PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcello Negao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akebono Taro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Akebono Taro has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Marcello Negao's chin.

Negao
vs
Taro

190 cm
22
300 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

204 cm
22
300 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Marcello Negao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Akebono Taro!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Negao looks to land a combination but Taro avoids it well.

Taro clinches up with Negao and pushes him back against the cage.
Negao drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Taro gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Taro gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Negao.

Taro lands a takedown into guard.
Negao looking to hit a scissor sweep but Taro is one step ahead there.
Negao keeping moving, preventing Taro from controlling successfully.
Negao looking to control.
Taro missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Negao looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Taro passes into half guard.
Taro sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Negao trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Negao is desperately trying to improve his position but Taro has a good base and remains in mount.
Taro pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Taro with a couple of short strikes.
Taro lands with some strikes.
Taro lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Taro lands with some strikes.
Taro lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Taro content just to control the position here.
Taro looking to control but Negao is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Negao tries to hold on but Taro pushes him away.
Negao is wriggling around trying to escape.
Taro working Negao over with strikes here.
Negao tries to hold on but Taro pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taro controlling from mount.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Negao is desperately trying to improve his position but Taro has a good base and remains in mount.
Taro avoids the attempt from Negao to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taro content just to control the position here.
Taro landing strikes from the mount and Negao is in trouble!
Taro takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Taro putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Negao is trying to escape the mount.
Negao slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Negao looking for submissions off his back.
Negao is breathing heavily.
Taro trying to control from half guard but Negao is working away.
Taro thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Negao tries to get to full guard but Taro has control of the leg.
Negao is looking to control Taro's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Negao avoid being mounted?
Taro missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Negao is looking for a sweep. Taro is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Taro landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Negao is looking for a sweep. Taro is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akebono Taro dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Negao throws a series of punches but Taro moves out of range.

Taro feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Negao wants to stand and escape but Taro is having none of it.
Taro controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Negao keeping moving, preventing Taro from controlling successfully.
Taro stopping the sweep attempt from Negao.
Negao keeping moving, preventing Taro from controlling successfully.
Negao wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taro postures up in Negao's guard and throws a big left but Negao blocks it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Negao misses the shot to the body.
Negao swings for the body but Taro moves out of range.

Taro scores with a takedown into Negao's guard.
Taro chips away with some ground and pound.
Taro looking to pass the guard.
Taro trying to control the position from guard on top but Negao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Negao has his foot on Taro's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Taro works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Taro controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Negao is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taro is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Taro trying to control the position from guard on top but Negao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taro must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Taro showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Negao is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Negao looking for a sweep. Not yet Negao, not yet.
Taro throws a strike but Negao rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taro is trying to keep Negao in close.
Akebono Taro has got the better of the ground game so far.
Negao looking to sit in guard and control but Taro gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Taro throws and elbow that misses. Negao uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Taro's guard. Nice move by Negao!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Negao trying to stand up but can't free himself from Taro's guard.
Taro pulls Negao in close to his closed guard and prevents Negao from doing any damage or advancing position.
Taro controls Negao momentarily but Negao frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Taro wants to stand and escape but Negao is having none of it.
Taro is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Taro really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Negao. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Negao wants to control from the top but Taro keeps moving.
Negao tries to free his leg and advance position but Taro is retaining full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Taro closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Negao is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akebono Taro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Taro will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Taro gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Negao fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Taro has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Negao is trying to keep an underhook but Taro manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Negao slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Negao looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Negao working for a triangle but Taro defends it easily.
Taro controls from within his opponent's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taro wants to control from the top but Negao keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taro throws a big right hand that misses.
Negao keeping moving, preventing Taro from controlling successfully.
Negao looking to hit a scissor sweep but Taro is one step ahead there.
Taro landing some decent shots from guard.
Negao keeping moving, preventing Taro from controlling successfully.
Marcello Negao has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Taro clinches.

Taro turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Taro is looking to take a break and control but Negao is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Negao manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Negao passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Taro!
Negao is trying to take his opponent's back.
Negao trying to control but Taro is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Negao is working for a guillotine from mount but Taro frees his head quite easily.
Taro flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Negao wants to control the pace but Taro is squirming around nicely.
Taro tries to hold on but Negao pushes him away.

Negao looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's four 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.
Negao avoids the attempt from Taro to control.

Negao looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Negao is looking to work his way around to Taro's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Taro wants to control but Negao is having none of it.
Taro is squirming around, avoiding Negao's attempts to control the action.
Taro tries to hold on but Negao pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Akebono Taro.
I've got Taro winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akebono Taro!