PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Timmy Tank (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hiro Akiyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hiro Akiyama has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Tank
vs
Akiyama

180 cm
19
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
166 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Timmy Tank!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiro Akiyama!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Hirohito Nitta and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tank lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Tank wants to clinch up but Akiyama keeps it at a distance.
Akiyama wants to clinch

and Tank counters by clinching up.

Tank breaks from the clinch.
Tank scores with a hook.
Akiyama moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Tank takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Tank will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Akiyama tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Tank counters with a left and a right that stings Akiyama.
Akiyama connects with a right hand. Tank shakes it off.
Tank misses with a body shot.
Tank throws a right and a left that Akiyama avoids nicely.
Akiyama tries to clinch up
and Tank counters with an outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tank misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Tank circles away from the clinch attempt

so Tank counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Akiyama wants to stand but Tank is controlling the position.
Tank would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
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.
Akiyama is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tank is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tank wants to stand but Akiyama has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Tank is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Akiyama wants to stand and escape but Tank is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tank seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Akiyama cracks Tank with a good jab.
Akiyama is looking to clinch but Tank is avoiding it.
Akiyama tries to bum rush Tank with a series of wild strikes but Tank uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Akiyama closes the distance looking to clinch
and Tank counters with a nice leg kick.
Akiyama dodges the punch combination from Tank.

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.
Akiyama falls off balance throwing a combination

and Tank counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Tank wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Akiyama wants to break free but Tank has control.

Akiyama breaks from the clinch.
Tank misses with a head kick.
Hiro Akiyama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Akiyama wants to clinch but Tank slips to the side
and Tank counters with a nice leg kick.
Tank thows a body shot but no joy.
Akiyama wants to clinch but Tank slips to the side
and Tank counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Akiyama connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Tank's hands.
Akiyama fails in his attempt to clinch.
Akiyama lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Akiyama is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Tank.
Akiyama on the wrong end of a nice hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hiro Akiyama will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Tank misses with the combination.
Akiyama takes a swing at Tank's ribcage but misses.
A low kick from Akiyama misses

and Tank counters with a nice double leg into side control. Akiyama won't be happy with that.

Tank decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Akiyama falls off balance throwing a combination
and Tank counters with a two punch combo.
A head kick by Akiyama misses
and Tank counters with a one-two to the body.
Tank misses with a looping right.
Akiyama throws a lazy head kick
and Tank counters with a two punch combo.
A punch combination from Tank misses.
Akiyama misses with a combination
and Tank counters with a head kick. That will keep Akiyama thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Nice body kick there by Tank.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akiyama swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Tank counters with a straight right hand.
Tank shoots in for a double leg but Akiyama sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tank throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Akiyama counters with a three punch combo that has Tank backing up. Tank nods at Akiyama to acknowledge the strikes.
Akiyama throws a head kick that misses
and Tank counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
A combination from Akiyama does no damage.
Akiyama throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Tank counters with a series of strikes. Akiyama will be more careful next time no doubt.
Akiyama tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Tank counters with a slapping leg kick.
Akiyama is breathing heavily.
Akiyama throws a lazy head kick
and Tank counters with a good low kick that Akiyama was not able to check.
Akiyama throws a sloppy head kick
and Tank counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hiro Akiyama is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tank falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Akiyama to counter with a crisp jab.
Tank throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Akiyama misses
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
and Tank counters with a stiff right hand.
Tank looks to land a combination but Akiyama avoids it well.
Akiyama darts in trying to clinch
and Tank counters with an inside leg kick.
Akiyama misses with a double jab.
Tank with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Akiyama misses with a double jab
and Tank counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Akiyama tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Akiyama throws a sloppy head kick

and Tank counters by clinching up.
Akiyama is trying to break the clinch but Tank has him pressed against the ropes.
Akiyama wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Tank has him pressed against the ropes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tank tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Akiyama smiles and moves away.
Tank throws a right and a left that both miss.

Tank clinches up against the ropes.
Tank tries to pull guard but Akiyama holds him up against the ropes and eventually Tank drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Timmy Tank. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tank has had enough of the clinch but Akiyama keeps him there for the moment.
Akiyama wants to break the clinch but can't.
Tank landing knees to the body.
Akiyama wants to get back to striking at distance but Tank won't allow it.
Tank wants a takedown.
Tank is looking to break free of the clinch but Akiyama has double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama wants to get back to striking at distance but Tank won't allow it.

Tank pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Akiyama misses with a double jab
and Tank counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Tank lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Tank lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Tank!
The fight stays on the outside here - Tank looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Akiyama throws a sloppy head kick
and Tank counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Tank fails to land with a series of punches.
Timmy Tank is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Akiyama throws a lazy head kick
and Tank cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Akiyama throws a lazy head kick
and Tank counters with an outside leg kick.
Tank fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timmy Tank dominated that second round.
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!

Tank shoots in looking for a takedown. Akiyama tries to sprawl out of it but Tank keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Akiyama manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A jab from Tank finds it's way through Akiyama's defenses.
Akiyama misses with a combination

and Tank counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Tank postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Akiyama to stand up.
Akiyama waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Tank.
Akiyama takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Akiyama tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Tank counters with a slapping leg kick.
Akiyama swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Tank moves into the clinch.
Tank tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Akiyama smiles and moves away.
A shot to the body from Akiyama misses
and Tank counters with a head kick. That will keep Akiyama thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tank misses with a two punch combination.
Tank misses with a series of wild punches.
Akiyama lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Tank throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Tank looks to land a left hand but Akiyama moved out of range nicely.
Hiro Akiyama seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tank shoots in but Akiyama avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Timmy Tank. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Akiyama tries to clinch up

and Tank counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Tank content to stall in guard here.
Tank won't allow Akiyama to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tank makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Tank controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Tank seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Akiyama for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tank gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Tank rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Akiyama moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Tank looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Akiyama is fending him off so far but Tank persists. Nope, Akiyama circles away and we're back to standing.

Akiyama forces Tank back against the ropes and clinches.
Tank tries to break the clinch but Akiyama is controlling the position.
Akiyama keeps control of Tank as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Akiyama is working Tank over against the ropes.
Tank doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tank fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tank is trying to break the clinch but Akiyama has him pressed against the ropes.
Tank keeps control of Akiyama as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Tank tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Akiyama just stands there and leans against the ropes.
Akiyama missing with knees to the body.
Akiyama can't break the clinch.

Tank breaks the clinch.
Akiyama tries to clinch up
and Tank counters with a body kick that stops Akiyama in his tracks momentarily.
Akiyama throws a hook but Tank blocks it.
Tank will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tank shoots in and drives through. Akiyama sprawls well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Timmy Tank showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Tank 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Timmy Tank!