PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lyle Willems (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akiyama Shinichi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Akiyama Shinichi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Willems
vs
Shinichi

162 cm
27
144 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

155 cm
29
145 lbs
7 - 4 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lyle Willems!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Akiyama Shinichi!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Willems throws a right hand that Shinichi ducks under and follows up with a left that Shinichi also avoids with ease.
A leg kick checked by Shinichi.
Willems ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shinichi moves away.
Nice body punch from Willems.
Willems looks to score with a jab to the body but Shinichi is just out of range.
Willems stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A left lands for Willems.
Shinichi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Lyle Willems seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Willems swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Shinichi ducks under a wild hook from Willems.
Willems misses with an uppercut. Shinichi saw that one coming.
Shinichi takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Willems misses with a wild body shot.
Willems's corner calls for a 1-2. Willems obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shinichi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Willems.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Willems throws a looping overhand right but Shinichi ducks down to avoid it.
Willems misses with a series of wild punches.
Willems looks to score with a jab to the body but Shinichi is just out of range.
Donk. Willems catches Shinichi right on the button with a cross.
A looping hook to the body misses from Willems. Shinichi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Willems thows a body shot but no joy.
Willems displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Willems throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice defenses there by Shinichi.
Willems throws a front kick that sends Shinichi stumbling back into the cage.
Willems throws a big shot that misses.
Willems throws a chopping leg kick but Shinichi manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shinichi takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Shinichi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Shinichi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Shinichi drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Willems swings for the body but Shinichi moves out of range.
Shinichi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Willems throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shinichi ducks under a wild hook from Willems.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Willems throws a hook to the side of Shinichi's head but Shinichi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Willems pivots, looking for a leg kick but Shinichi is out of range and Willems settles back down.
Willems tries to bum rush Shinichi with a series of wild strikes but Shinichi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Willems throws a nice looking combination but Shinichi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Willems lands a leg kick that knocks Shinichi off balance momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Willems.
Willems cracks Shinichi with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Willems tries to work over Shinichi's front leg with a kick but Shinichi checks it.
Willems throws a head kick that misses.
Willems scores with a jab to the body.
Willems lands with an uppercut that bounces Shinichi off the cage and back into range.
Willems takes a swing at Shinichi's ribcage but misses.
Willems smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Willems misses with a low kick.
Willems's corner calls for a 1-2. Willems obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Willems lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Willems throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Willems throws a leg kick that misses.
Willems's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Willems duly obliges.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Willems swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Willems throws a hook but Shinichi blocks it.
Willems misses with a hook. Shinichi ducked under it nicely.
Willems throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Willems looks to land a left hand but Shinichi moved out of range nicely.
Some wild striking there from Willems.
Shinichi staying out of range there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Willems throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Willems misses with a body shot.
Willems tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shinichi was well out of range. Poor timing from Willems.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyle Willems dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Willems feints a jab promting Shinichi to slip. Willems then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Shinichi slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Willems throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Willems.
Willems uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Willems tries to land a leg kick but Shinichi saw it coming and moves away.
Willems moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Willems jabbing away but nothing is landing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Willems lands a glancing blow to the side of Shinichi's head.
Willems throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Shinichi might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Willems has got the better of the exchanges.
Willems looks to land a combination but Shinichi avoids it well.
Willems throws the left hand but Shinichi avoids the punch easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shinichi takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Shinichi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Willems.
Willems with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Willems!
Willems's jab looks to have found its range, popping Shinichi under the eye.
Willems lands with a nice combination. Shinichi backs away looking to recover.
Willems dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Shinichi moves away from the strike by Willems.
Willems throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Willems lands a nice shot that snaps Shinichi's head back.
Shinichi has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
A looping hook to the body misses from Willems. Shinichi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Willems throws a shot from downtown. Shinichi moves away and avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Willems fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shinichi manages to avoid it.
Willems tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shinichi was well out of range. Poor timing from Willems.
Akiyama Shinichi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Willems throws a right and a left that Shinichi avoids nicely.
Willems misses with a straight right.
Willems waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Shinichi.
Willems misses with a looping left.
Willems bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Willems throws a nice inside leg kick.
Lyle Willems is winning the standup battle so far.
Willems scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Willems lands with a right hand.
Nice defenses there by Shinichi.
Willems lands with an overhand left.
Willems looks to score with a jab to the body but Shinichi is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Willems throws a right and a left that Shinichi avoids nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shinichi takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Willems throws a body punch but Shinichi moves out of range.
Nice jab there from Willems.
Willems misses with a straight right.
Shinichi defending well as Willems loads up on a big left hand.
Willems throws a jab when Shinichi was well out of range.
Shinichi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Willems.
Willems misses the shot to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Willems. Those never looked like landing.
Willems scores with a jab to the head.
Willems throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Willems lands a jab to Shinichi's midsection.
Shinichi moves away from the strike by Willems.
Shinichi moves out of range of the strikes.
Shinichi moves out of range of the strikes.
Good work by Shinichi as he checks the leg kick.
Willems misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Willems is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Shinichi.
Willems throws a good cross that connects.
Willems misses with a wild body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Willems throws a hook but Shinichi avoids it easily.
Willems throws out a powerful jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shinichi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Willems throws out the jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyle Willems dominated that second 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Willems tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Willems feints a jab promting Shinichi to slip. Willems then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Shinichi slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Willems thows a body shot but no joy.
Willems lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Willems throws a lazy right hand but Shinichi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Willems jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Shinichi checks a leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Willems.
Shinichi has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Shinichi there as he acknowledges the shot.
Willems throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Willems lunges at Shinichi with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Shinichi's hand.
A combination from Willems does no damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Willems throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shinichi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Willems.
Willems tries to score with a low kick but Shinichi moves his leg out of the way.
Willems misses the shot to the body.
Nice uppercut there from Willems.
Willems swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
No joy there for Willems, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Willems punishes Shinichi's body with a nice straight punch.
Willems throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Shinichi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Willems is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shinichi can do to turn this around?
Willems misses with the combination.
Willems just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Willems connects with a jab.
Willems throws a push kick but Shinichi slaps the foot to one side.
Willems connects with a jab.
Willems misses with a hook. Shinichi ducked under it nicely.
Willems throws a hook but Shinichi blocks it.
Willems throws a hook to the side of Shinichi's head but Shinichi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Willems looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Willems misses with a left hand

and Shinichi counters with a nice double leg into side control. Willems won't be happy with that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shinichi passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Willems!
Shinichi looking to control and managing it successfully.
Willems wants to get back to his feet.
Lyle Willems is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Shinichi wants to finish this one by submission but Willems is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Shinichi.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shinichi takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Shinichi has hold of Willems's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Willems manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Shinichi controlling from the full mount.
Shinichi avoids the attempt from Willems to control.
Shinichi trying to control but Willems is having none of it.

Shinichi working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shinichi avoids the attempt from Willems to control.
Shinichi wants to control the pace but Willems is squirming around nicely.

Shinichi looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Willems manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Willems wants to get back to full guard but Shinichi has mounted him!
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.
Shinichi controlling his opponent.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Shinichi looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Akiyama Shinichi.
I think Willems 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:25
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:26
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lyle Willems!
During a confident post fight interview, Lyle Willems thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.