PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Akira Akiyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zeke Rivers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rivers comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Suffa by Hed Pe kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Akiyama
vs
Rivers

198 cm
36
257 lbs
9 - 10 - 0

191 cm
24
255 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
World class MT
Insanely flexible

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 9 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Akira Akiyama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zeke Rivers!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivers fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Akiyama fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rivers.

Akiyama takes the fight into the clinch.
Rivers is trying to push Akiyama away but Akiyama has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Rivers is trying to maintain a safe position but Akiyama gets an underhook and turns Rivers into the cage.
Rivers wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rivers misses with a punch on the inside.

Akiyama jumps guard.
Rivers slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Akiyama knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rivers on the ground.
Akiyama avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivers throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Akiyama works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rivers pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Akiyama is keeping the position for now.
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.
Rivers not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
It looks like Rivers might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
We've been told by Akiyama's head coaches at Weed Nation that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Akiyama chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Akiyama tries to clinch there but Rivers circles away.
Rivers with the counter takedown but Akiyama avoids it easily.
A nice leg kick lands there from Akiyama.
Rivers has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rivers has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rivers is pressed up against the cage. Akiyama has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rivers down to the mat. Rivers avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Akira Akiyama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rivers closes the distance and clinches.
Akiyama can't get the takedown.

Akiyama has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Rivers uses from the top position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rivers accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Akiyama on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Akiyama tries to get out of the position.
Rivers loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Akiyama preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Rivers stands up and waves to Akiyama to follow him.
Rivers misses with a takedown
and Akiyama counters with a nice uppercut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Akiyama. Rivers does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rivers shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Akiyama as he jumps to the side.
Akira Akiyama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zeke Rivers.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rivers.

Akiyama pushes Rivers up against the cage in a clinch.

Akiyama gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Akiyama wants to stand up but Rivers is controlling the position.
Rivers has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Akiyama is thwarting Rivers's attempts to control the position.
Akiyama prevents Rivers from standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivers is trying to get back to full guard.
Rivers is controlling Akiyama's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Rivers regains full guard. Nicely done.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rivers wants to sweep here but Akiyama controlling him for the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rivers looks to land a combination but Akiyama avoids it well.

Rivers darts in and clinches Akiyama up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Akiyama dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rivers misses with a low kick.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Akiyama throws a right and a left that Rivers avoids nicely.
Akiyama swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Akiyama ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Akiyama looks to land a combination but Rivers avoids it well.
Nice uppercut there from Akiyama.

Akiyama drops Rivers with a beautiful combination! Rivers stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Akiyama is looking for the KO!

Rivers is rocked!
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!
Rivers looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rivers is still on wobbly legs! Can Akiyama finish him?
Rivers leaves his chin hanging out and Akiyama seizes the opportunity with an uppercut! Rivers crumbles to the floor in a heap! The referee steps in and tends to the downed fighter! What a knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:32 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Akira Akiyama!
Akira Akiyama thanked the fans post fight for their support.