PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Short (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Beasty Akinfenwa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Short
vs
Akinfenwa

175 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
18
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Marcus Short!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Beasty Akinfenwa!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Daniel Bishop and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Short takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Short could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Akinfenwa misses with a head kick.
Short throws a right and a left that both miss.
Short throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Akinfenwa scores with a takedown into Short's guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Akinfenwa forces his way into half guard.

Short looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Short trying to control from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Akinfenwa is trying to control. Short wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ground and pound from Akinfenwa.
Short is staying active underneath Akinfenwa, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Short might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Short looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Akinfenwa connects with a nice short shot to Short's temple.
Short throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Akinfenwa manages to pass to side control.

Akinfenwa is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Short has escaped the position, nice work there.
Akinfenwa landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Akinfenwa is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Akinfenwa works to advance to full mount. Short defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Short is looking to get to half guard.
Short is breathing heavily.
Akinfenwa lands a couple of good shots and Short has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

It looks like Marcus Short has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Short wants to control his opponent's hands but Akinfenwa gets his hands free.
Akinfenwa is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Short. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Short trying to control the hands but Akinfenwa breaks the grip.
A lull in the action here.
Akinfenwa might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Short haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Akinfenwa is not going to allow Short to sit and survive in this position.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Short trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Akinfenwa controlling the positon.
Akinfenwa lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Akinfenwa has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Short has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Short trying to control the hands but Akinfenwa won't let him.

Akinfenwa working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Akinfenwa keeps control of the position easily here as Short tries to buck him off.
Akinfenwa is looking to control Short but Short is wriggling around and keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Short is in bad spot here.
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!
Short just trying to survive but Akinfenwa is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Short is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Will Akinfenwa go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Short wants to escape the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Akinfenwa is not going to allow Short to sit and survive in this position.

Akinfenwa is looking for the choke from the back position but Short is controlling his hands well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Beasty Akinfenwa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Marcus Short's cut.
That's time! Short's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

No luck with that takedown attempt from Akinfenwa.
Short stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Short wants it to stay on the feet.
Akinfenwa misses with a takedown
and Short counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Marcus Short has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Beasty Akinfenwa.

Akinfenwa gets a clinch.
Short misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Still in the clinch, Akinfenwa scores with a nice short uppercut.

Short's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Akinfenwa tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Short swivels and escapes.
Short looks to land a combination but Akinfenwa avoids it well.
Akinfenwa shoots in but no luck this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Short closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Akinfenwa is breathing heavily.

Short breaks from the clinch.
Horrible takedown by Akinfenwa or perhaps it was just good defense by Short which made him look bad.
Short looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
No luck for Akinfenwa with that takedown attempt.
Short rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Akinfenwa moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Short misses with a two punch combination.
Short keeps the fight on the outside.
Marcus Short is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akinfenwa fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Akinfenwa fails with a takedown attempt.

Akinfenwa gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Short to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Short with a nice head shot there.
Short with a flurry of punches that miss.
Akinfenwa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Short loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Short has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Short accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Short lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Short throws a big elbow that misses.
Short postures up in Akinfenwa's guard and throws a big left but Akinfenwa blocks it.
Short lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Akinfenwa is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Short connects with a couple of short punches.
Short with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Akinfenwa avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Short throwing strikes but missing.
Short scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Short missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Akinfenwa controls Short momentarily but Short frees himself.
Short is in close to Akinfenwa's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Akinfenwa wants to sweep but no luck.
Short controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Akinfenwa has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Short has passed into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Short scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Akinfenwa to see if he's OK.
Short fails to land a wild elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Short dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Marcus Short's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Short throws a right and a left that both miss.
Akinfenwa with a lazy takedown attempt
and Short counters with a nice body shot.
Short misses with a double jab.
Short shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Akinfenwa defends it nicely.
Akinfenwa tries to clinch up but Short circles away and keeps his distance.
Short leaves Akinfenwa with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Akinfenwa shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Akinfenwa was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Short trying his best to control but Akinfenwa has mounted him.
Akinfenwa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Short tries to control Akinfenwa's body but Akinfenwa pushes him off. Short squirms to his side and now Akinfenwa has his back!
Short tries to escape but Akinfenwa has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Akinfenwa avoiding Short 's attempts to control his hands.
Akinfenwa throwing damaging strikes from the back! Short could be in trouble here!
Short can't escape the position.
Short looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Short staying busy and making it hard for Akinfenwa to control.
Akinfenwa lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akinfenwa doesn't have the hooks in and Short manages to turn into his guard.
Akinfenwa manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Short manages to get himself to full guard.
Akinfenwa trying to control the position from guard on top but Short is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Short looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Akinfenwa passes into half guard.
Short is staying active underneath Akinfenwa, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Short is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Akinfenwa lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akinfenwa is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Short!
Akinfenwa manages to capitalize on a mistake by Short to take his back!
Short trying to control the position but Akinfenwa manages to sink in the hooks.
Short takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Akinfenwa lands a shot to the head.
Akinfenwa lands a shot to the body.
Short trying to control the position but Akinfenwa manages to sink in the hooks.
Short looking very determined here, making life difficult for Akinfenwa.
Short tries to escape but Akinfenwa has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akinfenwa throwing damaging strikes from the back! Short could be in trouble here!
Short is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Short trying to control the hands but Akinfenwa won't let him.
Akinfenwa trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Short doesn't escape.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Akinfenwa's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Short tries to roll but Akinfenwa sticks to his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Beasty Akinfenwa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Akinfenwa 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 William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Beasty Akinfenwa!