Quick Fight Championship PBP Commentary

Main event

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Owen Hargreaves (ranked 4368 p4p, 4410 weight class) and Ryu Akutagawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hargreaves
vs
Akutagawa

190 cm
18
145
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
135
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Owen Hargreaves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ryu Akutagawa!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Fedor Mirinova and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akutagawa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Akutagawa closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Akutagawa lands in his opponent's guard.
Akutagawa looking to sit in guard and control but Hargreaves gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Akutagawa wants to sweep here but Hargreaves controlling him for the moment.
Hargreaves trying to control the position from guard on top but Akutagawa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hargreaves stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Akutagawa swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Hargreaves drops back looking for a leg! Akutagawa is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Akutagawa manages to kick Hargreaves off! Hargreaves jumps back into Akutagawa's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Akutagawa has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hargreaves can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Akutagawa has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Hargreaves has passed into side control.
Akutagawa being controlled for a moment.
Hargreaves lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Akutagawa tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hargreaves wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Hargreaves has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Akutagawa tries for a takedown but Hargreaves circles away easily
and Hargreaves counters with a three punch combo that has Akutagawa backing up. Akutagawa nods at Hargreaves to acknowledge the strikes.
A low kick from Akutagawa is predictable there
and Hargreaves counters with a left and a right that stings Akutagawa.

Akutagawa moves into the clinch.
Hargreaves wants to take the fight to the mat but Akutagawa manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Akutagawa fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Hargreaves's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hargreaves drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Akutagawa is trying to improve his position.
Hargreaves trying to control the action but Akutagawa is working from the bottom.

Hargreaves is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Akutagawa knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Akutagawa is being controlled here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akutagawa is working to avoid the ground and pound but Hargreaves connects with a decent elbow.
Akutagawa is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hargreaves wants to control but Akutagawa is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Akutagawa manages to get back to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Owen Hargreaves dominated that 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.

Hargreaves darts in and clinches Akutagawa up against the cage.

Akutagawa manages to break the clinch.
Akutagawa fails with an attempt to clinch.

Hargreaves darts in and clinches Akutagawa up against the cage.

Akutagawa has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Hargreaves regains guard immediately.
Akutagawa working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hargreaves's head.
Akutagawa forces his way into half guard.
Akutagawa takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Akutagawa seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akutagawa wants to pass the guard but Hargreaves is defending well.
Hargreaves is trying to stand up here but Akutagawa is controlling him well.
Hargreaves trying to control from the bottom.
Hargreaves is not content to let Akutagawa control the position.
Akutagawa is taking a breather. Hargreaves says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hargreaves trying to hold on to Akutagawa's head to control him but Akutagawa postures up.
Akutagawa trying to control from Hargreaves's half guard. Hargreaves has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Hargreaves looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Hargreaves throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Akutagawa scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akutagawa lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hargreaves looking to control.
Hargreaves keeping moving, preventing Akutagawa from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Akutagawa closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hargreaves tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Akutagawa just stands there and leans against the cage.

Hargreaves works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Akutagawa is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Hargreaves presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Akutagawa is trying to push Hargreaves away but Hargreaves has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Hargreaves breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hargreaves circles away from the clinch attempt.

Hargreaves gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Hargreaves pushes Akutagawa off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Akutagawa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Akutagawa on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Hargreaves. Hargreaves obviously looking to wear him down.
Sloppy strikes from Akutagawa. Those never looked like landing.
Owen Hargreaves is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Akutagawa fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hargreaves, pushing him back against the cage.
Hargreaves wants a takedown.

Hargreaves pulls guard effortlessly.
Hargreaves keeping moving, preventing Akutagawa from controlling successfully.
Akutagawa wants to pass the guard but Hargreaves is keeping the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ryu Akutagawa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Akutagawa tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Hargreaves defends well and Akutagawa ends up having to push Hargreaves into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Akutagawa fails with a takedown attempt.

Hargreaves drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Akutagawa throws Hargreaves to one side and escapes!
Hargreaves moves out of range of the strikes.
Nice takedown defense from Hargreaves. No joy for Akutagawa on that attempt.
Owen Hargreaves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryu Akutagawa.
Hargreaves moves to clinch but Akutagawa breaks away

and Akutagawa counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Akutagawa.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Akutagawa trying to control but Hargreaves is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hargreaves has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Akutagawa can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Hargreaves looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hargreaves is on top in guard.

Akutagawa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hargreaves trying to control the position from guard on top but Akutagawa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hargreaves drops back looking for a leg! Akutagawa is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Akutagawa manages to kick Hargreaves off! Hargreaves jumps back into Akutagawa's guard.
Akutagawa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hargreaves won't allow Akutagawa to get back to his feet.
Hargreaves trying to control the position from guard on top but Akutagawa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Akutagawa will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akutagawa is trying to control the position but Hargreaves postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Akutagawa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Akutagawa stuffs the takedown.
Hargreaves circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hargreaves half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Hargreaves enables Akutagawa to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Hargreaves manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Hargreaves pulls Akutagawa in close to his closed guard and prevents Akutagawa from doing any damage or advancing position.
Hargreaves keeping full guard, as Akutagawa tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hargreaves is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Akutagawa defends well.
Hargreaves pulls Akutagawa in close to his closed guard and prevents Akutagawa from doing any damage or advancing position.
Hargreaves keeping moving, preventing Akutagawa from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Akutagawa would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ryu Akutagawa.
I think Akutagawa 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryu Akutagawa!