PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hunter Akbar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ari Velazquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Velazquez is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Since the Flood- "Valor and Vengeance. Hunter Akbar is staring across the ring at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Akbar
vs
Velazquez

188 cm
25
199 lbs
12 - 1 - 0

195 cm
27
200 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $150

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hunter Akbar!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ari Velazquez!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akbar throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Velazquez swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Akbar turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Akbar steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Velazquez.
Velazquez is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Akbar moves out of range of the strikes.
Velazquez just misses with a punch to the body.
Velazquez throws a big shot that misses.
Velazquez avoids the body shot from Akbar.
Velazquez lands with a shot to the body.
Akbar tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Velazquez misses with a two punch combination.
Velazquez swinging wildly here.
A nice inside leg kick there by Akbar. That's going to slow Velazquez down.
Akbar rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Velazquez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Akbar tries to clinch up but Velazquez circles away and keeps his distance.
Akbar misses with a low kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Akbar gets a clinch.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akbar misses with a body punch.
Velazquez prevents the takedown attempt.
A hook to the body from Akbar.
Akbar is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Velazquez is defending well.
Akbar works on Velazquez's body with a couple of short punches.

Akbar works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Akbar in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Akbar accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Akbar sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Velazquez's guard.
Akbar throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Akbar is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Velazquez doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Akbar.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Well, if Akbar is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez trying to control here.

Akbar is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's four 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.
Velazquez wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Akbar is looking to take a break and control but Velazquez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Akbar missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Akbar uses his free foot to push down on Velazquez's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Velazquez.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Akbar wants to control the pace but Velazquez is squirming around nicely.
Akbar throwing strikes here but Velazquez is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Velazquez blocking the ground and pound.
Akbar punching from mount but Velazquez doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Akbar prevents Velazquez from getting the reversal.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez blocking the ground and pound.
Velazquez is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Akbar unloads with some shots from mount but Velazquez bucks and avoids them well.
Akbar punching from mount but Velazquez doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Akbar with the ground and pound from mount.
Akbar has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Akbar throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Akbar lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Velazquez is squirming around, avoiding Akbar's attempts to control the action.

Akbar jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Velazquez is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Velazquez and Akbar has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Velazquez on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Akbar throwing strikes but Velazquez manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Akbar regains half guard.
Akbar makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Akbar.
Velazquez looking to pass the guard.
Velazquez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Akbar. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
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!

Velazquez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Velazquez postures up.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Akbar tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hunter Akbar dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Akbar slips a jab from Velazquez.
Ari Velazquez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Akbar fails with a takedown attempt.
A big left from Velazquez misses.

Akbar dives in and scores a takedown into Velazquez's guard.
Akbar tries to free his leg and advance position but Velazquez is retaining full guard.
Akbar looking to sit in guard and control but Velazquez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Velazquez stopping the sweep attempt from Akbar.

Akbar has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Velazquez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akbar keeping moving, preventing Velazquez from controlling successfully.
Akbar trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Akbar wants to sweep here but Velazquez controlling him for the moment.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Ari Velazquez has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Akbar slips under a jab.
Akbar moves in looking to clinch but Velazquez pushes him off.
Velazquez chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Akbar can pounce on him.
Akbar showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Velazquez.
Velazquez looks to score with a jab to the body but Akbar is just out of range.
Akbar keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Velazquez.
Akbar explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Velazquez misses with a looping left.
Akbar attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Velazquez listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez misses with a hook.
Velazquez throws a lazy uppercut

and Akbar counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Akbar.

Akbar pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Velazquez lands a nice looking body shot.
Velazquez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Akbar clinches up with Velazquez and pushes him back against the ropes.

Akbar gets control of Velazquez's arms and successfully pulls guard. Akbar will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Akbar looking for a sweep. Not yet Akbar, not yet.
Hunter Akbar overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Akbar bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Velazquez's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akbar controls from within his opponent's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Akbar accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Akbar wants to pass the guard but Velazquez is keeping the position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ari Velazquez wasn't active enough on the ground.
Akbar is looking to chop away at Velazquez's legs.
Akbar closes this distance looking for a takedown but Velazquez circles away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Akbar closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Velazquez misses its intended target.
Velazquez misses with a straight right.
Velazquez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Akbar manages to avoid it.
Akbar dodges the punch combination from Velazquez.
Akbar takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Ari Velazquez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Akbar changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Velazquez looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Akbar tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
The ground and pound from Akbar seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Akbar trying to control the position but Velazquez is working away.

