PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between TJ Crawford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akiyama Shinichi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Crawford comes to the cage accompanied by John Legend - Who Do We Think We Are . Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Crawford
vs
Shinichi

179 cm
35
155 lbs
19 - 19 - 0

155 cm
36
145 lbs
22 - 13 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, TJ Crawford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Akiyama Shinichi!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Crawford rushes Shinichi and presses him up against the cage.
Crawford with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Crawford with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Shinichi is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Shinichi displaying some good clinch control by pressing Crawford up against the cage.
Shinichi takes a knee right on the jaw!
Crawford misses with a knee to the head.
Shinichi looking for a takedown.

Shinichi manages to pull guard.
Crawford won't allow Shinichi to sweep him here.
Shinichi controls Crawford momentarily but Crawford frees himself.
Crawford has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Crawford forces his way into half guard.
Crawford knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Shinichi on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shinichi wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shinichi keeps trying to improve his position.
Shinichi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Crawford is working away from the top position though.
Shinichi works his way to full guard. Good work.
Shinichi bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Crawford's guard.

Shinichi looking to pass the guard.

Shinichi drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Shinichi jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Crawford is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shinichi wants to control from the top but Crawford keeps moving.
Shinichi slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Shinichi is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Crawford knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Shinichi advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shinichi moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Crawford has worked his arm free - good work by Crawford!
Shinichi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Crawford keeps working.

Shinichi wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Crawford, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Shinichi is trying to get an arm triangle but Crawford is defending well.
Shinichi takes a little break here. Crawford wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Shinichi is looking to take a break and control but Crawford is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shinichi tries to advance to mount but Crawford denies him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akiyama Shinichi dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Crawford moves into range and clinches up with Shinichi.
Shinichi is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Shinichi tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Crawford smiles and moves away.
Shinichi has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.

Crawford drives through and clinches with Shinichi against the cage.
Crawford missing with knees to the body.
Crawford tries to land a knee to the head but Shinichi blocks with his arms.
Crawford tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Shinichi avoids it.
Shinichi drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
TJ Crawford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akiyama Shinichi.
Shinichi tries for a takedown. No joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shinichi is trying to drag Crawford to the mat but Crawford just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Crawford trying to land knees to the body.
Crawford stops a takedown attempt from Shinichi.
Crawford misses with a knee strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shinichi tries for a takedown but Crawford manages to get underhooks.
Shinichi is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Crawford tries to land a knee to the head but Shinichi blocks with his arms.
Shinichi pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Shinichi manages to pull guard.
Shinichi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Crawford stays in close to Shinichi's body and controls the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Shinichi is on top in guard.

Shinichi content to stall in guard here.
Shinichi is pushing down on Crawford's leg trying to pass to half guard. Crawford is fighting to maintain full guard but Shinichi has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shinichi is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Shinichi works his foot free and advances to mount.
Crawford really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Shinichi trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shinichi controlling the position easily from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Shinichi is working close to his opponent, looking to work a submission by the looks of things. Oh, he's managed to get a guillotine from mount as his opponent reached up! That looks tiiiiight! Will he tap? YES, he's tapped! Impressive submission by Shinichi!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:36 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Akiyama Shinichi!
A less than humble Akiyama Shinichi misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.