to maintain a safe position but Akiyama gets an underhook and turns Herrington into the cage.
Herrington is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Akiyama to keep the fight standing.
Akiyama lands a right hand that snaps the head of Herrington backwards.
Akiyama taking a breather.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Akiyama will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Herrington up against the cage.

Herrington gets control of Akiyama's arms and successfully pulls guard. Herrington will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshii Akiyama dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Akiyama tries to keep at a distance but Herrington has taken the fight into the clinch.
Akiyama wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Herrington has him pressed against the cage.

Akiyama's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Herrington fails with the takedown
and Akiyama counters with a thumping low kick.
Akiyama defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Herrington.
Herrington showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Akiyama.
Akiyama tries for a takedown but Herrington circles away easily
and Herrington counters with a two punch combo.
Herrington tries to clinch up
and Akiyama counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Herrington shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Herrington showed some decent athleticism there.

Herrington is trying to work for a kimura but Akiyama is defending well.
Herrington takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Akiyama slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Akiyama has a closed guard, preventing Herrington from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Herrington's guard.
Akiyama is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Akiyama trying to control but Herrington is working from the bottom.
Akiyama not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Yoshii Akiyama just wasn't active enough.
Akiyama fails to land the takedown.
Herrington misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Akiyama tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Akiyama buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Akiyama shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Akiyama showed some decent athleticism there.

Herrington manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama tries to close the distance and clinch but Herrington swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Herrington tries to clinch but Akiyama is having none of it.
Herrington throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Akiyama's waist but Akiyama gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Herrington off to one side.
Yoshii Akiyama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benson Herrington.
Herrington fails to land the takedown.
Benson Herrington has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Akiyama.
Yoshii Akiyama is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Herrington doesn't manage to clinch there - Akiyama circles away.

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 Yoshii Akiyama.
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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yoshii Akiyama!
Yoshii Akiyama took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.