PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Akisame Hikaru (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Felix Sandoval (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hikaru's entrance music is Ultimate Battle. A fine choice. Sandoval has chosen Overseer - Slayed as his entrance music. Akisame Hikaru is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Hikaru
vs
Sandoval

172 cm
31
166 lbs
25 - 11 - 1

171 cm
30
158 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Akisame Hikaru!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Felix Sandoval!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Trevor Gratis and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sandoval looks for a takedown but Hikaru sprawls well.
Hikaru showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sandoval.
We've been informed that Sandoval has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Hikaru fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sandoval misses with a body kick.
Sandoval gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Hikaru takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Sandoval looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Hikaru has his foot on Sandoval's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sandoval works his way back into a safe position though.
Sandoval sitting in guard here, content to control.
Hikaru pulls Sandoval in close to prevent any damage.
Hikaru's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hikaru looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hikaru looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sandoval preventing the sweep.

Hikaru looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sandoval trying to control but Hikaru is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sandoval tries to stand but Hikaru is controlling from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hikaru misses with a hook. Sandoval ducked under it nicely.
Sandoval walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Akisame Hikaru is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hikaru misses with a hook.

Sandoval gets a double leg takedown into Hikaru's guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Hikaru'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.
Sandoval's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sandoval trying to control the position from guard on top but Hikaru is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sandoval postures up.
Hikaru looking for a sweep. Not yet Hikaru, not yet.
Sandoval postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hikaru with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Sandoval can't handle though.
Hikaru looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sandoval is one step ahead there.
Hikaru trying to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Hikaru misses with a body shot.

Sandoval changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hikaru looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Sandoval working the body and head with strikes.
Hikaru struggling a bit here.
Hikaru regains half guard.
Sandoval controlling the pace.
Hikaru is staying active underneath Sandoval, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval throwing shots but Hikaru is blocking nicely.

Sandoval is looking for a kimura but Hikaru is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sandoval to get the leverage.
Hikaru blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sandoval.
Hikaru is trying to get back to full guard.
Sandoval is thwarting Hikaru's attempts to control the position.
Hikaru is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sandoval's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sandoval's back!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sandoval covering up well under a series of strikes from Hikaru.
Hikaru connects with a big shot to the side of Sandoval's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Felix Sandoval will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hikaru is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Felix Sandoval is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hikaru lands a head kick!
Sandoval drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Good standup being displayed there by Hikaru as he connects with a hook.
Sandoval is looking to clinch but Hikaru is avoiding it.
Hikaru fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Sandoval looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Akisame Hikaru seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sandoval misses with a few strikes there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hikaru scores with a body shot.
Sandoval takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Hikaru throws a solid leg kick but Sandoval takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Hikaru.
Hikaru throws out a loose jab but Sandoval uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sandoval lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Sandoval goes for a double leg but Hikaru avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hikaru continues to drive forward.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sandoval closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Sandoval is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Hikaru tries to lock up and control but Sandoval gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hikaru regains half guard.
Sandoval is looking to take a break and control but Hikaru is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sandoval seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Hikaru wants to get back to full guard.
Sandoval looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Hikaru slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hikaru is trying to control the position but Sandoval postures up.
Sandoval trying to control but Hikaru is working from the bottom.
Hikaru looking to control.
Hikaru is really struggling to control Sandoval but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Sandoval wanted to stand there but Hikaru had control of the position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Hikaru is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sandoval defends well.

Hikaru has his foot on Sandoval's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sandoval works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hikaru is keeping the position for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sandoval uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hikaru.
Hikaru scores with a jab to the head.
Sandoval keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hikaru.
Sandoval feints the counter takedown.
Hikaru keeps the fight on the outside.
Sandoval tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hikaru paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sandoval with a poor takedown
and Hikaru cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hikaru lands a jab.
Sandoval fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sandoval needs to keep his hands up - Hikaru had a free shot at his head there.
Sandoval shoots in but no luck this time.
Akisame Hikaru has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Felix Sandoval.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval keeps the fight on the outside.
Sandoval throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hikaru misses with an attempted mid kick.
Hikaru comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Hikaru jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
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!
Hikaru ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sandoval moves away.
Sandoval ducks under a wild hook from Hikaru.
Hikaru misses with a straight right.
Sandoval throws a counter combo.
Hikaru swings widly with a right hand

and Sandoval counters with a takedown into side control.
Sandoval is looking to take a break and control but Hikaru is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akisame Hikaru dominated that second 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sandoval.
Sandoval wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hikaru keeps working.
Hikaru is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Sandoval decides to take the fight back to the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hikaru throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hikaru misses with a low kick.
Hikaru pivots, looking for a leg kick but Sandoval is out of range and Hikaru settles back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sandoval takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Sandoval closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Hikaru quickly recovers to half guard.
Sandoval works his way into full mount!
Hikaru is trying to escape the mount.
Sandoval fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Hikaru is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Sandoval looking for a guillotine from mount but Hikaru is having none of it.
Sandoval is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hikaru is in all sorts of trouble here.

Sandoval is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Hikaru motions for Sandoval to come forward. Hikaru throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Sandoval shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sandoval content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hikaru taking some punishment here, with Sandoval in his half guard.
Hikaru wants to get back to full guard.
Sandoval seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Hikaru trying to control here.
Sandoval moves nicely into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hikaru looking for a sweep but Sandoval has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Sandoval tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hikaru regains half guard.
Hikaru wants to improve his position but Sandoval is controlling well.
Sandoval wants to stand up but Hikaru is controlling the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Sandoval is looking for a kimura here.
Hikaru wants to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Felix Sandoval comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sandoval 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Felix Sandoval!
Our winner, Felix Sandoval, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
In defeat, Akisame Hikaru stepped up to the mic, saying 'It was a great fight, I can't ask much more of myself, my opponent was very skilled.'.