PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Akiyama Shinichi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bradford Whitley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bradford Whitley will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Shinichi
vs
Whitley

155 cm
32
145 lbs
14 - 8 - 1

173 cm
23
145 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 14 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Akiyama Shinichi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bradford Whitley!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shinichi throws a solid leg kick but Whitley takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Shinichi.

Whitley gets caught napping as Shinichi dives in and scores a takedown. Whitley manages to retain guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shinichi tries to free his leg and advance position but Whitley is retaining full guard.
Shinichi is working hard here to advance position.
Shinichi is pushing down on Whitley's leg trying to pass to half guard. Whitley is fighting to maintain full guard but Shinichi has managed to sneak the leg through.
Shinichi looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Shinichi is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Whitley is doing well to control the position and prevent Shinichi from advancing to side control.
Whitley is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Whitley is defending against the submission attempts here by Shinichi.

Whitley is defending against the submission attempts here by Shinichi.
Shinichi trying to mount his opponent but Whitley defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitley trying to control here.
Whitley is staying active underneath Shinichi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Shinichi prevents Whitley from standing back up.
We've been hearing good reports from Shinichi's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Shinichi trying to mount his opponent but Whitley defends it.
Whitley wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitley is staying active underneath Shinichi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Whitley checks the leg kick.

Shinichi throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Whitley was covering up waiting for the punch and Shinichi finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Whitley can't keep his opponent in guard - Shinichi advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Shinichi is pressing down on Whitley's thigh, looking to free his foot. Whitley is holding on for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitley is not content to let Shinichi control the position.
Whitley won't allow Shinichi to pass to mount.
Whitley tries to kick Shinichi off but Shinichi keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Shinichi trying to control the action but Whitley is working from the bottom.
Whitley won't allow Shinichi to pass to mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shinichi trying to control from half guard but Whitley is working away.
Shinichi wants to pass the guard but Whitley is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akiyama Shinichi 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.

Whitley has managed to clinch.

Shinichi works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Shinichi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Whitley is keeping the position for now.
Shinichi trying to control but Whitley is working from the bottom.
Shinichi pushes down on Whitley's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Whitley is trying to maintain the position but Shinichi is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shinichi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Whitley does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Shinichi tries to pass to full mount but Whitley defends it.
Akiyama Shinichi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Whitley is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Whitley is looking to escape.
Whitley is refusing to be controlled, as Shinichi sits in half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Whitley clinches up against the cage.
Shinichi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Whitley fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Whitley has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitley works on Shinichi's body with a couple of short punches.
Shinichi has Whitley pressed against the cage, preventing Whitley from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Shinichi.
Whitley working aggressively here.
Whitley throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Shinichi blocks it with crossed arms.
Whitley misses with a hook to the ribs.
Whitley throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Shinichis head.
Shinichi is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Whitley gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Whitley displaying some good clinch control by pressing Shinichi up against the cage.
Whitley looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Shinichi looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akiyama Shinichi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Whitley trying to stall but Shinichi improves his position.
Shinichi is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Whitley pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shinichi pulls guard effortlessly.
Shinichi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Whitley is one step ahead there.
Whitley loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Shinichi is on top in guard.
Shinichi is looking to advance position but Whitley has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Shinichi is in all sorts of trouble here.
Whitley thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Whitley wants to control the pace but Shinichi is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shinichi is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
My spies in HILITE Fighting Club inform me that Whitley has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Shinichi really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Whitley trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Shinichi wants to control but Whitley is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Whitley trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shinichi manages to regain half guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Akiyama Shinichi will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Whitley clinches up against the cage.
Whitley lands a shoulder strike.
Whitley tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Shinichi's elbow.
Whitley prevents a takedown attempt there.
Whitley lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Shinichi wants to take the fight to the mat but Whitley manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Shinichi's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Shinichi is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Whitley gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akiyama Shinichi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Shinichi jumps into guard, dragging Whitley to the mat.
Whitley trying to control the position from guard on top but Shinichi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Whitley trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Shinichi pulls Whitley in close to his closed guard and prevents Whitley from doing any damage or advancing position.
Shinichi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shinichi trying to control the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A jab from Whitley misses.

Whitley gets a clinch.
Whitley fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Shinichi blocks a body shot from Whitley.
Shinichi jumps guard but Whitley stands there with Shinichi around his waist. Shinichi gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Whitley has Shinichi pushed against the cage.
Shinichi looking for a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shinichi has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Whitley after a bit of a struggle.
Shinichi is trying to pull guard but Whitley turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Whitley lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Shinichi backwards.
Whitley lands with a light punch inside.

Whitley manages to break the clinch.

Whitley looking to score a takedown here. Shinichi is defending well but Whitley drives through and ends up in Shinichi's guard.
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!
Shinichi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shinichi is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Whitley is trying to stand back up but Shinichi is controlling him
Shinichi not doing much here.
Whitley is not content to let Shinichi control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shinichi is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Whitley!
Shinichi controlling from the full mount.
Shinichi trying to control but Whitley is having none of it.
Shinichi controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shinichi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Akiyama Shinichi just wasn't active enough.

Shinichi tries to keep at a distance but Whitley has taken the fight into the clinch.

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 Akiyama Shinichi.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Shinichi, 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight for Akiyama Shinichi!
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Akiyama Shinichi!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Akiyama Shinichi!

Akiyama Shinichi wins by unanimous decision!
Akiyama Shinichi decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.