PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kiso Akinaga (ranked 1666 p4p, 3207 weight class) and Steve Norton (ranked 220 p4p, 395 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Akinaga might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to The HU - Wolf Totem. Norton has chosen Notice Me as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Akinaga
vs
Norton

207 cm
24
273
10 - 9 - 0

195 cm
31
259
8 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kiso Akinaga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Steve Norton!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Anthony Taglia and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Norton.
Akinaga manages to work his way to half guard, despite Norton's best efforts.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Norton lands a nice short elbow.
Norton has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Akinaga wants to improve his position but Norton is controlling well.
Akinaga punching from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Norton landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Akinaga trying to hold on to Norton's head to control him but Norton postures up.
Norton seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norton looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Akinaga with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Norton stands up out of the half guard.
Norton's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Akinaga connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Norton scrambles back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norton drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Norton on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Akinaga looks to land a left hand but Norton moved out of range nicely.
Norton looks for a takedown but Akinaga sprawls well.
Akinaga moves into range and connects with a jab.
Norton throws a hook but Akinaga blocks it.
Norton takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Norton lands a nice shot that snaps Akinaga's head back.
Akinaga loads up on a big right hand but Norton slips the punch.
Norton connects with a nice looking jab.
Akinaga throws a series of punches but Norton avoids them all with ease.
Akinaga is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Norton tries to close the distance and clinch but Akinaga swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jab from Akinaga.
Akinaga connects with a crisp jab.
Norton is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Akinaga thuds a left hand into Norton's body.
Akinaga looks to land a right hand but Norton moved out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akinaga misses with a few strikes there.

Akinaga tries to keep at a distance but Norton has taken the fight into the clinch.
Norton struggles to land a body shot inside as Akinaga controls his hands.
Akinaga manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Akinaga is trying to break the clinch but Norton has him pressed against the cage.
Akinaga leaning against his opponent.
Norton is pushing Akinaga up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Akinaga misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Norton tries to pull guard but Akinaga forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Norton takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akinaga struggles to land a body shot inside as Norton controls his hands.
I was talking to Akinaga's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Akinaga is trying to break the clinch but Norton is controlling him.
Akinaga tries to break the clinch but Norton is controlling the position.
Norton blocking some punches.
Norton tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Akinaga smiles and moves away.
Kiso Akinaga has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Norton.
Akinaga misses the shot to the body.
Norton throws a push kick but Akinaga slaps the foot to one side.
Norton on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Akinaga lands a jab to the nose.
Norton tries to clinch up but Akinaga circles away and keeps his distance.
Akinaga works the jab nicely.
Norton avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Norton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Akinaga moves away.
Norton swings for the body but Akinaga moves out of range.
Akinaga throws a jab but it's blocked by Norton.
Kiso Akinaga seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Norton throws a looping overhand right but Akinaga ducks down to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akinaga jabs Norton to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Akinaga lands a nice shot that snaps Norton's head back.
Jab, jab by Akinaga - just one landing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Akinaga slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Akinaga is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Akinaga pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A combination from Akinaga does no damage.
Akinaga swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Akinaga goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Akinaga fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Norton throws a body punch but Akinaga moves out of range.
Norton shoots in for a double leg but Akinaga sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
The fighters circling - Akinaga throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Akinaga throws a body punch but Norton moves out of range.
Norton let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Norton scores with a decent looking hook.
Akinaga throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Akinaga digs a good hook to Norton's body.
Akinaga is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Akinaga misses with a series of wild punches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kiso Akinaga dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Akinaga throws a looping overhand right but Norton ducks down to avoid it.
Norton swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Norton misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Akinaga is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Norton can do to turn this around?
Norton takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Akinaga!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Akinaga!

It looks like Steve Norton has been cut.
Norton throws a low kick but Akinaga avoids it.
A slow jab from Akinaga misses its intended target.
Norton swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Norton closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Akinaga swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Norton misses with a low kick.
Nice shot by Norton.
Norton defending well as Akinaga loads up on a big left hand.
Norton misses with a low kick.
A jab from Akinaga does it's job there.
Akinaga scores with the left hand. Norton knows he should have avoided that one.
Akinaga misses with a series of wild punches.
Nice shot by Akinaga.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norton blocks a jab.
Norton scores with a decent looking hook.
Kiso Akinaga is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Akinaga just misses with a punch to the body.
Norton is looking to clinch but Akinaga is avoiding it.
Akinaga clobbers Norton with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Akinaga misses with a straight left.
Akinaga lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Akinaga throws a body punch but Norton moves out of range.
Norton swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Akinaga jabs at Norton's body.
A big left from Akinaga misses.
Norton keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Norton has taken the fight to the clinch.
Akinaga tries to circle away but Norton has him pinned against the cage.

