PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Martin Metaxa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergei Ak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Metaxa's entrance music is •99• The Haunted🔫. A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Metaxa
vs
Ak

185 cm
26
218 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

189 cm
35
222 lbs
18 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Lethal high kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Martin Metaxa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 13 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergei Ak!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Metaxa thows a body shot but no joy.
Sergei Ak seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Metaxa gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Ak to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Ak wants to control from the top but Metaxa keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ak missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ak is fighting to break Metaxa's control of his arms but Metaxa is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Metaxa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Metaxa wants to get back to his feet but Ak is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Metaxa controlling Ak's posture.
Ak passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ak is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Metaxa pushes Ak off looking to stand but Ak dives back in and keeps control.
Ak tries to pass the half guard into mount. Metaxa knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Ak wants to take a breather but Metaxa is having none of it.
Ak sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Metaxa defending well though.
Metaxa wants to improve his position but Ak is controlling well.
Ak has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ak is looking to advance position but Metaxa won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Metaxa looks like he's trying to stand up.
Ak wants to take a breather but Metaxa is having none of it.
Metaxa keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ak missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Metaxa looks like he's trying to stand up.

Ak is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Metaxa makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Metaxa.
Ak tries to free his leg and advance position but Metaxa is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Metaxa keeping moving, preventing Ak from controlling successfully.
Metaxa wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

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

Ak instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Metaxa tries to throw a body punch but Ak avoids it by throwing Metaxa back against the cage.
Ak lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Metaxa struggles to land a body shot inside as Ak controls his hands.
Metaxa lands an elbow that stopped Ak in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Sergei Ak has been cut.
Ak misses with a punch on the inside.
Ak misses with a hook from the clinch.
Metaxa misses with a hook to the ribs.
Metaxa throws a head punch that misses.
Ak lands with a right to the head.

Ak jumps into guard, dragging Metaxa to the mat.

Ak has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Metaxa is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Ak.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ak stops Metaxa from passing to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Ak dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sergei Ak's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Metaxa looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Ak showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Metaxa.
Ak fails with a takedown attempt.

Ak forces Metaxa back against the cage and clinches.
Ak misses with a hook to the ribs.

Ak drags the fight down to the ground.
Metaxa is looking to stand up but Ak won't let him.
Metaxa forces his way into half guard.
Metaxa is controlling the pace.
Ak won't allow Metaxa to pass to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Metaxa passes the guard and advances to mount!
Ak really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Metaxa controlling his opponent.
Ak slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Ak looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Ak actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ak tries to roll over but Metaxa keeps him under control.
Ak wants to get back to full guard but Metaxa has passed into side control.
Ak is looking to regain half guard here but Metaxa keeps moving and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on Ak's face as Metaxa controls the position.
Metaxa has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Ak tries to improve his position but instead Metaxa has taken his back!
Metaxa controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
I really don't envy Ak right now.
Ak is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Metaxa has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Ak is trying to break free.
Metaxa biding his time, controlling Ak.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ak tries to roll but Metaxa sticks to his back.
Metaxa controlling from the back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
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!

The ref stands the fighters back up. Martin Metaxa wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Ak closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martin Metaxa dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Sergei Ak's cut.
That's time! Metaxa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Ak.

Ak looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Metaxa has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ak is working away from the top position though.

Ak seems to be working for a kimura but Metaxa defends the submission attempt.
Ak prevents Metaxa from improving his position.
Ak not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Martin Metaxa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Metaxa is trying to stand.
Ak looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Metaxa keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Ak wants to pass to mount but Metaxa is defending the position.
Metaxa is holding on to half guard well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Martin Metaxa wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Ak misses with a takedown attempt - Metaxa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Metaxa throws a head kick but Ak moves out of range.

Ak fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Metaxa, pushing him back against the cage.
Metaxa lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A right handed body shot lands from Metaxa.
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!
Metaxa lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ak backwards.
Ak tries to throw a body punch but Metaxa avoids it by throwing Ak back against the cage.
Metaxa gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ak.
Ak takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Metaxa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Metaxa blocking some punches.
Metaxa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A shot in the inside from Metaxa.

Ak gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Ak trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ak preventing the sweep.
Ak throwing strikes from guard but Metaxa blocks nicely.
Metaxa pulls Ak in close to prevent any damage.
Ak throwing strikes but missing.
Ak wants to control from the top but Metaxa keeps moving.
Metaxa lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ak!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Metaxa trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ak is wriggling around trying to escape.
Metaxa trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Metaxa controlling his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Metaxa prevents Ak from getting the reversal.

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 Martin Metaxa.
I think Metaxa has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Martin Metaxa!
Martin Metaxa seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.