PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ryu Akutagawa (ranked 547 p4p, 514 weight class) and Viktor Kruglov (ranked 78 p4p, 71 weight class). Kruglov has chosen МИХАИЛ КРУГ - Владимирский централ as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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!

Akutagawa
vs
Kruglov

190 cm
24
184
12 - 6 - 0

175 cm
24
179
12 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Furnace Performance 🔥
Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

Shadow Realm Apparel

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 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ryu Akutagawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Viktor Kruglov!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Konstantin Menshow and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akutagawa misses with an uppercut. Kruglov saw that one coming.
Akutagawa definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Kruglov throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Akutagawa.
Kruglov jabs Akutagawa to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Kruglov uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Kruglov punishes Akutagawa's body with a nice straight punch.
Akutagawa takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Akutagawa doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kruglov is looking to land body kicks.
A counter left hand to the body from Akutagawa misses its target.
Akutagawa throws a big shot that misses.
Kruglov throws a body shot but no joy.
Akutagawa steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kruglov.
Akutagawa tried to counter with a leg kick but Kruglov avoided it.
A cross from Kruglov lands.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kruglov misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Kruglov.
Kruglov has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Akutagawa is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Kruglov scores with a hook.
Akutagawa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kruglov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Akutagawa throwing a counter right hand but Kruglov manages to avoid it.
Akutagawa checks a leg kick.
It looked like Akutagawa was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Kruglov.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Kruglov.
Akutagawa thuds his shin into the meat of Kruglov's side.
Viktor Kruglov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kruglov misses with a body punch
and Akutagawa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Akutagawa looks to score with a jab to the body but Kruglov is just out of range.
A good leg kick by Kruglov.
Akutagawa jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kruglov throws a counter combo.
Kruglov tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kruglov lands with a nice body kick.
Kruglov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Akutagawa moves away.
A little feinted left hand from Akutagawa on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A bone on bone clash there as Kruglov blocks the leg kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kruglov lands a jab to Akutagawa's midsection.
Kruglov is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Akutagawa rather than just go for the knockout.
Kruglov takes a swing at Akutagawa's ribcage but misses.
Kruglov misses with a wild body shot.
Akutagawa connects with a jab.
Jab, jab by Akutagawa - just one landing.
Kruglov staying out of range there.
Kruglov is looking to clinch.

Kruglov moves into range and clinches up with Akutagawa.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Akutagawa.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kruglov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Akutagawa's efforts to push away.
Kruglov stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kruglov stalling the fight.
Nice body punch from Akutagawa - that landed with a thud.

