PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yoshihiro Akiyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and King Justus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Justus has chosen Release Yo Delf as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Yoshihiro Akiyama could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to King Justus's chin.

Akiyama
vs
Justus

178 cm
20
190 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

190 cm
26
185 lbs
8 - 6 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Yoshihiro Akiyama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, King Justus!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Ian Loll and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Justus showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Akiyama.
Justus shoots for a takedown but Akiyama saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Akiyama connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Akiyama displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Justus.
A combination from Akiyama does no damage.
A jab from Justus misses.
Akiyama misses with a double jab.
Justus dodges the punch combination from Akiyama.
Akiyama swinging wildly here.
Akiyama fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Justus fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Yoshihiro Akiyama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of King Justus.
Akiyama misses with a few strikes there.
Justus shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Akiyama as he jumps to the side.
Nice takedown defense from Akiyama. No joy for Justus on that attempt.
Akiyama looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Justus doesn't manage to clinch there - Akiyama circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akiyama looks to land a combination but Justus avoids it well.
Yoshihiro Akiyama is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Some wild striking there from Akiyama.
Akiyama lands with a nice combination. Justus backs away looking to recover.
Akiyama throws a right and a left that Justus avoids nicely.
Akiyama stuffs the takedown attempt from Justus. Justus gets slowly back to his feet.
Akiyama misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Left hook, right uppercut from Akiyama.
Justus misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Akiyama fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Justus shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Akiyama but Akiyama pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Akiyama misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Justus tries to score a power double leg takedown but Akiyama sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Justus somewhat.
Akiyama misses with a few strikes there.
Justus shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Akiyama as he avoids it easily.
Justus looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Justus is trying hard to land a takedown here. Akiyama sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Akiyama misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Akiyama throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Akiyama tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Justus paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Akiyama throws a series of punches but Justus moves out of range.
Akiyama fails to land with a series of punches.
Akiyama swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Akiyama rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Justus moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Yoshihiro Akiyama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice cross by Akiyama.
Justus throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Akiyama jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Akiyama.
Akiyama fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Akiyama with a jab.
Justus is trying desperately to land a takedown but Akiyama is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Justus.
Justus keeps the fight on the outside.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Justus is defended easily by Akiyama.
Akiyama throws a right and a left that Justus avoids nicely.
A combination from Akiyama does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Akiyama duly obliges.
Justus shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Akiyama sprawls well. Akiyama wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Justus gets slowly back to his feet.

Akiyama gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Justus to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Justus trying to control the position from guard on top but Akiyama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Akiyama wants to get back to his feet but Justus is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Justus is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Justus wants to control from the top but Akiyama keeps moving.
Justus in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Justus trying to control but Akiyama is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshihiro Akiyama dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Akiyama lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Akiyama throws a series of punches but Justus moves out of range.
Akiyama tries to clinch up but Justus circles away and keeps his distance.
Akiyama tries to clinch up

and Justus counters by moving into the clinch.
Justus drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Akiyama gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Justus turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Akiyama avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Justus.
Akiyama tries to escape but Justus is in control.

Justus is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Akiyama knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Justus wants to lay and pray for a moment but Akiyama keeps working.
Akiyama wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Akiyama dodges the ground and pound from Justus.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Justus tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Justus has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Akiyama is pushing Justus's head away, looking to escape. Justus manages to hold on to the position though.
Justus advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Justus sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Justus working the ground and pound effectively.
Justus controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Akiyama knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Justus on the ground.
Justus is in the full mount, landing strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

King Justus showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Akiyama's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Justus tries to clinch there but Akiyama circles away.
Nice takedown defense from Akiyama. No joy for Justus on that attempt.
Justus on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Akiyama lands with an uppercut that bounces Justus off the cage and back into rage.
Justus dodges the punch combination from Akiyama.
Justus shoots for a double leg takedown but Akiyama sprawls well. He's pushed Justus's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Justus shoots for a takedown but Akiyama saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Yoshihiro Akiyama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of King Justus.
Akiyama throws a left and a right that both miss

and Justus counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Akiyama wants to stand and escape but Justus is having none of it.
Justus pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Akiyama is keeping the position for now.
Akiyama might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Justus in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akiyama wants to stand up but Justus is controlling him.
Justus trying to control but Akiyama is working from the bottom.
Justus advances position into side control!

Justus is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Akiyama has escaped the position, nice work there.
Justus takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Akiyama stops Justus from passing to mount.
Justus wants to lay and pray for a moment but Akiyama keeps working.
Justus is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Akiyama will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Justus working the head and body with strikes.
Akiyama is not content to let Justus control the position.
Akiyama wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Justus advances to full mount.
Justus sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Justus scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Akiyama?

And that's the end of the fight!
King Justus comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Justus has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... King Justus!