PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Osama Akharraz (ranked 1902 p4p, 3084 weight class) and Fedor Emperor (ranked 269 p4p, 404 weight class). Emperor is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Enae Volare Mezzo. Osama Akharraz has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Akharraz
vs
Emperor

225 cm
40
215
30 - 35 - 0

183 cm
28
223
4 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 35 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Osama Akharraz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Fedor Emperor!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Wagner Zegers and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Akharraz clinches up against the cage.
I was talking to Akharraz's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Akharraz really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Akharraz working aggressively here.
Akharraz throws a head punch that misses.
Akharraz misses with the head strike.
Akharraz struggles to land a body shot inside as Emperor controls his hands.
Emperor misses with a punch to the body.
Emperor avoiding damage.
Emperor effectively controlling the action here.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Emperor takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Akharraz lands with a light punch inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Emperor on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Akharraz scores with a shot to the side of Emperor's head.
Akharraz slows down the pace here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Emperor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Akharraz takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Akharraz tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Akharraz is working Emperor over against the cage.
Akharraz blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Akharraz gets underhooks to prevent Emperor's takedown attempt.
Emperor wants to stall.
Akharraz creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Emperor throws a punch but it's blocked by Akharraz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emperor is working for takedown but Akharraz is calmly controlling the position for now.
Akharraz lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Fedor Emperor has been cut.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Akharraz just misses with a elbow thrown towards Emperor's brow.
Akharraz is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Akharraz.
Akharraz misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Emperor lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Akharraz or not.
Akharraz misses with a body punch.
Akharraz manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Emperor avoids a wild elbow strike from Akharraz.
Akharraz pressing his opponent against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akharraz leaning his opponent against the cage.
Emperor scores with a hook to the body.
Akharraz is leaning against Emperor and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Akharraz has a couple of punches blocked by Emperor.
Akharraz doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Akharraz tries a body shot but Emperor blocks it.
Emperor avoiding damage as Akharraz throws knees to the body.
Akharraz dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Akharraz is pushing Emperor up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emperor wants to stall.
The referee calls for Akharraz to work.
Akharraz stalling the fight.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Osama Akharraz.
Akharraz throws a right hand that Emperor ducks under and follows up with a left that Emperor also avoids with ease.
Osama Akharraz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Akharraz's jab looks to have found its range, popping Emperor under the eye.
Akharraz lands a jab to the nose.
Emperor slips a jab and a cross from Akharraz.

Akharraz has taken the fight to the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Come on Emperor - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Akharraz lands a shoulder strike.
Akharraz tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Emperor avoids it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Osama Akharraz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Fedor Emperor's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Akharraz instigates a clinch.
Akharraz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Emperor can do to turn this around?
Akharraz swings wildly with an uppercut but Emperor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Emperor looking to stall.
Emperor doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Akharraz is leaning against Emperor and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A short uppercut from Akharraz.
A nice right hand lands inside from Akharraz.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Akharraz creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Akharraz missing with knees to the body.
Emperor blocks an uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Akharraz.
A short right from Akharraz.
Emperor trying to stall but Akharraz improves his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akharraz landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Emperor is breathing heavily.
The referee is keeping an eye on Akharraz - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Akharraz pushes Emperor back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Akharraz throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A bit of stalling here from Akharraz.
Emperor taking a breather.
Akharraz lands an elbow inside that Emperor shrugs off.
Akharraz lands a body punch.
Akharraz working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That has opened up Fedor Emperor's cut even more.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Akharraz creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Akharraz stalling against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Akharraz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Akharraz - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Emperor blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Emperor is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Akharraz is keeping busy.
Akharraz displaying some good clinch control by pressing Emperor up against the cage.
Akharraz slowing the pace effectively.
Akharraz seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Akharraz lands with a right to the head.
Emperor blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Akharraz makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Akharraz working aggressively here.
Osama Akharraz has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Akharraz tries to throw a body punch but Emperor avoids it by throwing Akharraz back against the cage.
Akharraz makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akharraz lands a hook to the side of the head.
Akharraz misses with the head strike.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Emperor blocks an uppercut.
Akharraz doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Akharraz working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Akharraz misses with a knee to the head.
Akharraz slowing the pace effectively.
Akharraz tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Emperor's elbow.
Akharraz can't find room to land a body shot as Emperor controls the action.
Emperor avoids a wild elbow strike from Akharraz.
A short right from Akharraz.
Emperor blocks the elbow strike.
Akharraz swings wildly with an uppercut but Emperor uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akharraz has a couple of punches blocked by Emperor.
Akharraz lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Emperor is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Akharraz lands a left hand.

Emperor is rocked!
Akharraz tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Emperor's elbow.
Akharraz misses with a punch to the body.
Emperor taking a breather.
Akharraz tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Emperor's elbow.
Akharraz leaning against his opponent.
A short left from Akharraz.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Osama Akharraz dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Fedor Emperor's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Emperor misses with an uppercut.
Akharraz throws a nice head kick!
Emperor is still on wobbly legs! Can Akharraz finish him?
Emperor looks to throw the jab but Akharraz is out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Emperor. Akharraz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Akharraz circles and sees the opportunity to plant his feet and throw a really nice straight left hand that drops Emperor to the canvas! Emperor doesn't know where he is but he's trying to survive - Akharraz keeps piling on the pressure and forces the referee to step in! This one is aaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Osama Akharraz!