PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Malik Atkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kimbo Slice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Atkins
vs
Slice

173 cm
24
140 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

170 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Malik Atkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kimbo Slice!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Taro Takaoka and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Slice shoots in looking for a takedown but Atkins manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Slice's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Slice throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Atkins fails with an attempt to clinch.
Slice thows a leg kick but Atkins checks it

and Atkins holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Slice misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Atkins.
Slice wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Atkins fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Slice lands a nice uppercut.
Atkins is trying to pull guard but Slice has him pressed against the cage.
Slice lands a nice shot to the body.

Atkins successfully pulls guard.
Slice slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Atkins preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slice cracks Atkins with a solid left hand.
Slice looking to pass the guard.
Slice would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Slice avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Slice stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Slice lands with a cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slice goes for a double leg but Atkins avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Atkins continues to drive forward.
Atkins keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Slice's efforts to push away.
Slice fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Slice gets control of Atkins's arms and successfully pulls guard. Slice will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Atkins postures up and lands a big shot to Slice's brow.
Slice wants to get back to his feet but Atkins passes into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Atkins takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Slice tries to kick Atkins off but Atkins keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Atkins lands strikes from half guard.
Slice is trying to stand up here but Atkins is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Slice kicks Atkins off and gets back to his feet.

Slice closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Slice jumps guard and drags Atkins to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Atkins distracts Slice with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Slice is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Slice looks winded!
Atkins trying to control the position from guard on top but Slice is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Slice has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Atkins is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Slice tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Malik Atkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kimbo Slice.
Atkins throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slice has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Atkins's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Atkins tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Atkins throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Slice scores with a nice strike.
Slice with a poor takedown

and Atkins counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Atkins manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Atkins has his foot on Slice's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Slice works his way back into a safe position though.
Slice must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Atkins is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Slice throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kimbo Slice dominated that round.
That's time! Atkins's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Atkins doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Slice misses with a few strikes there.
Slice avoids the head kick by Atkins.

Slice fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Atkins, pushing him back against the cage.
Slice changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Atkins fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Slice throws out a leg kick but Atkins moves out of range and Slice only half commits.
Slice throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Slice moves into range and clinches up with Atkins.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Atkins jumps guard and drags Slice to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Atkins not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Slice sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Slice working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Atkins's head.
Slice would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Slice is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Kimbo Slice has got the better of the ground game so far.
Slice landing some decent shots from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Atkins working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Slice doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Slice manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Slice trying to control but Atkins is working from the bottom.
Slice is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Slice decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Atkins slips under a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atkins lands a head kick!

Slice moves into the clinch.
Slice has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Atkins after a bit of a struggle.
Slice tries a body shot but Atkins blocks it.
Slice tries a body shot but Atkins blocks it.
Slice tries for a takedown but Atkins manages to get underhooks.
Malik Atkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kimbo Slice.

Slice ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Slice no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Atkins won't allow Slice to get back to his feet.
Atkins trying to control but Slice is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Slice wants to stand but Atkins is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atkins lands a couple of digs.
Atkins won't allow Slice to get back to his feet.
Atkins in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Slice wants to get back to his feet but Atkins passes into half guard.
Atkins is pressing down on Slice's thigh, looking to free his foot. Slice is holding on for now.

Slice has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Atkins is on him like a limpet, forcing Slice back against the cage.
Slice is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Slice is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Atkins jumps guard but Slice stands there with Atkins around his waist. Atkins gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kimbo Slice showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Slice swings for the body but Atkins moves out of range.
Atkins throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Malik Atkins is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Slice pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Atkins tries to clinch up but Slice circles away and keeps his distance.
Slice throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Atkins's waist but Atkins gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Slice off to one side.
Atkins throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Slice misses with a takedown attempt

and Atkins counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Slice wants to stand but Atkins is controlling the position.
Atkins scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atkins wants to control from the top but Slice keeps moving.
Atkins postures up in Slice's guard and throws a big left but Slice blocks it.
Atkins throwing strikes but missing.
Atkins wants to pass the guard but Slice is keeping the position.
Atkins trying to control but Slice is working from the bottom.
Slice is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Atkins is controlling him.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Slice manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Atkins decides to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slice looking to sit in guard and control but Atkins gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Atkins throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Slice works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Slice is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Atkins is controlling him.
Atkins wants to control from the top but Slice keeps moving.
Slice wants to stand but Atkins is controlling the position.
Atkins working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Atkins landing with the ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Atkins is standing up over Slice. Slice looks to escape but Atkins dives into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slice on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Slice is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Slice takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Atkins tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Atkins has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Slice wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Slice sneaks out the side door and pushes Atkins away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

Slice clinches.
Slice jumps guard but Atkins turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Malik Atkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kimbo Slice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atkins holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Slice drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Atkins gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Slice gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Slice trying to control the action but Atkins is working from the bottom.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Slice missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Malik Atkins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kimbo Slice is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Slice is trying to control the action in half guard but Atkins is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

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 Malik Atkins.
Well Slice has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kimbo Slice!