PBP Commentary

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

Emelyanenko
vs
Akashi

187 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

199 cm
24
201 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 The Island, Fedor Emelyanenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Seijuro Akashi!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Dirk Anderson and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelyanenko moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

It looks like Seijuro Akashi has been cut.
Emelyanenko fails with the takedown.
Emelyanenko tries to close the distance and clinch but Akashi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Akashi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Emelyanenko counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Emelyanenko landing knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Emelyanenko gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Akashi is trying to control the position but Emelyanenko postures up.
Akashi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Akashi keeping moving, preventing Emelyanenko from controlling successfully.
Emelyanenko tries to free his leg and advance position but Akashi is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelyanenko throwing strikes but missing.
Emelyanenko has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Akashi wants to hit a switch here but Emelyanenko passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Akashi there!
Emelyanenko trying to control but Akashi is having none of it.
Emelyanenko manages to capitalize on a mistake by Akashi to take his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelyanenko keeps control of the position easily here as Akashi tries to buck him off.
Akashi can't escape the position.
Akashi covering up well and avoiding damage.
Akashi looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Emelyanenko is persistently looking for the submission but Akashi is defending it well.
Emelyanenko is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

Emelyanenko is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Emelyanenko working for a choke but Akashi is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Emelyanenko's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Akashi wants to escape the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Akashi wants to control his opponent's hands but Emelyanenko gets his hands free.

Emelyanenko is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Akashi has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fedor Emelyanenko dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Seijuro Akashi's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Akashi blocks a head kick by Emelyanenko.
Emelyanenko misses with an attempted mid kick.
Akashi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Fedor Emelyanenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Akashi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Emelyanenko tries to clinch up but Akashi circles away and keeps his distance.
Emelyanenko shoots for a takedown but Akashi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Akashi tries to clinch but Emelyanenko is having none of it.
Emelyanenko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Akashi throws a leg kick
and Emelyanenko counters with a series of strikes. Akashi will be more careful next time no doubt.
Emelyanenko shoots in for a double leg but Akashi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Emelyanenko with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fedor Emelyanenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Akashi shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Akashi was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Akashi tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Akashi wants to stand but Emelyanenko is controlling his arm.
Akashi controls the position.
Emelyanenko tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Akashi easily slips into full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelyanenko really wants to buck Akashi off and get back to his feet.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Akashi cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Akashi putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Akashi tries to control but Emelyanenko wriggling away.

Akashi is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Emelyanenko has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Emelyanenko!
Emelyanenko knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Akashi on the ground.
Emelyanenko showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akashi trying to control the position.
Emelyanenko tries to free his leg and advance position but Akashi is retaining full guard.
Emelyanenko might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Akashi looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Emelyanenko puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Akashi is looking to escape.
Akashi is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Akashi is looking to control Emelyanenko's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Akashi avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelyanenko wants to control but Akashi is keeping him busy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Akashi stuffs the takedown attempt from Emelyanenko. Emelyanenko gets slowly back to his feet.
Akashi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Akashi closes the distance and clinches up with Emelyanenko, looking for a takedown. Akashi pushes Emelyanenko against the cage but Emelyanenko circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Emelyanenko closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
You can see the frustration on Akashi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Emelyanenko lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Seijuro Akashi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Seijuro Akashi's cut.
That's time! Emelyanenko's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Emelyanenko fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Akashi to the ground. Emelyanenko is now in Akashi's guard.
Emelyanenko wants to stand but Akashi is controlling his posture from full guard.
Akashi lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Emelyanenko!
Akashi sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Emelyanenko is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelyanenko is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Emelyanenko is trying to escape the mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Akashi controlling his opponent.
Emelyanenko is squirming around, avoiding Akashi's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akashi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Emelyanenko tries to reverse the position but Akashi maintains control.

Akashi is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Emelyanenko to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Emelyanenko shrugs it off.
Emelyanenko wants to hold on but Akashi pushes him away.
Emelyanenko in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Akashi putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akashi controlling the position easily from mount.
Emelyanenko tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Akashi looking to control and managing it successfully.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Akashi cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Akashi looking to control and managing it successfully.
Akashi thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akashi landing punches.
Emelyanenko is squirming around, avoiding Akashi's attempts to control the action.
Emelyanenko tries to hold on but Akashi pushes him away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Emelyanenko is looking to get to half guard.

Akashi has control of Emelyanenko's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Emelyanenko regains control of the situation pretty easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Seijuro Akashi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Akashi 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Seijuro Akashi!