PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Akira Konda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fred Garrido (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Konda
vs
Garrido

188 cm
21
200 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

187 cm
27
195 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Insanely flexible

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good gas tank

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akira Konda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Fred Garrido!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Kenichi Hosakawa and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Konda leaves Garrido with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Garrido shoots for a double leg takedown but Konda sprawls well. He's pushed Garrido's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Garrido shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Garrido was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Konda is trying desperately to improve position.
Konda wants to hold on but Garrido pushes him away.
Garrido pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.

Garrido jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Konda is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Konda and Garrido has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Garrido is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Konda is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Konda manages to work his way to half guard, despite Garrido's best efforts.
Garrido is thwarting Konda's attempts to control the position.

Konda is defending against the submission attempts here by Garrido.
Konda won't allow Garrido to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garrido is thwarting Konda's attempts to control the position.
Konda moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Garrido tries to free his leg and advance position but Konda is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garrido is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Konda looking to control.

Garrido is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Konda is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Konda has escaped and now he's on top!
Garrido keeping full guard, as Konda tries to pass.
Garrido looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Konda wants to control from the top but Garrido keeps moving.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Fred Garrido hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Garrido closes this distance looking for a takedown but Konda circles away.
Akira Konda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fred Garrido.

Konda shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Konda trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Garrido not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Garrido keeping moving, preventing Konda from controlling successfully.
Garrido 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Konda wants to pass the guard but Garrido is keeping the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Konda trying to control the position from guard on top but Garrido is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Garrido closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Garrido lands in his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Fred Garrido will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Konda tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Garrido swivels and escapes.

Konda scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Konda working the ground and pound but Garrido is defending the strikes.
Konda wants to take a breather but Garrido manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Konda.
Konda passes into half guard.
Konda wants to lay and pray for a moment but Garrido keeps working.
Garrido won't allow Konda to pass to mount.
Garrido is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Garrido wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garrido moves into full guard.
Konda wants to pass the guard but Garrido is keeping the position.
Garrido is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Konda is controlling him.
Garrido wants to sweep but no luck.
Konda stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Garrido swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Garrido wants to stand and escape but Konda is having none of it.
Konda postures up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Konda advances to half guard.
Konda works his way into side control.
Garrido tries to buck Konda off but Konda is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Konda goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Garrido rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Konda's guard! Nice work there by Garrido!
Garrido looking to pass the guard.
Garrido passes into half guard.

Garrido is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garrido frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Garrido moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Konda has worked his arm free - good work by Konda!
Garrido tries to advance position but instead Konda slips a leg back in to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Garrido is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Garrido is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Konda sees it coming and defends easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Konda trying to control but Garrido postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Akira Konda will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Garrido shoots in and drives through. Konda sprawls well.

Konda shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Garrido controlling the position for now.
Konda is keen to just control but Garrido is a slippery customer.
Akira Konda overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Konda is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Garrido doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Konda.
Konda trying to control from half guard but Garrido is working away.
Konda looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garrido is looking for a sweep. Konda is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Garrido moves into full guard.
Konda stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Garrido swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Konda won't allow Garrido to sweep him here.
Garrido looking to control.
Konda tries to free his leg and advance position but Garrido is retaining full guard.
Konda forces his way into half guard.
Konda wants to control but Garrido is keeping him busy.
Konda is just content to waste time from the top position. Garrido takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Konda stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Garrido swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Konda wants to control from the top but Garrido keeps moving.

Garrido has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Konda can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Konda wants to control from the top but Garrido keeps moving.
Konda pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Garrido is keeping the position for now.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Konda is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garrido tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Konda forces his way into half guard.
Konda is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Garrido reverses the position - he's now on top in Konda's guard.
Konda looking for a sweep. Not yet Konda, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garrido pushes down on Konda's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Garrido is looking to advance position but Konda won't allow it.
Konda is looking to control Garrido's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Konda avoid being mounted?
Garrido tries to pass to full mount but Konda defends it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Garrido passes to full mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
Akira Konda showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Konda 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Akira Konda!
Our winner, Akira Konda, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.