PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Akiyama Shinichi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Woods (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jack Woods told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Shinichi
vs
Woods

155 cm
32
145 lbs
16 - 8 - 1

155 cm
36
130 lbs
21 - 19 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Good kicks
Granite chin

Merciless Gladiators

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 16 - 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 21 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jack Woods!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Woods throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Woods has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Woods tries a head kick but it misses.
Shinichi slips a jab from Woods.
Shinichi shoots for a double leg takedown but Woods sprawls well. He's pushed Shinichi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Woods lands a leg kick that knocks Shinichi off balance momentarily.

Shinichi moves into the clinch.
Woods is pressed up against the cage. Shinichi has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Woods down to the mat. Woods avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Shinichi looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Woods throws a sloppy head kick and Shinichi moves out of range easily.
Woods misses with a body kick.
Shinichi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Woods swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akiyama Shinichi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shinichi will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Woods misses with a head kick.
Shinichi fails with the takedown
and Woods counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Woods throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Shinichi closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shinichi is trying to pull guard but Woods has him pressed against the cage.
Woods is trying to break the clinch but Shinichi is controlling him.
With the fighters up against the cage, Shinichi throws an elbow but misses.

Woods is trying to trip Shinichi. He has hold of a leg but Shinichi is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Woods persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Woods preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Woods drops back looking for a leg! Shinichi is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Shinichi manages to kick Woods off! Woods jumps back into Shinichi's guard.
Shinichi seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Shinichi wants to sweep here but Woods controlling him for the moment.
Shinichi keeping moving, preventing Woods from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shinichi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Shinichi is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Woods trying to control the position from guard on top but Shinichi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jack Woods hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Woods goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Woods throws a sloppy head kick and Shinichi moves out of range easily.
Woods throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shinichi takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Woods connects with a leg kick. Shinichi looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Shinichi fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shinichi misses with a low kick.
Shinichi blocks a head kick by Woods.
Woods throws a body punch but Shinichi moves out of range.

Shinichi bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
A lull in the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Woods gets back to half guard.
Woods is trying to get back to full guard.

Shinichi is looking for a kimura but Woods is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Shinichi to get the leverage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Woods wants to improve his position but Shinichi is controlling well.
Woods manages to get to full guard.
Woods wants to sweep here but Shinichi controlling him for the moment.
Shinichi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Woods is keeping the position for now.
Shinichi postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Woods is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Woods dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Woods throws a sloppy head kick and Shinichi moves out of range easily.
Shinichi takes a kick to the side of the head.
Shinichi wants to clinch.
Shinichi takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
A slapping leg kick lands for Woods.
Shinichi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters circling a little - Woods finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Shinichi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Shinichi blocks a head kick by Woods.
Woods throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Shinichi's head.
Woods misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shinichi shoots for a double leg takedown but Woods sprawls well. He's pushed Shinichi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akiyama Shinichi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shinichi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Woods throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Shinichi avoids the head kick by Woods.
Shinichi takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

Shinichi changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Woods looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Shinichi is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Woods has escaped the position, nice work there.
Woods prevents Shinichi from improving position.

Shinichi is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Woods knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Shinichi taking a breather here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Woods tries to improve position but can't.
Shinichi controlling the position.
Woods is looking to reverse the position.
Shinichi has knee on belly and moves into mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Woods is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Shinichi with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shinichi trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Shinichi working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Woods is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Shinichi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Woods is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shinichi trying to control but Woods is having none of it.

Woods is flailing around, obviously not happy about being mounted. Shinichi locks hold of one of his arms and spins for an armbar. He's got it! Woods is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Akiyama Shinichi!
After the fight, Akiyama Shinichi was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.