PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Kosmanov (ranked 729 p4p, 1160 weight class) and Jubei Akechi (ranked 93 p4p, 158 weight class). Vladimir Kosmanov could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Jubei Akechi's chin.

Kosmanov
vs
Akechi

180 cm
27
170
9 - 7 - 0

182 cm
23
159
8 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vladimir Kosmanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jubei Akechi!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Paul Aken and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Kosmanov as Akechi shoots in.
Kosmanov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Akechi.

Kosmanov fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Akechi to the ground. Kosmanov is now in Akechi's guard.
Akechi trying to control the position here.
Kosmanov preventing the sweep.
Kosmanov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kosmanov stands up over Akechi, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Akechi keeping moving, preventing Kosmanov from controlling successfully.
Akechi looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Kosmanov puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kosmanov controlling the action here.
Akechi tries to get to full guard but Kosmanov has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akechi moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Akechi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Akechi keeping moving, preventing Kosmanov from controlling successfully.
Kosmanov chips away with some ground and pound.
Akechi thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Kosmanov postures up and lands a big shot to Akechi's brow.
Kosmanov works over Akechi with some ground and pound from guard.
Akechi is trying to keep Kosmanov in close.
Kosmanov stopping the sweep attempt from Akechi.
Akechi is trying to control the position but Kosmanov postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kosmanov content to stall in guard here.
Kosmanov preventing the sweep.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kosmanov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kosmanov preventing the sweep.
Kosmanov working some strikes from top position.
Kosmanov postures up.
Kosmanov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Akechi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kosmanov stands up over Akechi, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Akechi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Akechi controls Kosmanov momentarily but Kosmanov frees himself.
Kosmanov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Akechi is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akechi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kosmanov with a nice head shot there.
Akechi working a defensive guard here.
Kosmanov lands a couple of elbows.
Kosmanov throws a big right hand that misses.
Akechi throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Kosmanov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Akechi controls Kosmanov momentarily but Kosmanov frees himself.
Kosmanov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akechi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kosmanov is one step ahead there.
Kosmanov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Kosmanov stopping the sweep attempt from Akechi.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Akechi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Akechi has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Kosmanov has passed into side control.
Akechi tries to bench press Kosmanov off him but Kosmanov keeps the position.
Kosmanov is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kosmanov lands an elbow.
Akechi gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Kosmanov dominated that round.
That's time! Kosmanov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kosmanov scores with a jab to the body.
Kosmanov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Akechi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kosmanov.
Akechi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kosmanov scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Akechi doesn't seem bothered though.
Kosmanov scores with a jab. Akechi acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Kosmanov swings for the body but Akechi moves out of range.
Kosmanov's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Kosmanov duly obliges.
Akechi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kosmanov is fending him off so far but Akechi persists. Nope, Kosmanov circles away and we're back to standing.
Kosmanov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Akechi feints the counter takedown.
Kosmanov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kosmanov seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Kosmanov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kosmanov takes a swing at Akechi's ribcage but misses.
Akechi feints the counter takedown.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kosmanov tries to work over Akechi's front leg with a kick but Akechi checks it.
Kosmanov misses with a looping right.
Kosmanov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Akechi can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akechi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kosmanov.
Akechi drops his hands momentarily and Kosmanov takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A shot to the liver by Akechi. Beautiful body shot.
Kosmanov misses the jab.
Kosmanov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kosmanov misses the jab.
Akechi staying out of range there.
Nice defenses there by Akechi.
Akechi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kosmanov was well out of range. Poor timing from Akechi.
Kosmanov misses the jab.
Akechi takes a swing at Kosmanov's ribcage but misses.
Kosmanov avoids the body shot from Akechi.
Kosmanov throws a hook but Akechi avoids it easily.
Kosmanov scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kosmanov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And Akechi tries to counter it with a takedown but Kosmanov pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akechi looks to score with a jab to the body but Kosmanov is just out of range.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Akechi.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kosmanov is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Akechi's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Akechi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kosmanov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kosmanov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Akechi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kosmanov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Akechi.
Kosmanov tries to roll over but Akechi keeps him under control.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Akechi connects with a nice short shot to Kosmanov's temple.
Akechi drops an elbow to the side of Kosmanov's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akechi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kosmanov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kosmanov is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Akechi scores with a couple of nice shots.
Akechi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kosmanov keeps working.
Akechi blocks the strikes from Kosmanov.
Akechi is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Akechi not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Vladimir Kosmanov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Akechi is controlling the pace.
Akechi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Akechi is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Kosmanov is looking for a sweep. Akechi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Akechi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kosmanov defending well though.
Akechi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kosmanov defending well though.
Akechi is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kosmanov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kosmanov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Akechi manages to get himself to full guard.

Akechi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kosmanov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Akechi trying to control the position.
Kosmanov is stalling in the full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Vladimir Kosmanov will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Akechi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Akechi changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Akechi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kosmanov.
Kosmanov slips under a jab from Akechi.
Akechi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kosmanov moves away.
Akechi slips a straight right by Kosmanov.
Kosmanov digs a good body shot into Akechi's ribs.
Kosmanov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Akechi moves away.
Kosmanov misses the jab.
Akechi fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Akechi decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Kosmanov keeping control of the position.
Akechi is stalling here. Kosmanov is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Akechi seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Kosmanov has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akechi is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Kosmanov off and has taken his back!
Akechi connects with a big shot to the side of Kosmanov's head.
Kosmanov is really stuck here.
Akechi landing with strikes.
Akechi scores with strikes from the back.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Akechi.
Akechi throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Akechi struggling to land strikes to the head as Kosmanov covers up.
Akechi missing with strikes from the back.
Kosmanov is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Akechi.
Akechi has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Kosmanov.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kosmanov wants to escape the position.
Kosmanov prevents Akechi from getting a body triangle.
Akechi lands strikes to the head.
Akechi tries to get the hooks in deep but Kosmanov pushed the leg off.
Kosmanov wants to control his opponent's hands but Akechi gets his hands free.
Kosmanov is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Akechi cracks Kosmanov with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Kosmanov from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Kosmanov trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Jubei Akechi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kosmanov breaks Akechi's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Akechi throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Akechi working a defensive guard here.
Kosmanov is working Akechi over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kosmanov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Akechi is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kosmanov defends well.
Akechi looking to control.
Akechi has momentary wrist control but Kosmanov slips an elbow through the middle.
Kosmanov wants to control from the top but Akechi keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akechi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Akechi keeping moving, preventing Kosmanov from controlling successfully.
Akechi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kosmanov connects with a couple of short punches.
Kosmanov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Kosmanov trying to control but Akechi is working from the bottom.

Kosmanov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kosmanov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

And that's the end of the fight!
Jubei Akechi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kosmanov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Vladimir Kosmanov!
A victorious Vladimir Kosmanov thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.