PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Emmanuel Akoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexis Stone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Akoto
vs
Stone

202 cm
18
238 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

205 cm
18
280 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Emmanuel Akoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alexis Stone!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akoto tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stone paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Akoto shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Stone as he jumps to the side.
Akoto doesn't manage to clinch there - Stone circles away.
Stone takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Alexis Stone has been cut.
Stone avoids the head kick by Akoto.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Stone.
Akoto is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Stone tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Stone has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Stone scoring with punches from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akoto trying to remain calm as Stone controls from the top position.
Stone looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Akoto is avoiding damage well.
Stone wants to take a breather but Akoto manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Stone.

Stone stands and steps away. Akoto gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Stone blocks a head kick by Akoto.
Akoto slips a jab and a cross from Stone.

Akoto looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Akoto wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Stone uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
Akoto has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Stone is proving hard to escape from.
Akoto is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akoto postures up.
Akoto wants to stand but Stone has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Stone pulls Akoto in to control the position.
Stone manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Akoto manages to get himself to full guard.
Stone is looking to advance position but Akoto has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone is desperately trying to improve his position but Akoto has a good base and remains in mount.
Stone tries to hold on but Akoto pushes him away.
Stone tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Stone holds on to Akoto around his waist, trying desperately to prevent any attacks.
Akoto is looking to stand but Akoto has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Stone tries to lock up and control but Akoto gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Stone looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Akoto tries to get the hooks in deep but Stone pushed the leg off.
Stone rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Stone is trying to get back to full guard.
Akoto wants to stand up but Stone is controlling the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Stone throws a right and a left that Akoto avoids nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Emmanuel Akoto will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Alexis Stone's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Akoto misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Akoto is looking to clinch but Stone is avoiding it.
Stone misses with a few strikes there.
Akoto fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stone throws a nice looking combination but Akoto bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Stone instigates a clinch.
Stone has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Akoto is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Akoto is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Stone scores with a nice short uppercut.
Stone avoiding damage as Akoto throws knees to the body.
Akoto is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Akoto tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Stone smiles and moves away.
Akoto wants to clinch

and Stone counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Akoto wants to break the clinch but can't.
Stone tries to land knees in the clinch but Akoto avoids the damage to the body.
Stone tries to break the clinch but Akoto is controlling the position.
Akoto has had enough of the clinch but Stone keeps him there for the moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Akoto breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Akoto.
Stone throws a right and a left that both miss.
Stone fails to land with a series of punches.
Akoto lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Stone blocks a head kick by Akoto.

Stone closes the distance and pushes Akoto back into the cage.

Stone has picked Akoto up - he's going for a ride! Stone dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Stone looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Stone trying to pass the guard but Akoto defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akoto blocking the ground and pound attempt from Stone.
Akoto blocking the ground and pound attempt from Stone.
Stone performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Stone sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Akoto defending well though.
Stone is just content to waste time from the top position. Akoto takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone wants to control from the top but Akoto keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Akoto is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Stone throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Akoto.
Stone goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Stone tries to keep at a distance but Akoto has taken the fight into the clinch.
Stone wants a takedown.
Stone on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Akoto has had enough of the clinch but Stone keeps him there for the moment.

Stone escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stone throws a leg kick but Akoto checks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Some bone on bone action there as Akoto checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Stone blocks a head kick by Akoto.
Akoto pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Stone shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Akoto as he jumps to the side.
Emmanuel Akoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexis Stone.
Akoto looks to clinch
and Stone counters with a series of strikes. Akoto will be more careful next time no doubt.

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

Stone manages to break the clinch.
A nice inside leg kick there by Akoto. That's going to slow Stone down.
Stone fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Stone shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Akoto as he jumps to the side.
Akoto misses with a takedown attempt

and Stone holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Akoto's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Akoto throws a sloppy head kick and Stone moves out of range easily.
Stone lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Akoto backs up against the cage.
Akoto is looking to land body kicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexis Stone showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Alexis Stone's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Stone looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Akoto showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stone.

Akoto shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Akoto gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Stone swings for the body but Akoto moves out of range.

Akoto instigates a clinch.
Akoto takes a shot to the head.
Akoto prevents the takedown attempt.

Akoto escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Akoto pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick by Akoto misses

and Stone moves into the clinch.
Akoto has had enough of the clinch but Stone keeps him there for the moment.
Akoto prevents the takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Akoto's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stone throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Akoto.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stone looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Akoto has one foot on Stone's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Akoto closes the distance but Stone moves to the side

and Stone counters by clinching up.
Stone with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Stone takes a knee right on the jaw!

Stone breaks from the clinch.

Stone has closed the distance and engaged Akoto in a clinch.
Akoto wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Akoto's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A shot in the inside from Stone.
Akoto lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Akoto prevents a takedown attempt there.
Emmanuel Akoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexis Stone.
Stone is working Akoto over against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Stone scores with a nice short uppercut.
Stone wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Stone lands a body shot.
Akoto is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Stone has clasped his hands together around Akoto's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Akoto pushes Stone away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Stone gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Stone controlling from side mount.
Stone cracks Akoto with a big elbow.

Stone decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Akoto tries a head kick but it misses.
Emmanuel Akoto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akoto takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Akoto takes one on the button.
Stone tries to land a front kick but Akoto steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Akoto tries a head kick but it misses.
Akoto throws a head kick that misses
and Stone counters with a left and a right that stings Akoto.
Akoto tries to clinch but Stone moves away

and Stone counters by clinching up.
Akoto wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Stone has him pressed against the cage.
Akoto gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Stone.
Stone tries for a takedown. No joy.
Stone wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Akoto breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Akoto clinches but Stone breaks the clinch
enabling Stone to counter with a crisp jab.
Akoto plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stone gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Stone keeps control of Akoto as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Akoto with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Stone wants the takedown. Akoto is fighting it off but Stone persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Akoto's guard against the cage.
Akoto wants to stand but Stone is controlling the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stone's corner is telling him to maintain position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexis Stone comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Stone 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexis Stone!