Akinaga breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Akinaga scores with a nice right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Akinaga tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Norton was well out of range. Poor timing from Akinaga.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akinaga takes a swing at Norton's ribcage but misses.
Norton unleashes a big counter combination but Akinaga bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Akinaga swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Akinaga connects with a right hand. Norton shakes it off.
Akinaga just misses with a punch to the body.
Norton doesn't manage to clinch there - Akinaga circles away.
Akinaga lands a lovely overhand right.
Jab by Akinaga.
Akinaga throws a body punch but Norton moves out of range.
Norton takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Akinaga throws a body punch but Norton moves out of range.
Nice cross by Akinaga.
Akinaga scores with a body shot.
Norton slips a jab from Akinaga.
Akinaga moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Norton connects with a looping right hand.
Akinaga swinging wildly here.
Norton throws out a counter right but Akinaga avoids it with no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akinaga will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Norton misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Akinaga.
Norton tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Akinaga paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Akinaga takes one to the chin there.
Akinaga misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Norton.
Norton takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Akinaga looks to land a left hand but Norton moved out of range nicely.
Norton is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Akinaga with a body shot.
Akinaga is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Norton.

It looks like Kiso Akinaga has been cut.
Akinaga has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Norton finds it's way round the side to connect with Akinaga's head.
Norton lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Akinaga will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kiso Akinaga is winning the standup battle so far.
Norton throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Norton has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Akinaga misses with an uppercut. Norton saw that one coming.
Akinaga looks to score with a jab to the body but Norton is just out of range.
Norton throws a sloppy head kick and Akinaga moves out of range easily.
Norton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Akinaga moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Norton does no damage.
Akinaga lands a jab to the nose.
Akinaga jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Akinaga ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Akinaga misses with a looping left.
Norton avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Norton throws a head kick but Akinaga moves out of range.

Norton pushes Akinaga up against the cage in a clinch.

Norton breaks the clinch.
Akinaga misses the shot to the body.
Akinaga misses with a wild combination.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Akinaga jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Norton moves away from the strike by Akinaga.
Norton throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Akinaga lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Akinaga scores with a body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kiso Akinaga dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Norton uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Akinaga.
Akinaga moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Nice shot by Akinaga.
Norton defending well as Akinaga loads up on a big left hand.
Akinaga tries to bum rush Norton with a series of wild strikes but Norton uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Akinaga throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Norton tries to close the distance and clinch but Akinaga swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Akinaga connects with a looping right hand.
Norton throws a head kick that misses.
Akinaga on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Akinaga misses with a hook.
Akinaga tries to bum rush Norton with a series of wild strikes but Norton uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Akinaga throws a hook but Norton blocks it.
Akinaga thows a left - swing and a miss!
Akinaga misses with a body shot.
Norton lands with a nice body punch.
Norton looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norton fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Akinaga manages to avoid it.
Kiso Akinaga is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Akinaga misses with a wild combination.

Norton closes the distance and pushes Akinaga back into the cage.
Norton keeps control of Akinaga as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Norton breaks from the clinch.
Akinaga with a jab.
Norton with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Akinaga to score with a decent uppercut.
Akinaga punishes Norton's body with a nice straight punch.
Norton with the inside leg kick.
Norton looks to throw the jab but Akinaga is out of range.
Akinaga misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Norton.
Nice shot by Akinaga.
Norton uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Akinaga has time to react.
Akinaga fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Norton manages to avoid it.
Norton uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Akinaga.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Norton scoring well with a low kick there.

Norton closes the distance and clinches.

Norton drags the fight down to the ground.
Norton working a defensive guard here.
Akinaga looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Akinaga avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Norton wants to get back to his feet but Akinaga is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Akinaga gets to his feet - Norton follows without any prompting.
Norton has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Akinaga throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Akinaga throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Akinaga ducks right into an uppercut from Norton.
Norton throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Akinaga.
Akinaga misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Akinaga misses with a few strikes there.
Akinaga lands a jab to Norton's midsection.
A looping hook to the body misses from Norton. Akinaga does a little dance to reset his feet.
Norton keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Akinaga.
Norton fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Akinaga manages to avoid it.
Norton takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Akinaga fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akinaga jabs Norton to the body, keeping him at a distance.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Norton steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Akinaga.
Norton swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A big right from Norton misses.
Norton stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Akinaga uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Norton has time to react.
Akinaga misses with a wild combination.
Akinaga throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Akinaga scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Akinaga stuffs the takedown attempt from Norton. Norton gets slowly back to his feet.
Akinaga with a hook.
Steve Norton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Akinaga lands with a right hand.
Norton misses with the combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kiso Akinaga showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Akinaga, 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kiso Akinaga!
A very excited looking Kiso Akinaga made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
In defeat, Steve Norton stepped up to the mic, saying 'I will come back stronger than ever to smash whatever I need to smash to win again.'.