PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between DATU I (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kouske Akagi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

I
vs
Akagi

169 cm
18
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, DATU I !
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, Kouske Akagi!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Valeri Chadov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

I drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
I postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Akagi tries to buck I off but I is having none of it.
Akagi taking punishment in the form of punches.
I controls the position.
I landing a few strikes.
Check out the look on I 's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Akagi is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Akagi wants to get back to his feet but I drags him back down.
I throws a strike aimed at the side of Akagi's head but Akagi avoids it well.
I creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Akagi sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
I tries to score with some ground and pound. Akagi controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Akagi is looking to regain half guard here but I keeps moving and retains side control.
I looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Akagi is avoiding damage well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akagi tries to bench press I off him but I keeps the position.
I controls the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Akagi slips a jab and a cross from I .
Akagi misses with a takedown attempt

and I counters with a nice double leg into guard.
I preventing the sweep.
I slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Akagi is on top in guard.
Akagi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Akagi trying to control the position from guard on top but I is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
I keeping full guard, as Akagi tries to pass.
Akagi looks gassed!
Akagi is fighting to break I 's control of his arms but I is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Akagi wants to control from the top but I keeps moving.
I on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if I tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
I looking for a sweep. Not yet I , not yet.
Akagi trying to control the position from guard on top but I is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Akagi misses with a takedown

and I counters with a single leg into guard. Akagi didn't expect that.
I is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Akagi wants to sweep but no luck.
I connects with a couple of short punches.
I scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
I wants to control from the top but Akagi keeps moving.
I working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
I stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Akagi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
I with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
I postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
I is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
I thows a big elbow that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells I 's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
I scoring with some ground and pound.
I sitting in guard here, content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

DATU I dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Akagi tries to close the distance and clinch up but I swats him away and circles back towards the center.

I shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. I showed some decent athleticism there.
I thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Akagi's head.
Akagi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from I .
I wants to pass to mount but Akagi is defending the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
I scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Akagi is breathing heavily.
Akagi is trying to control but can't.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
I not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Akagi manages to get to full guard.
I wants to control from the top but Akagi keeps moving.

Akagi has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes I off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
A looping hook to the body misses from Akagi. I does a little dance to reset his feet.
Akagi shoots and misses

and I counters with a single leg into guard. Akagi didn't expect that.
I distracts Akagi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
I wants to control from the top but Akagi keeps moving.
I distracts Akagi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
I postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
I landing some decent shots from guard.
I passes into half guard.
I is keen to just control but Akagi is a slippery customer.
I is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Akagi taking some punishment here, with I in his half guard.
Akagi is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akagi taking some punishment here, with I in his half guard.
I landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Akagi is looking for a sweep. I is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Akagi throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and I manages to pass to side control.
I in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Akagi takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Akagi is looking for a sweep.

That's four 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.
I lands a decent elbow from side control.
I grinds an elbow into Akagi's temple.
I working the ground and pound from side control.
I trying to control the action but Akagi is working from the bottom.
I scores with punches from side control.
Akagi takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
I looking to control but instead Akagi has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Ground and pound from I .
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

DATU I dominated that second 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

I avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

I shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Akagi napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Akagi tries to buck I off but I is having none of it.
Akagi is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
I scores with a couple of short elbows.
I landing a few strikes.
I tries to advance to mount but can't.
I grinds an elbow into Akagi's temple.
I looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Akagi is avoiding damage well.
I lands a nice forearm strike.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
I wants to control but Akagi is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
I in side control lands a decent elbow.
Akagi is looking to regain half guard here but I keeps moving and retains side control.
Akagi is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Akagi is looking to reverse the position.
I in side control lands a decent elbow.
I looks up at the clock and then as Akagi takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, I smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
I scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Akagi to see if he's OK.
Akagi tries to bench press I off him but I keeps the position.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Akagi struggling a bit here.

That's two 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.
I is chipping away with strikes.
Akagi sneaks back into half guard.
Nice strikes from I there.
I throwing shots but Akagi is blocking nicely.
Akagi tries to kick I off but I keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
I looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Akagi with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Akagi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
I takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
I trying to advance position but Akagi counters by regaining guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akagi is trying to keep I in close.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Akagi with a poor takedown

and I counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by I .
I stops Akagi from standing up.
I throws a strike but Akagi rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
DATU I overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Akagi wants to control from the top but I keeps moving.
I can't keep his opponent in guard - Akagi advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Akagi is working for a submission of some sort.
I trying to control from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
DATU I showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... DATU I !