PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Grenado Explough (ranked 6141 p4p, 25467 weight class) and Pinheiro Akagi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys are coming into the fight with injuries so let's see if that has a bearing on the fight. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Explough
vs
Akagi

150 cm
18
300
3 - 2 - 0

200 cm
18
284
0 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Grenado Explough!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Pinheiro Akagi!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Bart Greer and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Explough rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Akagi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Explough is breathing heavily.
Explough smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Explough misses with a left hand
and Akagi counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Akagi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Explough throwing a counter right hand but Akagi manages to avoid it.
Explough misses with a series of wild punches.
Explough throws a big shot that misses.
Akagi looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Akagi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Akagi lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
The fighters circling - Explough throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Akagi lands with a kick to the temple. Explough shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Explough.
Explough thows a left - swing and a miss!
Akagi doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Explough swings widly with a right hand
and Akagi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Explough throws a hook but Akagi avoids it easily.
Akagi let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akagi lands a head kick. Explough smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Akagi defending well as Explough loads up on a big left hand.
Akagi throws a body punch but Explough moves out of range.
The fighters circling - Explough throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Akagi misses with a wild body shot.
Akagi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Explough.
Akagi takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Explough throws a hook but Akagi blocks it.
Explough swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Akagi counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Explough missing with a left hand there. Akagi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Explough rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Akagi counters with a stiff right hand.
Explough loads up on a big right hand but Akagi slips the punch.
A little jabbing left from Akagi on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Explough misses with a hook
and Akagi counters with a big head kick but Explough shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Explough misses with a hook. Akagi ducked under it nicely.
Akagi gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Explough misses with a hook
and Akagi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Akagi throws a head kick that Explough semi-blocks.
Akagi is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Explough rather than just go for the knockout.
Explough rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Akagi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Explough misses with an uppercut.
Explough throws a big shot that misses.
Akagi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Explough.
Akagi throws out a counter right but Explough avoids it with no problem.
Explough tries to bum rush Akagi with a series of wild strikes but Akagi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Explough is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Akagi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Explough is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Akagi's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Explough walks into a jab.
Explough misses with a hook. Akagi ducked under it nicely.
Explough misses with a hook.
Explough looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Grenado Explough seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Akagi looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akagi just misses with a punch to the body.
Explough throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Akagi.
Explough fails to land with a series of punches.
Explough rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Explough takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Explough throws a combination that misses
and Akagi counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Explough thinking.
We've been informed that Akagi has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Akagi moves out of range of the strikes.
Akagi appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Akagi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Explough misses with a looping right.
Akagi throws a fast counter high kick but Explough manages to duck under it in time.
Akagi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Explough.
Explough loads up on a big right hand but Akagi slips the punch.
Explough throws a jab but it's blocked by Akagi.
A little jabbing left from Akagi on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
No joy there for Explough, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A big right from Explough misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Akagi misses.
Akagi ducks under a wild hook from Explough.
Explough misses with an uppercut. Akagi saw that one coming.
Akagi throws a body punch but Explough moves out of range.
Explough misses with a looping right.
Good exchange - Akagi coming out on top.
Explough misses with an uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A slow jab from Explough misses its intended target.
Explough misses with a jab, cross combination.
Explough missing with a left hand there. Akagi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Explough misses with a straight left.
Akagi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Explough.
Explough misses with a right hand
and Akagi counters with a head kick.
Explough jabbing away but nothing is landing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Grenado Explough will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Akagi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Explough takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Explough throws an off balance right hand
and Explough takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Explough pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Akagi throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Explough's head.
Explough missing with a left hand there. Akagi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Explough misses with an uppercut
and Akagi counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Explough is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Explough misses with a straight left.
A big left from Akagi misses.
Explough is looking to counter punch.
Explough throws the left hand but Akagi avoids the punch easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Akagi scores with a hook.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A slow jab from Explough misses its intended target.
Explough walks into a jab.
Explough looks to throw the jab but Akagi is out of range.
Akagi is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akagi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Explough.
Explough takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Explough takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Explough throws a lazy right hand but Akagi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Akagi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Explough.
Akagi has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Akagi slips under a jab.
Explough throws a nice looking combination but Akagi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Explough misses with an uppercut
and Akagi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Explough throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Explough looks to land a left hand but Akagi moved out of range nicely.
Explough swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Explough misses with a right hand
