PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jun Akiyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John White (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Akiyama
vs
White

180 cm
29
170 lbs
13 - 23 - 0

184 cm
26
173 lbs
10 - 19 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite 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 13 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jun Akiyama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John White!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Hirohito Nitta and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Akiyama shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. White is trying to defend but Akiyama finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
White tries to kick Akiyama off but Akiyama keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Akiyama is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Akiyama is trying to control the action in half guard but White is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

White looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Akiyama wants to stand up but White is controlling the position.
White makes his way to full guard. A much better position for White.

White working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Akiyama has passed into half guard!
White is staying active underneath Akiyama, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Akiyama stops White from getting back to his feet.
Akiyama looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
White gets back to full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Akiyama got a little sloppy there for a moment and White has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Akiyama has managed to get both his arms back between White's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White wants to stand and escape but Akiyama is having none of it.
Akiyama has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Akiyama trying to control the position from guard on top but White is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Akiyama stands up and waves to White to follow him.
Akiyama fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
White misses with the combination.
John White seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Akiyama shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Akiyama is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
White is not content to let Akiyama control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
White is looking to escape.

Akiyama seems to be looking for submissions.

White looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Akiyama missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
White wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

White kicks Akiyama off and gets back to his feet.
White tries a head kick but it misses.
White wants to clinch up but Akiyama keeps it at a distance.
Akiyama keeps the fight on the outside.
White looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
White looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Akiyama scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Akiyama lands an elbow.
Akiyama working the body and head with strikes.
Akiyama working the ground and pound.
Akiyama lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear White down.

Akiyama wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by White, who protects the arm well.
Akiyama lands a nice forearm strike.
White tries to buck Akiyama off but Akiyama is having none of it.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Akiyama landing strikes.
White tries to buck Akiyama off but Akiyama is having none of it.
White is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
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!
White is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Akiyama is controlling him well.
White is not content to let Akiyama control the position.
White is looking to reverse the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
White is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Akiyama off and has taken his back!
Akiyama looking very determined here, making life difficult for White.
Despite being in a bad position, Akiyama is controlling the hands, preventing any submission attempts.
White is not going to allow Akiyama to sit and survive in this position.
I would not like to be Akiyama right now.
Akiyama is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Akiyama is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by White.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jun Akiyama dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

White goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
White misses with a two punch combination.
White throws a nice outside leg kick.
White throws a right hand that Akiyama ducks under and follows up with a left that Akiyama also avoids with ease.
Akiyama stuffs the takedown.
White misses with a two punch combination.
Akiyama avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
White displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Akiyama.
Akiyama is trying hard to land a takedown here. White sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Akiyama changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. White tries to avoid it but Akiyama manages to keep hold of a leg and drag White to the ground. White escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jun Akiyama. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Akiyama throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
White scoring well with a low kick there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
White lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White misses with a head kick.
White tries to clinch up.

White instigates a clinch.
White lands with a right to the head.
Akiyama is trying to break the clinch but White is controlling him.
White gets through Akiyama's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Akiyama tries for a takedown but White manages to get underhooks.
White makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
White makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Still in the clinch, White scores with a nice short uppercut.
White lands an uppercut.
Good body shot from White.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
White fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
White prevents the takedown attempt.
White scores with a shoulder strike.
White works on Akiyama's body with a couple of short punches.
White scores with an uppercut up the middle.
White throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Akiyamas head.
White scores with a nice hook to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Akiyama is looking to take this one to the mat.
White lands a shot to the body.
Akiyama tries to pull guard but White won't allow it.
White digs a right hand into Akiyama's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Akiyama's gas tank.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White lands a hook to the side of the head.
White lands an uppercut.
Akiyama's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Akiyama tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. White smiles and moves away.
White tries to clinch but Akiyama moves out of range.

White shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Akiyama manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
White is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
White wants to get up but he can't break Akiyama's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Akiyama not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

White stands up and waves to Akiyama to follow him.

White fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Akiyama, pushing him back against the cage.
Akiyama is trying to pull guard but White turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
White lands with a light punch inside.
Akiyama tries to score a body lock takedown but White shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Akiyama has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by White after a bit of a struggle.
White working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Good body shot from White.
Akiyama tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. White smiles and moves away.
Akiyama shoots in looking for a takedown. White tries to sprawl out of it but Akiyama keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. White manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John White showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

White stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and White wants it to stay on the feet.
White is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Akiyama shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as White sprawls well. White wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Akiyama gets slowly back to his feet.
Akiyama shoots in for a takedown but White shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jun Akiyama. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A punch combination from White misses.
White stuffs the takedown.
White tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Akiyama defends well against a solid takedown attempt from White.

White drives through and clinches with Akiyama against the cage.
White lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from White.
White blocks a body shot from Akiyama.
White lands with a left to the head.
Akiyama wants a takedown but no success here.
White lands a shoulder strike.
White lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short uppercut from White.
White lands an uppercut.
White working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A right hand to the body from White.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
White lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Akiyama.
Akiyama has had enough of the clinch but White keeps him there for the moment.
White gets underhooks to prevent Akiyama's takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
White stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
White lands a hook that snaps the head of Akiyama backwards.
Akiyama wants a takedown but no success here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A hook to the body from White.
A short right hand to the side of the head by White.
White softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Akiyama is trying to pull guard but White turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
White lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Akiyama backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
White lands an uppercut.
Akiyama has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by White after a bit of a struggle.
White is pressed up against the cage. Akiyama has hold of a leg and is looking to drag White down to the mat. White avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

White clinches up against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from White.
White lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
White lands a shoulder strike.
Akiyama goes for a takedown attempt but White pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

White gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
White scores with a nice hook to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, White creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
White stops a takedown attempt from Akiyama.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
White lands with a left to the head.
White works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A quick uppercut on the inside from White.

White manages to pull guard.

White working for a triangle but Akiyama defends it easily.

White working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Akiyama doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Akiyama manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Jun Akiyama has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John White is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
John White has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Akiyama accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
John White comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well White has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 for John White!
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight for John White!
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight for John White!

John White wins by unanimous decision!