PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cornell Harrell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shinji Akamatsu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Harrell
vs
Akamatsu

225 cm
24
151 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

170 cm
18
157 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cornell Harrell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinji Akamatsu!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Ren Mimura and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harrell shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Akamatsu pinned against the cage. Akamatsu gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Harrell will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Akamatsu throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Harrell was covering up waiting for the punch and Akamatsu finishes the takedown easily into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Akamatsu tries to free his leg and advance position but Harrell is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Akamatsu advances position into side control!
Akamatsu is looking to take a break and control but Harrell is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harrell gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Akamatsu throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Akamatsu is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Harrell wants to control but Akamatsu is keeping busy.

Harrell is defending against the submission attempts here by Akamatsu.

Akamatsu 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.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Akamatsu trying to control the action but Harrell is working from the bottom.

Akamatsu is looking for a kimura here.
Harrell tries to get to full guard but Akamatsu has control of the leg.
Harrell slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Harrell looking for a sweep. Not yet Harrell, not yet.
Akamatsu slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akamatsu takes a little break here. Harrell wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Harrell really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Akamatsu stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Harrell is rocked!
Harrell walks into a straight right, dropping him to the canvas! Akamatsu swarms him and finishes the fight with a hail of punches! What a brutal finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:32 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Shinji Akamatsu!