PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Akins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leo Rodrigues (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Rodrigues's choice of entrance music: Save My Soul. Michael Akins could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Leo Rodrigues's chin.

Akins
vs
Rodrigues

180 cm
21
210 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
214 lbs
1 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Michael Akins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Leo Rodrigues!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Chris Saunders and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akins has his takedown stuffed
and Rodrigues counters with a three punch combo that has Akins backing up. Akins nods at Rodrigues to acknowledge the strikes.
Akins could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Akins throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rodrigues.
Rodrigues misses with a body kick.

Akins drives through and clinches with Rodrigues against the cage.
Rodrigues prevents the takedown attempt.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Akins.
Akins tries to pull guard but Rodrigues forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Akins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Akins is trying to pull guard but Rodrigues turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Akins tries for a takedown. No joy.
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!
Akins stalls.
Rodrigues is pressed up against the cage. Akins has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rodrigues down to the mat. Rodrigues avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akins tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rodrigues swivels and escapes.
Rodrigues shoots for a takedown but Akins saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rodrigues.
Rodrigues tries for a takedown but Akins sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Rodrigues shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Akins wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Akins trying to control here.
Akins makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Akins.

Rodrigues avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akins throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Rodrigues preventing the sweep.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Akins working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rodrigues doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rodrigues manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rodrigues would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Akins looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rodrigues looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akins keeping moving, preventing Rodrigues from controlling successfully.
Akins wants to sweep here but Rodrigues controlling him for the moment.
Rodrigues wants to control from the top but Akins keeps moving.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Leo Rodrigues wasn't active enough on the ground.

Rodrigues gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Akins postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Rodrigues is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Akins, into his guard.
Akins is pulling down on Rodrigues's head to control his posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues wanted to stand there but Akins had control of the position.

Akins had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rodrigues defends it easily.
Akins is trying to keep Rodrigues in close.
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.
Akins tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Akins dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rodrigues looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Akins looking to score a takedown here. Rodrigues is defending well but Akins drives through and ends up in Rodrigues's guard.
Michael Akins overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Akins trying to control but Rodrigues is working from the bottom.
Akins stands up out of Rodrigues's guard for a moment - Rodrigues manages to land a nice upkick.
Akins controlling from the top position.
Akins trying to control but Rodrigues is working from the bottom.
Akins controls from within his opponent's guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Akins with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akins postures up in Rodrigues's guard and throws a big left but Rodrigues blocks it.
Rodrigues can't keep his opponent in guard - Akins advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Rodrigues really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Akins. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

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

Akins is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rodrigues is staying active underneath Akins, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Rodrigues is looking for a sweep. Akins is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rodrigues trying to control from the bottom.

Akins is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rodrigues doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Akins.
Akins works his foot free and advances to mount.

Akins is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Rodrigues can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues tries to hold on but Akins postures up.

Akins with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Rodrigues keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Akins tries to control but Rodrigues wriggling away.
Rodrigues is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akins lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Akins raining down hammerfists from mount.
Akins controlling the pace for now.

Akins jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Rodrigues manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Akins is looking to take a break and control but Rodrigues is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Akins lands a decent elbow from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Akins dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Akins tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rodrigues paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Akins looks to score with a jab to the body but Rodrigues is just out of range.

Akins drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Akins advances to mount.
Akins looking to control but Rodrigues is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Akins is looking to work his way around to Rodrigues's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Akins with good strikes from the mount here!
Akins is landing with some decent strikes but Rodrigues is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigues manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Rodrigues is in trouble now - Akins has advanced to mount!

Rodrigues defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Akins.
Rodrigues is trying to escape the mount.
Akins moves to take his opponent's back.
Rodrigues breaks Akins's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rodrigues avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rodrigues stopping the sweep attempt from Akins.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Akins is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rodrigues is aware though and is defending well.
Rodrigues wants to control from the top but Akins keeps moving.
Akins looking to control.
Akins keeping moving, preventing Rodrigues from controlling successfully.

Rodrigues stands and steps away. Akins gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Michael Akins is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodrigues is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Akins's half guard.
Akins regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rodrigues looking to sit in guard and control but Akins gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Akins sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rodrigues's guard.
Akins seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rodrigues does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Akins is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rodrigues doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Akins.
Akins controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akins throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Akins trying to control from half guard but Rodrigues is working away.

Rodrigues is defending against the submission attempts here by Akins.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Akins tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rodrigues knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Akins showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Akins, 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 Josh West scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Akins!
Michael Akins decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.