PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rickson Caceres (ranked 1161 p4p, 1983 weight class) and Ryu Akutagawa (ranked 168 p4p, 271 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Caceres
vs
Akutagawa

180 cm
29
157
13 - 6 - 0

190 cm
22
159
8 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Insanely flexible

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rickson Caceres!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ryu Akutagawa!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Viktor Lagutenko and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akutagawa stuffs the takedown attempt from Caceres. Caceres gets slowly back to his feet.
Caceres misses with a takedown
and Akutagawa counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Caceres clinches up against the cage.
Akutagawa wants to stall.
Caceres keeps control of Akutagawa as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Akutagawa is trying to break the clinch but Caceres is controlling him.
Akutagawa tries to stall but Caceres uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Caceres jumps guard but Akutagawa turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rickson Caceres. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Akutagawa wants to get back to striking at distance but Caceres won't allow it.

Akutagawa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Caceres feints and as Akutagawa raises his hands in defense, Caceres changes levels and drives through with a takedown 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Caceres sitting in guard here, content to control.
Akutagawa really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Caceres. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Caceres throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Akutagawa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Caceres is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caceres tries to free his leg and advance position but Akutagawa is retaining full guard.
Caceres slips nicely into half guard.

Caceres wants to work for an arm triangle but Akutagawa is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Akutagawa tries to roll over but Caceres keeps him under control.
Caceres has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Akutagawa looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Caceres pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Caceres tries to control but Akutagawa wriggling away.

Caceres swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Akutagawa is now in Caceres's guard. A big mistake from Caceres there, giving up the dominant position!
Caceres wants to sweep here but Akutagawa controlling him for the moment.

Caceres working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Akutagawa doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Akutagawa manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Caceres looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Caceres has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

Akutagawa got a little sloppy there for a moment and Caceres has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Akutagawa has managed to get both his arms back between Caceres's legs - danger averted.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Caceres has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Akutagawa doesn't defend quickly enough and Caceres has managed to lock this one up! Can Akutagawa escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Caceres on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:21 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Rickson Caceres!
Rickson Caceres spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.