PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Atakan Akkaynak (ranked 986 p4p, 1680 weight class) and Khadem Abdul Karim (ranked 120 p4p, 205 weight class). Abdul Karim has chosen Window (Where The Sea Falls Forever) - Jucifer as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Akkaynak
vs
Abdul Karim

180 cm
26
195
8 - 2 - 0

190 cm
24
203
5 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Champion Apparel

Northern Zombie
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Atakan Akkaynak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Khadem Abdul Karim!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Jorge Garcia and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abdul Karim has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Abdul Karim there as he acknowledges the shot.
Akkaynak throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Akkaynak has been working on his boxing with his coaches at JAG Battle Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Akkaynak stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Akkaynak wants it to stay on the feet.
Akkaynak lands a jab to the nose.
Abdul Karim avoids a punch combination nicely.
Abdul Karim does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Akkaynak scores with a jab to the head.
Abdul Karim walks into a straight right hand from Akkaynak.
Akkaynak throws a hook but Abdul Karim blocks it.
Abdul Karim with the counter takedown but Akkaynak avoids it easily.
Akkaynak throws a looping overhand right but Abdul Karim ducks down to avoid it.
It seemed like Abdul Karim was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Akkaynak darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Akkaynak thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Abdul Karim's head.
Abdul Karim is looking for a sweep. Akkaynak is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Abdul Karim is pressing down on Akkaynak's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akkaynak wants to control from the top but Abdul Karim keeps moving.

Akkaynak avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Akkaynak trying to control the position from guard on top but Abdul Karim is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Abdul Karim is adopting a defensive guard.

Abdul Karim is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Abdul Karim throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Akkaynak with a nice head shot there.

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.
Abdul Karim keeping full guard, as Akkaynak tries to pass.
Abdul Karim is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Abdul Karim striking from his own guard.

Abdul Karim is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Akkaynak is aware though and is defending well.
Akkaynak controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Akkaynak trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Abdul Karim pulls Akkaynak in close to his closed guard and prevents Akkaynak from doing any damage or advancing position.
Abdul Karim trying to strike off his back.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Abdul Karim tries to close the distance and clinch but Akkaynak swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Abdul Karim looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Akkaynak!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akkaynak tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Abdul Karim wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Akkaynak on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Akkaynak is trying to improve his position.
Abdul Karim trying to control the position but Akkaynak is working away.
Abdul Karim scores with a couple of short elbows.
Akkaynak taking punishment in the form of punches.
You can see the frustration on Akkaynak's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akkaynak manages to get back to half guard.
Akkaynak is pressing down on Abdul Karim's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Akkaynak looking for a sweep. Not yet Akkaynak, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Abdul Karim avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Abdul Karim engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Abdul Karim pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Akkaynak is keeping the position for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Atakan Akkaynak dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Abdul Karim has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Akkaynak finds it's way round the side to connect with Abdul Karim's head.

Abdul Karim changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Akkaynak looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Akkaynak tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Akkaynak manages to get back to half guard.
Abdul Karim thows a huge punch but Akkaynak dodges it nicely.
Abdul Karim seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Akkaynak does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Abdul Karim 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.
Akkaynak wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Abdul Karim is looking for a kimura but Akkaynak is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Abdul Karim to get the leverage.
Akkaynak is looking to improve his position.
Akkaynak is working hard here to advance position.
Akkaynak gets back to full guard.
Abdul Karim lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Akkaynak is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Abdul Karim can do to turn this around?
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Akkaynak holds on and takes a little breather.
Akkaynak wants to improve his position but instead Abdul Karim has moved into half guard.

Abdul Karim is looking for a kimura here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akkaynak is looking to control Abdul Karim's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Akkaynak avoid being mounted?
Abdul Karim content to control rather than advance.
Akkaynak trying to control but Abdul Karim postures up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Abdul Karim lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Akkaynak manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Abdul Karim trying to control the position from guard on top but Akkaynak is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Akkaynak preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Abdul Karim won't allow Akkaynak to sweep him here.
Akkaynak wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Abdul Karim shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Akkaynak as he avoids it easily.
Akkaynak connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Abdul Karim is defended easily by Akkaynak.
A low kick from Akkaynak is predictable there

and Abdul Karim counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abdul Karim working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Akkaynak's thigh. Akkaynak counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Abdul Karim won't allow Akkaynak to sweep him here.

Akkaynak looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Akkaynak working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Abdul Karim doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Abdul Karim manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Akkaynak wants to sweep here but Abdul Karim controlling him for the moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Atakan Akkaynak will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Abdul Karim misses with a takedown attempt

and Akkaynak counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Akkaynak advances to half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Akkaynak connects with a nice short shot to Abdul Karim's temple.
Akkaynak is nestled in close to Abdul Karim, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Akkaynak tries to pass the half guard into mount. Abdul Karim knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Abdul Karim is trying to maintain the position but Akkaynak is very close to passing his half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Akkaynak stalling.
Akkaynak wants to lay and pray for a moment but Abdul Karim keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Abdul Karim looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Abdul Karim is looking to improve his position.
Akkaynak lands strikes from half guard.
Abdul Karim is not content to let Akkaynak control the position.
Abdul Karim moves into full guard.
Abdul Karim is trying to keep Akkaynak in close.
Khadem Abdul Karim has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Akkaynak throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Abdul Karim works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Akkaynak wants to control from the top but Abdul Karim keeps moving.

Abdul Karim has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Akkaynak can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Abdul Karim trying to keep a closed guard but Akkaynak is proving a slippery customer.
Akkaynak loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Abdul Karim walks into a left hand.
Abdul Karim's coach down at Brotherhood MMA was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Abdul Karim's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Abdul Karim shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Akkaynak counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akkaynak sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Abdul Karim looking to control but Akkaynak passes into half guard.
Akkaynak perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Abdul Karim has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Akkaynak is working away from the top position though.
Abdul Karim desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Akkaynak controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Abdul Karim makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Abdul Karim.
Akkaynak trying to control the position from guard on top but Abdul Karim is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Atakan Akkaynak is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Akkaynak slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Abdul Karim working for a triangle but Akkaynak defends it easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Akkaynak trying to control the position from guard on top but Abdul Karim is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Atakan Akkaynak showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Akkaynak has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27

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