PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Maverick (ranked 1142 p4p, 1891 weight class) and Ryu Akutagawa (ranked 153 p4p, 247 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Maverick
vs
Akutagawa

172 cm
22
161
8 - 2 - 0

190 cm
22
164
9 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

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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 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Daniel Maverick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ryu Akutagawa!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Illya Tyunina and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maverick avoids a kick to the body.
Maverick throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Akutagawa scores with a nice strike.
Maverick misses with the body kick
and Akutagawa counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Akutagawa moves out of range as Maverick throws a body kick.
A cross from Akutagawa lands.
Daniel Maverick seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Akutagawa tries to land a leg kick but Maverick saw it coming and moves away.
Akutagawa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Maverick.
Maverick lands with an overhand left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maverick misses with a body kick.
Maverick slips under a jab.
Maverick misses the body punch
and Akutagawa counters with a big head kick but Maverick shrugs it off.
Maverick staying out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akutagawa blocks a leg kick.
Maverick misses with a leg kick
and Akutagawa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Maverick gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Maverick moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Maverick keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Maverick steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Akutagawa. That one must have hurt.
Maverick looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Akutagawa looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Maverick displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Akutagawa throws out the jab.
Maverick thinks about countering with a body kick.
Akutagawa takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Akutagawa is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Maverick fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Akutagawa manages to avoid it.
Maverick chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Akutagawa can pounce on him.
Akutagawa has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Akutagawa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maverick tries a head kick but it misses.
Maverick keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Maverick misses with a lunging right hand
and Akutagawa counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Maverick dips to his left and cracks Akutagawa with an uppercut!
Maverick rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Akutagawa counters with a straight right hand.
Maverick throws a leg kick that misses.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Maverick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Akutagawa! But no joy.
Maverick fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Akutagawa has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Maverick fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Akutagawa has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Akutagawa moves out of range as Maverick throws a body kick.
Akutagawa throws a solid leg kick but Maverick takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Akutagawa.
A leg kick checked by Akutagawa.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akutagawa takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Akutagawa throws a body shot but no joy.
Akutagawa swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Maverick tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Akutagawa misses with a wild body shot.
Akutagawa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Maverick was well out of range. Poor timing from Akutagawa.
Akutagawa lands a body shot.
Maverick throws the kick towards the body but Akutagawa avoids it.
Maverick misses with a hook.
Maverick ducks under a wild hook from Akutagawa.
Maverick thinks about countering with a body kick.
Maverick takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Maverick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as Akutagawa blocks the low kick.
Maverick connects with an inside leg kick.
Akutagawa looks to score with a jab to the body but Maverick is just out of range.
Maverick thinks about countering with a body kick.
Akutagawa is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Akutagawa gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Akutagawa cracks Maverick with a right hand to the side of the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Maverick misses with a hook. Akutagawa ducked under it nicely.
Maverick misses with a shot to the body
and Akutagawa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Maverick scores with a kick to the midsection.
Akutagawa blocks a head kick by Maverick.
Akutagawa looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Maverick misses with a body shot.
A nice side step and Akutagawa releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Maverick lands a nice looking kick to the body. Akutagawa takes a step back to recover.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ryu Akutagawa dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Akutagawa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Maverick gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Maverick pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Akutagawa scores with a leg kick.
Maverick looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Akutagawa misses with an uppercut.
Maverick on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Ryu Akutagawa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Akutagawa explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Maverick uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Akutagawa.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maverick moves out of range of the body kick.
Nice defenses there by Akutagawa.
Akutagawa uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Maverick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Akutagawa, as that shot connected.
Maverick looks to land a body kick but Akutagawa moved away.
Maverick takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Akutagawa moves out of range of the body kick from Maverick.
Maverick lands a lovely overhand right.
Maverick lands a nice leg kick that just misses Akutagawa's sensitive parts.
Akutagawa takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Akutagawa throws a hook but Maverick avoids it easily.
