PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Atakan Akkaynak (ranked 3107 p4p, 3759 weight class) and Shoto Todoroki (ranked 415 p4p, 482 weight class). Shoto Todoroki acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Akkaynak
vs
Todoroki

180 cm
24
195
4 - 1 - 0

185 cm
21
200
4 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Atakan Akkaynak!
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, Shoto Todoroki!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Daniel Franklin and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akkaynak misses with the combination.
Todoroki changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Todoroki uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Akkaynak.
Akkaynak is looking to slow Todoroki down with leg kicks.
Todoroki looks to throw the jab but Akkaynak is out of range.
Akkaynak looks to land a right hand but Todoroki moved out of range.
Todoroki avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Akkaynak avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Todoroki is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Akkaynak throws a shot to the body.
Akkaynak thows a leg kick but Todoroki checks it

and Todoroki counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Todoroki looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Todoroki is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Akkaynak defends it well.
Akkaynak gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Akkaynak looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Todoroki loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Akkaynak is looking for a triangle but Todoroki pushes his legs off easily.
Todoroki engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Todoroki accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Todoroki avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Akkaynak trying to strike off his back.
Akkaynak keeping full guard, as Todoroki tries to pass.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Akkaynak is on top in guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akkaynak stays in close to Todoroki's body and controls the position.

Todoroki had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Akkaynak defends it easily.
Todoroki 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.

Todoroki is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Akkaynak is aware though and is defending well.

Todoroki is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Akkaynak pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Todoroki is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Akkaynak drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Todoroki dives on top into guard.

Akkaynak wants to sweep here but Todoroki controlling him for the moment.
Todoroki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Akkaynak swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Todoroki slips nicely into half guard.
Akkaynak is trying to get back to full guard.

Todoroki is working for a kimura but Akkaynak is defending it quite comfortably.
Akkaynak is trying to maintain the position but Todoroki is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akkaynak is not content to let Todoroki control the position.
Akkaynak keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Akkaynak works his way to full guard. Good work.
Todoroki wants to control from the top but Akkaynak keeps moving.

Akkaynak has his foot on Todoroki's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Todoroki works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Akkaynak keeping full guard, as Todoroki tries to pass.
Todoroki trying to control the position from guard on top but Akkaynak is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Akkaynak lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Atakan Akkaynak will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Akkaynak throws a hook to the side of Todoroki's head but Todoroki sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Todoroki walks into a stiff left hand from Akkaynak.
Todoroki tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Akkaynak paws at him with a jab and circles away.
It looked like Akkaynak was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Todoroki slips under a jab from Akkaynak.
Akkaynak connects with a looping right hand.
Nice defenses there by Akkaynak.
Akkaynak jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Todoroki changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
A big left from Akkaynak misses.
Todoroki is looking to clinch but Akkaynak is avoiding it.
Akkaynak looks to land a left hand but Todoroki moved out of range nicely.
A big left from Todoroki misses.
Akkaynak fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Todoroki manages to avoid it.
Atakan Akkaynak seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Todoroki slips under a jab from Akkaynak.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Todoroki defending well as Akkaynak loads up on a big left hand.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Akkaynak enables Todoroki to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Akkaynak manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Todoroki sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Akkaynak's guard.
Akkaynak tries to get to full guard but Todoroki has control of the leg.
Akkaynak is trying to maintain the position but Todoroki is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akkaynak tries to get to full guard but Todoroki has control of the leg.

Todoroki is looking for a kimura here.
Todoroki thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Todoroki stalling away here and it's allowed Akkaynak to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Akkaynak keeping moving, preventing Todoroki from controlling successfully.
Todoroki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Akkaynak is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Akkaynak looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Todoroki passes into side control.
Akkaynak manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Akkaynak drops an elbow to the side of Todoroki's head.
Akkaynak is thwarting Todoroki's attempts to control the position.
Akkaynak is looking to advance position but Todoroki won't allow it.
Shoto Todoroki has got the better of the ground game so far.
Todoroki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Akkaynak lands a nice short elbow.
Akkaynak is trying to control the action in half guard but Todoroki is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Todoroki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've been hearing that Akkaynak has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Todoroki is still trying to improve position.
Todoroki on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Akkaynak lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Todoroki tries to get to full guard but Akkaynak has control of the leg.
Akkaynak is nestled in close to Todoroki, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Akkaynak scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Todoroki manages to get to full guard.

Todoroki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Akkaynak makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akkaynak with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Akkaynak passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Todoroki taking punishment in the form of punches.
Akkaynak trying to control the position but Todoroki is working away.
Todoroki tries to buck Akkaynak off but Akkaynak is having none of it.
Todoroki struggling a bit here.
Akkaynak working the body and head with strikes.

Akkaynak working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Atakan Akkaynak dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Todoroki takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Akkaynak fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Todoroki.
Akkaynak clobbers Todoroki with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Akkaynak scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Todoroki rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Akkaynak counters with a nice uppercut.
Akkaynak swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Akkaynak throws a body punch but Todoroki moves out of range.
Todoroki closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Todoroki moves into the clinch successfully.
Akkaynak swings wildly with an uppercut but Todoroki uses good head movement to avoid it.

Todoroki manages to pull guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Todoroki has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Akkaynak can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Akkaynak looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Todoroki not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Akkaynak works over Todoroki with some ground and pound from guard.
Akkaynak looking to pass the guard.
Todoroki keeping moving, preventing Akkaynak from controlling successfully.
Akkaynak scoring with some ground and pound.
Todoroki is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Akkaynak is looking for a sweep. Todoroki is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Todoroki is working for a kimura but Akkaynak is defending it quite comfortably.
Akkaynak gets full guard.
Shoto Todoroki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Akkaynak is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Todoroki can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Todoroki trying to control but Akkaynak is working from the bottom.
Akkaynak looking to hit a scissor sweep but Todoroki is one step ahead there.
Akkaynak controls Todoroki momentarily but Todoroki frees himself.
Todoroki trying to control the position from guard on top but Akkaynak is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Todoroki advances position into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Todoroki goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Akkaynak has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Todoroki but great work by Akkaynak.

Akkaynak tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Akkaynak content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Todoroki struggling a bit here.
Todoroki is looking to regain half guard here but Akkaynak keeps moving and retains side control.
Todoroki manages to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akkaynak working over Todoroki with some ground and pound. Todoroki looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Akkaynak winds up and cracks Todoroki with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Akkaynak landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Todoroki wants to control but Akkaynak is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Todoroki is refusing to be controlled, as Akkaynak sits in half guard.

Todoroki actively working from the bottom here.
Todoroki wants to get back to full guard.
Akkaynak working over Todoroki with some ground and pound. Todoroki looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Todoroki looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Todoroki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Todoroki wants to control but Akkaynak is keeping busy.
Atakan Akkaynak is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Akkaynak perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Atakan Akkaynak showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Akkaynak, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Atakan Akkaynak!