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

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez dodges the ground and pound from Akbar.
Akbar lands a decent elbow from side control.
Akbar throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Velazquez takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Akbar looking to control but instead Velazquez has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Velazquez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Akbar.
Akbar thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Velazquez's head.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Velazquez can do anything to dispel that myth.

Akbar 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.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Akbar lands strikes from half guard.

Akbar is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Velazquez doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Akbar.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Akbar working Velazquez over with strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Akbar wants to take a breather but Velazquez is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hunter Akbar dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Velazquez misses with an uppercut
and Akbar counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Akbar walks into a left hand.
Akbar takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Akbar takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Velazquez lands with an overhand left.
Velazquez scores with a jab to the jaw.
Akbar slips a straight right by Velazquez.
Velazquez thuds his right hand into Akbar's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Akbar ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Velazquez looks to throw the jab but Akbar is out of range.
A decent looking cross lands there for Velazquez.
Velazquez misses the jab.

Akbar is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Velazquez's half guard.
Akbar wants to free his trapped foot but Velazquez is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akbar sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Velazquez defending well though.
Akbar throwing shots but Velazquez is blocking nicely.
Akbar thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Akbar content to control rather than advance.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Velazquez tries to get to full guard but Akbar has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ari Velazquez.
A combination from Velazquez does no damage.
Akbar staying out of range there.
Velazquez looks to throw the jab but Akbar is out of range.
Akbar tries to move into range but Velazquez moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Akbar moves out of range of the strikes.
Velazquez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Akbar circles away quickly and effectively.
Velazquez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Velazquez looks to land a left hand but Akbar moved out of range nicely.
Akbar fails with an attempt to clinch.
Velazquez throws an overhand right that lands on Akbar's shoulder, as Akbar tries to avoid the shot.
Akbar uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Velazquez.
Ari Velazquez seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Akbar moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akbar is looking to take this one to the mat.
Akbar misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Akbar works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Velazquez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Akbar tries to free his leg and advance position but Velazquez is retaining full guard.
Akbar trying to control the position from guard on top but Velazquez 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.
Velazquez throws a body punch but Akbar moves out of range.
Velazquez lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Velazquez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Velazquez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Akbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akbar uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Velazquez.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Velazquez.
Velazquez dodges the punch combination from Akbar.
Velazquez swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Jab by Velazquez.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Velazquez throws a right hand that misses
and Akbar counters with a leg kick.
Velazquez might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Akbar fails with a takedown attempt.
Akbar lands a right hook to the body.
Velazquez's corner calls for a 1-2. Velazquez obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Velazquez throws a right and a left that Akbar avoids nicely.
Velazquez moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Velazquez misses with a two punch combination.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Akbar. Velazquez shrugs it off though.

Akbar gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Akbar is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Akbar looking to slow down the pace here.
Velazquez wants to break the clinch but can't.
A right hand to the body from Akbar.
Akbar scores with a hook to the body.
Akbar just leaning against Velazquez, taking a breather.
Velazquez is trying to push Akbar away but Akbar has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.

Akbar gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Akbar scoring with some ground and pound.
Akbar won't allow Velazquez to get back to his feet.

Akbar thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Akbar working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
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!
Akbar wants to control from the top but Velazquez keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Akbar uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Ari Velazquez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Akbar.
Velazquez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Akbar.
The fight stays on the outside here - Akbar looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Akbar shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Velazquez's guard.
Akbar postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Akbar trying to control the position from guard on top but Velazquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Akbar is controlling him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Hunter Akbar.

Velazquez gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Akbar to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Akbar stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Velazquez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hunter Akbar is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Akbar throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Akbar throws a big right hand that misses.

Velazquez looking for a guillotine here but Akbar defends easily.
Akbar looking to pass the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hunter Akbar showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Akbar, 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Hunter Akbar!
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Hunter Akbar!
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight for Hunter Akbar!

Hunter Akbar wins by unanimous decision!
Hunter Akbar is the new middleweight champion!
Hunter Akbar decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.