Maverick scores with a sloppy right hand. Akutagawa should have avoided that one.
Maverick misses with a left hand
and Akutagawa makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Akutagawa will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Akutagawa swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maverick will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Akutagawa takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Akutagawa tries to land a body kick
and Maverick counters with a stiff right hand.
Maverick misses the shot to the body.
Nice defenses there by Akutagawa.
Akutagawa throws a looping overhand right but Maverick ducks down to avoid it.
Maverick misses with a head kick.
Maverick throws a nice inside leg kick.
Akutagawa chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Maverick can pounce on him.
Maverick misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Maverick misses with a body shot
and Akutagawa counters with a right hand to the body.
Maverick misses with a straight right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akutagawa misses with a wild body shot.
It appears Maverick was looking to counter with a kick there.
Maverick ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Maverick walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Akutagawa with a hook.
Akutagawa pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Akutagawa takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Maverick connects with an inside leg kick.
Maverick will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A left lands for Akutagawa.
Akutagawa throws a hook but Maverick avoids it easily.
Maverick connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maverick avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Maverick misses with a low kick.
Maverick lands a nice looking kick to the body. Akutagawa takes a step back to recover.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Akutagawa feints and then cracks Maverick's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Maverick down.
Akutagawa looks to land a left hand but Maverick moved out of range nicely.
Nice body punch from Maverick.
Akutagawa lands a glancing blow to the side of Maverick's head.
Maverick lands with a hook. Akutagawa tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Maverick dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Akutagawa. That did some damage!
Akutagawa throws a hook but Maverick avoids it easily.
Maverick slips a jab from Akutagawa.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ryu Akutagawa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Akutagawa misses with a hook
and Maverick counters with a straight right hand.
Maverick scores with a leg kick.
Maverick throws a push kick but Akutagawa slaps the foot to one side.
Akutagawa takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Maverick misses with a leg kick
and Akutagawa counters with a leg kick.
Maverick scores with a spinning back kick!
Maverick misses with a wild body shot.
Akutagawa has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Maverick.
Maverick shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Akutagawa misses with a head kick.
Maverick misses with an attempted mid kick.
It seemed like Akutagawa was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Maverick misses with a low kick.
Maverick steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Akutagawa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akutagawa fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A jab from Akutagawa misses.
Maverick lands with a thumping leg kick.
Akutagawa takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Akutagawa scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Maverick misses with a body punch
and Akutagawa counters with a thumping low kick.
Maverick throws a body punch but Akutagawa moves out of range.
Maverick throws a leg kick
and Akutagawa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Maverick missing with a left hand there. Akutagawa was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Akutagawa takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Maverick attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akutagawa misses with the body kick
and Maverick counters with a left to the body.
Maverick misses with a hook to the body
and Akutagawa counters with a right hand to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Maverick slips a straight right by Akutagawa.
Maverick fakes the leg kick and cracks Akutagawa in the body.
Nice defenses there by Maverick.
Maverick loads up on a big right hand but Akutagawa slips the punch.
Maverick tries a head kick but it misses.
Akutagawa appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Akutagawa lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Maverick throws a body shot but no joy.
Maverick swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maverick throws a right hand that Akutagawa ducks under and follows up with a left that Akutagawa also avoids with ease.
Akutagawa scores with a push kick.
Maverick fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Akutagawa manages to avoid it.
A nice leg kick lands there from Maverick.
The fighters circling - Maverick throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Akutagawa now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
That kick from Akutagawa tenderised Maverick's leg. Maverick is trying to keep his angry face on.
Maverick scores with a body shot.
Akutagawa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Maverick moves away.
Maverick throws a body punch but Akutagawa moves out of range.
Maverick slips under a jab.
Nice defenses there by Maverick.
An attempted straight right counter from Maverick misses the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maverick defending well as Akutagawa loads up on a big left hand.
Maverick misses with a low kick.
Daniel Maverick has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Some bone on bone action there as Akutagawa checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Maverick takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Good exchange - Akutagawa coming out on top.
Akutagawa lands a nice hook to Maverick's body. Maverick takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maverick throws a leg kick but Akutagawa moved away.
Maverick blocks a head kick by Akutagawa.
Maverick works Akutagawa's body with a nice hook.
Maverick throws a lazy body kick
and Akutagawa counters with a left to the body.
Ryu Akutagawa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Maverick lands a leg kick that knocks Akutagawa off balance momentarily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Daniel Maverick.
Well Akutagawa has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryu Akutagawa!
Ryu Akutagawa thanked the fans post fight for their support.