PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Itzik HaKotesh (ranked 4312 p4p, 4261 weight class) and Sijbrand Akkersdijk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

HaKotesh
vs
Akkersdijk

175 cm
25
135
1 - 0 - 0

181 cm
25
144
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Itzik HaKotesh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sijbrand Akkersdijk!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Igor Prikhodko and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akkersdijk has a takedown stuffed.
Akkersdijk throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
HaKotesh slips under a jab from Akkersdijk.
Akkersdijk misses with the combination.
HaKotesh tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
HaKotesh punishes Akkersdijk's body with a nice straight punch.

HaKotesh darts in and clinches Akkersdijk up against the cage.

HaKotesh breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from HaKotesh.
Akkersdijk drops down looking to force a counter takedown but HaKotesh defends it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Akkersdijk lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
HaKotesh staying out of range there.
Akkersdijk misses with a straight left.
HaKotesh half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akkersdijk throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
HaKotesh seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Akkersdijk throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and HaKotesh counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
HaKotesh uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Akkersdijk.
Akkersdijk jabs HaKotesh right on the nose. HaKotesh blinks but takes it well.

HaKotesh closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
HaKotesh is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Akkersdijk can't do much from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Akkersdijk stops HaKotesh from passing to mount.
HaKotesh working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akkersdijk tries to buck HaKotesh off but HaKotesh is having none of it.

HaKotesh thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

HaKotesh working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
HaKotesh wants to control but Akkersdijk is keeping him busy.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
You can see the frustration on Akkersdijk's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akkersdijk gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Akkersdijk is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but HaKotesh pulls his head out easily.
HaKotesh is thwarting Akkersdijk's attempts to control the position.
HaKotesh content to control rather than advance.
Akkersdijk wants to control but HaKotesh is keeping busy.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
HaKotesh trying to pass the guard but Akkersdijk defending well.

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.
HaKotesh looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
HaKotesh uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Akkersdijk.
Akkersdijk connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between HaKotesh's hands.
Akkersdijk blocks a head kick by HaKotesh.

HaKotesh closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Akkersdijk looking for subs from the bottom but HaKotesh mounts him!
Akkersdijk is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
HaKotesh really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Akkersdijk is trying to escape the mount.
HaKotesh with a couple of short strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Itzik HaKotesh dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

HaKotesh fails with a takedown attempt.

HaKotesh closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Akkersdijk manages to get back to half guard.
Akkersdijk is trying to maintain the position but HaKotesh is very close to passing his half guard.
HaKotesh keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Akkersdijk actively working from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

HaKotesh is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Itzik HaKotesh overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
HaKotesh uses his free foot to push down on Akkersdijk's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Akkersdijk.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akkersdijk sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
HaKotesh performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Akkersdijk is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but HaKotesh pulls his head out easily.
HaKotesh tries to pass the half guard into mount. Akkersdijk knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Akkersdijk trying to hold on to HaKotesh's head to control him but HaKotesh postures up.
HaKotesh wants to pass the guard but Akkersdijk is defending well.

That's two 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.

HaKotesh is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Akkersdijk wants to get back to full guard.
HaKotesh looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

HaKotesh is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Akkersdijk sees it coming and defends easily.
Akkersdijk keeping control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akkersdijk slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
HaKotesh is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Akkersdijk can do to turn this around?
HaKotesh looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Akkersdijk is looking for a triangle but HaKotesh pushes his legs off easily.
Akkersdijk keeping moving, preventing HaKotesh from controlling successfully.
HaKotesh has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

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.
Akkersdijk looking to control.

Akkersdijk looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Akkersdijk has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
HaKotesh wants to control from the top but Akkersdijk keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Itzik HaKotesh dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Akkersdijk stuffs the takedown.

HaKotesh closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Akkersdijk did well to prevent HaKotesh getting side control.
Akkersdijk is not content to let HaKotesh control the position.

HaKotesh looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
HaKotesh 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.
HaKotesh wants to stand up but Akkersdijk is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
HaKotesh is nestled in close to Akkersdijk, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Akkersdijk looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Akkersdijk regains full guard. Nicely done.
HaKotesh works over Akkersdijk with some ground and pound from guard.

Akkersdijk is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Akkersdijk has HaKotesh pulled in close to control his posture.
HaKotesh trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

HaKotesh drops back, looking for a kneebar! Akkersdijk looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Akkersdijk looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Akkersdijk!

Akkersdijk goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, HaKotesh rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Akkersdijk's guard! Nice work there by HaKotesh!

Akkersdijk has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but HaKotesh can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Akkersdijk takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
HaKotesh is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Akkersdijk looking for submissions from the bottom but instead HaKotesh passes into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akkersdijk taking punishment in the form of punches.
HaKotesh wants to control but Akkersdijk is keeping him busy.
Sijbrand Akkersdijk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Akkersdijk wants to control but HaKotesh postures up.
HaKotesh wants to control but Akkersdijk is keeping him busy.

HaKotesh stands up and beckons Akkersdijk to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

HaKotesh decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
HaKotesh is taking a breather. Akkersdijk 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.
Akkersdijk is looking to control HaKotesh's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Akkersdijk avoid being mounted?

Akkersdijk is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but HaKotesh pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
HaKotesh content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Itzik HaKotesh is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
HaKotesh working Akkersdijk over with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Itzik HaKotesh showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for HaKotesh, 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight for Itzik HaKotesh!
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight for Itzik HaKotesh!
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight for Itzik HaKotesh!

Itzik HaKotesh wins by unanimous decision!