and Akagi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Akagi ducks under a wild hook from Explough.
Explough swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Akagi doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akagi moves out of range as Explough strikes.
Nice uppercut lands for Explough. That snapped Akagi's head back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Akagi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Explough.
Akagi ducks under a wild hook from Explough.
Akagi just misses with a punch to the body.
A big right from Explough misses.
Explough looks to throw the jab but Akagi is out of range.
Akagi moves out of range as Explough strikes.
A punch combination from Explough misses.
Explough misses with an uppercut.
Grenado Explough is winning the standup battle so far.
Akagi connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Explough momentarily.
Explough throws out a loose jab but Akagi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Akagi loads up on a big right hand but Explough slips the punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Explough cracks Akagi with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Akagi slips under a jab.
Akagi throws a head kick that Explough semi-blocks.
Explough throws a big shot that misses.
Explough throws a looping overhand right but Akagi ducks down to avoid it.
Explough thows a left - swing and a miss!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Explough.
Explough takes a kick to the side of the head.
Akagi ducks under a wild hook from Explough.
A big right from Explough misses.
Explough throws a poor cross that misses
and Akagi counters with a nice uppercut.
A big right from Explough misses.
Akagi throws out a counter right but Explough avoids it with no problem.
Akagi throws a lazy right hand but Explough sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Explough misses with an uppercut
and Akagi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akagi misses the shot to the body.
An attempted straight right counter from Explough misses the target.
Explough misses with a looping right.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Akagi moves away from the strike by Explough.
Explough rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Akagi counters with a head kick. That will keep Explough thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Akagi lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Explough throws an off balance right hand
enabling Akagi to counter with a crisp jab.
Explough swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Explough misses with a straight left.
Explough misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Akagi moves away from the strike by Explough.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Akagi! But no joy.
Akagi slips under a jab from Explough.
Akagi slips under a jab.
Explough swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Akagi counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Pinheiro Akagi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Explough throws a poor cross that misses
and Akagi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Akagi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Explough manages to avoid it.
Explough throws a poor cross that misses
and Akagi counters with a head kick. That will keep Explough thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Akagi blocks a jab.
Explough looks to throw the jab but Akagi is out of range.
Explough throws a poor cross that misses
and Akagi counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Explough misses with a looping left.
A combination from Explough does no damage.
Explough looks to land a combination but Akagi avoids it well.
Akagi slips under a jab from Explough.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Explough misses with a looping right.
Akagi looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Akagi goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Explough misses with an uppercut.
Nice defenses there by Akagi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Explough misses with a left hand
and Akagi counters with a right hand to the body.
A jab from Explough misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Akagi! But no joy.
Akagi gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Akagi throws a hook to the side of Explough's head but Explough sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Explough appears to be looking for a big counter.
Akagi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Explough.
Akagi throws out a counter right but Explough avoids it with no problem.
Explough thows a left - swing and a miss!
Akagi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Explough misses with an uppercut
and Akagi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Explough throws a jab when Akagi was well out of range.
Akagi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Explough throws a hook but Akagi blocks it.
Explough swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Akagi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Explough misses with a jab, cross combination.
Explough throws a series of punches but Akagi moves out of range.
Akagi doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Explough throws a jab but it's blocked by Akagi.
A little jabbing left from Akagi on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Explough misses with a right hand
and Akagi counters with a nice uppercut.
Explough misses with the combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Akagi throws a sloppy head kick and Explough moves out of range easily.
It looked like Explough was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Akagi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Akagi swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Explough misses with a lunging right hand
and Akagi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Akagi plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Explough misses with a left hand
and Akagi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Explough missing with a left hand there. Akagi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Explough throws a right hand that Akagi ducks under and follows up with a left that Akagi also avoids with ease.
Explough throws a jab but it's blocked by Akagi.
Akagi slips a jab and a cross from Explough.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Explough is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Akagi.
Explough misses with a straight right.
Akagi swings for the body but Explough moves out of range.
Akagi blocks a jab.
Explough throws a hook but Akagi avoids it easily.
Explough looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Explough looks to land a right hand but Akagi moved out of range.
Explough throws the left hand but Akagi avoids the punch easily.
It seemed like Akagi was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A swing and a miss from Explough.
Akagi slips a jab from Explough.
Explough scores with a jab to the jaw.
Akagi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Explough misses with a hook.
Explough connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Akagi momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Explough misses with a double jab.
Akagi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Explough throws a looping overhand right but Akagi ducks down to avoid it.
Akagi let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Explough looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Explough misses with a double jab.
Explough falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Akagi to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Explough throws a right hand that misses
and Akagi counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Explough thinking.
A combination from Explough does no damage.
Akagi throws a body shot but no joy.
Explough is looking to counter punch.
Explough scores with a jab to the head.
Explough throws the left hand but Akagi avoids the punch easily.
A big left from Explough misses.
Explough on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

And that's the end of the fight!
Grenado Explough showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Explough 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Grenado Explough!
After winning the bout, Grenado Explough thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.