Akutagawa breaks from the clinch.
Kruglov comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Kruglov stuns Akutagawa with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Akutagawa tries to work over Kruglov's front leg with a kick but Kruglov checks it.
A left and a right from Kruglov both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Ryu Akutagawa has been cut.
Kruglov blocks a leg kick.
A jab from Akutagawa misses.
Akutagawa throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Akutagawa throws out a leg kick but Kruglov moves out of range and Akutagawa only half commits.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akutagawa punishes Kruglov's body with a nice straight punch.
A clash of legs there as Kruglov blocks the low kick.
A leg kick checked by Kruglov.
Kruglov is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Akutagawa with a body shot.
Akutagawa on the wrong end of a nice jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kruglov cracks a nice hook into Akutagawa's ribs.
Crunch! Kruglov slams his shin into Akutagawa's torso.
Kruglov swings away with a body shot that misses
and Akutagawa counters with a right hand to the body.
Kruglov gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Akutagawa.
Kruglov tries to clinch up.
Kruglov throws a lazy right hand but Akutagawa sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Both fighters circling a little - Kruglov finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Akutagawa thows a leg kick but Kruglov checks it
and Kruglov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Viktor Kruglov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ryu Akutagawa's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Akutagawa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kruglov was well out of range. Poor timing from Akutagawa.
Akutagawa throws a leg kick which misses Kruglov's front leg but catches the back leg as Kruglov tries to avoid it.
Akutagawa throws out a loose jab but Kruglov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kruglov throws a body shot but no joy.
Kruglov throws the kick towards the body but Akutagawa avoids it.
Akutagawa keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kruglov.
Kruglov misses the jab.
Akutagawa appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Kruglov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kruglov connects with a body shot that sends Akutagawa's belly button to the back.
Akutagawa fakes the leg kick and cracks Kruglov in the body.
Akutagawa throws a chopping leg kick but Kruglov manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Kruglov takes one on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruglov fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Akutagawa looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Akutagawa misses with a body shot.
Akutagawa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Akutagawa takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Kruglov blocks a leg kick.
Akutagawa tries to work over Kruglov's front leg with a kick but Kruglov checks it.
Kruglov thuds a left hand into Akutagawa's body.
Kruglov tries to clinch but Akutagawa is having none of it.
Kruglov throws a poor cross that misses
and Akutagawa counters with a stiff right hand.
Akutagawa throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Kruglov swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Kruglov.
Akutagawa tried to counter with a leg kick but Kruglov avoided it.
Kruglov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Akutagawa counters with an outside leg kick.
Akutagawa jabs at Kruglov's body.
Kruglov goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Akutagawa misses its target.
Kruglov fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kruglov lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Akutagawa walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Akutagawa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Akutagawa stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Kruglov takes a swing at Akutagawa's ribcage but misses.
Akutagawa with a jab.
Kruglov is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kruglov throws a sloppy head kick and Akutagawa moves out of range easily.
Nice defenses there by Kruglov.
Akutagawa throws a hook to the side of Kruglov's head but Kruglov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kruglov punishes Akutagawa's body with a nice straight punch.
Kruglov throws a jab but it's blocked by Akutagawa.
Akutagawa blocks the body kick.
As Kruglov backs away, Akutagawa returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Akutagawa avoids the head kick by Kruglov.
Viktor Kruglov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kruglov ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kruglov throws a jab but it's blocked by Akutagawa.
Kruglov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Akutagawa.
Akutagawa moves out of range of the body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akutagawa misses with a head kick.
Kruglov is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Akutagawa with a body shot.
Akutagawa throws the left hand but Kruglov avoids the punch easily.
Kruglov steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Akutagawa takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kruglov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Akutagawa connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A telegraphed right hand from Kruglov misses the target.
Akutagawa throws a nice inside leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kruglov misses with a telegraphed body shot
enabling Akutagawa to counter with a crisp jab.
Akutagawa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Akutagawa scores with a hook to the body. Kruglov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kruglov throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Akutagawa stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
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 Ryu Akutagawa will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ryu Akutagawa's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Kruglov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Akutagawa.
Kruglov just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromAkutagawa.
Kruglov misses with the body kick
and Akutagawa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kruglov takes a jab right on the kisser.
Kruglov throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Akutagawa stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kruglov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Akutagawa misses with a body kick.
Kruglov missing with a left hand there. Akutagawa was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A shot to the body from Kruglov misses
and Kruglov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Akutagawa thuds a left hand into Kruglov's body.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Akutagawa crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Kruglov - the referee stops the clock and Akutagawa gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Kruglov. Akutagawa manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Akutagawa throws a front kick that sends Kruglov stumbling back into the cage.
Akutagawa is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruglov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Akutagawa throws a quick counter kick to the body but Kruglov avoids it.
Akutagawa missing with a left hand there. Kruglov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kruglov tries a head kick but it misses.
Kruglov throws a head kick but Akutagawa moves out of range.
Akutagawa thuds his shin into the meat of Kruglov's side.
Kruglov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Akutagawa throws an off balance right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Akutagawa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kruglov.
And Kruglov responds with a good body kick, but Akutagawa manages to step out the way in time.
Akutagawa smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kruglov looks to score with a jab to the body but Akutagawa is just out of range.
Akutagawa throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Kruglov lands a nice hook to Akutagawa's body. Akutagawa takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Akutagawa connects with a body shot that sends Kruglov's belly button to the back.
Akutagawa swats away the attempt to clinch by Kruglov.

Kruglov has Akutagawa up against the cage in a clinch.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Akutagawa breaks the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kruglov misses with a wild body shot.
Akutagawa throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kruglov takes one to the chin there.
Akutagawa misses with a shot to the body
and Kruglov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Akutagawa on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Akutagawa takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kruglov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Akutagawa was well out of range. Poor timing from Kruglov.
Akutagawa tried to counter with a leg kick but Kruglov avoided it.
Akutagawa connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kruglov tries to clinch up.
Akutagawa throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Akutagawa throws a jab when Kruglov was well out of range.
Akutagawa on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Kruglov throws a push kick but Akutagawa slaps the foot to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kruglov misses with a body shot.
Akutagawa looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Akutagawa displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kruglov throws out the jab.
Akutagawa misses with a looping right.
Kruglov throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Akutagawa misses with a hook. Kruglov ducked under it nicely.
Akutagawa takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kruglov works Akutagawa's body with a nice hook.
Akutagawa misses with an uppercut.
Akutagawa fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kruglov misses with a wild body shot.
A little feinted left hand from Akutagawa on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kruglov closes the distance but Akutagawa moves to the side
and Akutagawa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ryu Akutagawa.
I think Akutagawa 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ryu Akutagawa!
A relieved looking Ryu Akutagawa thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.