PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jack Dempsey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Akins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Dempsey
vs
Akins

184 cm
25
208 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
21
215 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jack Dempsey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Michael Akins!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Josh West and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dempsey lands a nice shot to the body.
Akins should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Danga de danga de dang - Dempsey scores with a four punch combination!
Akins fails with a takedown attempt.

Dempsey moves into range and clinches up with Akins.

Akins manages to pull guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Dempsey's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Dempsey passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Akins is letting Dempsey control him for a moment.
Dempsey tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dempsey tries to move into full mount but can't pass Akins's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dempsey tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Dempsey working away.
Akins tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Dempsey wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Akins can't do much from the bottom here.
Akins is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Akins regains half guard.
Dempsey prevents Akins from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akins is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Akins wants to control but Dempsey is keeping busy.
Akins is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Dempsey's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Dempsey's back!

Akins is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Dempsey knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Dempsey for a finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dempsey is in bad spot here.
Dempsey has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

Akins looking to break Dempsey's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Dempsey remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Akins will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Akins just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Dempsey is keeping busy.

Dempsey defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Akins's arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dempsey is keeping busy.
Akins scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.

Akins working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dempsey tries to escape but Akins has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Akins working for a choke but Dempsey is defending well.
Akins trying to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Dempsey lands a really nice looking cross but Akins seems unphased.

Akins lands a left and a right that send Dempsey crashing to the mat, dazed. Akins thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dempsey dips to his left and cracks Akins with an uppercut!
A looping hook to the body misses from Dempsey. Akins does a little dance to reset his feet.
Akins has a takedown stuffed.

Dempsey moves into the clinch successfully.
A frustrated look appears on Dempsey's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Dempsey has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Akins breaks the clinch.
Akins shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dempsey as he avoids it easily.
Akins darts in looking for a takedown but Dempsey gets double underhooks and turns Akins into the cage.
Jack Dempsey has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Akins.
Akins content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Akins is trying to pull guard but Dempsey turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dempsey pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jack Dempsey is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Akins shoots in for a takedown but Dempsey shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Akins shoots for a takedown but Dempsey saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Akins is breathing heavily.
Dempsey throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Akins.
Dempsey scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Dempsey tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Akins was well out of range. Poor timing from Dempsey.
Dempsey throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Akins on the side of the head.
Akins fails with the takedown.
Dempsey fails to land with a series of punches.
Dempsey throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A head kick misses from Dempsey.

Dempsey closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Akins tries to score a body lock takedown but Dempsey shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Dempsey prevents the takedown attempt.
Akins misses with a punch to the body.
Dempsey is trying to push Akins away but Akins has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Akins is working for takedown but Dempsey is calmly controlling the position for now.
Akins has Dempsey pressed against the cage, preventing Dempsey from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Akins manages to break the clinch.
Akins fails to land the takedown.
Dempsey scores with a one two! Akins had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Akins darts in trying to clinch
and Dempsey counters with a right hand to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Akins darts in and clinches Dempsey up against the cage.
Dempsey is trying to break free.

Akins gets control of Dempsey's arms and successfully pulls guard. Akins will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Dempsey wants to stand but Akins is controlling his posture from full guard.
Akins manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Dempsey tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akins throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

Akins is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Dempsey can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Akins punishing his opponent with strikes.
Dempsey is in a horrible position here. Akins smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Akins trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Dempsey prevents Akins from taking his back.
Dempsey is squirming around, avoiding Akins's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Michael Akins will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Akins closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dempsey circles away.
Akins throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dempsey's waist but Dempsey gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Akins off to one side.
Akins is trying hard to land a takedown here. Dempsey sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Jack Dempsey has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Akins.
Dempsey misses with a double jab.
Akins fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Dempsey avoids it really well and circles away.
Akins doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Dempsey counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Dempsey throws a right hand that Akins ducks under and follows up with a left that Akins also avoids with ease.
Akins dives in for a single leg takedown but Dempsey sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Dempsey breaks from the clinch.
Dempsey connects with a good right hand that stumbles Akins. Akins circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
An inside leg kick lands from Dempsey.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dempsey jabs Akins to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akins takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Danga de danga de dang - Dempsey scores with a four punch combination!
Dempsey feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Akinss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

Akins drives through and clinches with Dempsey against the cage.
Akins has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Dempsey after a bit of a struggle.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Dempsey has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Akins drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Dempsey gets underhooks to prevent Akins's takedown attempt.
Akins misses with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dempsey tries to break the clinch but Akins is controlling the position.
Akins changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Dempsey fights it off and pushes away nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dempsey tries to bum rush Akins with a series of wild strikes but Akins uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Jack Dempsey is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dempsey stuffs the takedown.
Dempsey misses with a low kick.
Dempsey throws a push kick but Akins slaps the foot to one side.

Akins fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Dempsey to the ground. Akins is now in Dempsey's guard.

Akins drops back looking for a leg! Dempsey is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Dempsey manages to kick Akins off! Akins jumps back into Dempsey's guard.
Dempsey knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Akins on the ground.
Akins looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Akins trying to control but Dempsey is working from the bottom.
Akins passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akins wants to take a breather but Dempsey is having none of it.
Jack Dempsey has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Akins is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Dempsey is just riding it out for now. Akins eventually gives up the hold.
Michael Akins has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dempsey blocking the ground and pound attempt from Akins.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Akins thows a huge punch but Dempsey dodges it nicely.
Michael Akins is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Akins wants to control but Dempsey is keeping him busy.

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 Jack Dempsey.
I think Akins has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:29
Judge Josh West scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Akins!
A relieved looking Michael Akins thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.