PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Naoki Yoshikuni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Verno Ackhbar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Naoki Yoshikuni could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Verno Ackhbar's chin.

Yoshikuni
vs
Ackhbar

176 cm
21
165 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

162 cm
22
162 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Naoki Yoshikuni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Verno Ackhbar!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, George Francis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ackhbar wants to clinch.
Ackhbar wants to clinch.
Ackhbar pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ackhbar tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ackhbar slips a straight right by Yoshikuni.
Verno Ackhbar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yoshikuni shoots for a double leg takedown but Ackhbar sprawls well. He's pushed Yoshikuni's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Yoshikuni looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Yoshikuni trying to mount his opponent but Ackhbar defends it.
Yoshikuni trying to control from Ackhbar's half guard. Ackhbar has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Yoshikuni stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ackhbar swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshikuni throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ackhbar works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Yoshikuni looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Yoshikuni forces his way into half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Yoshikuni seems to be looking for submissions.

Ackhbar makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Ackhbar doesn't manage to clinch there - Yoshikuni circles away.
Yoshikuni showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ackhbar.
Ackhbar tries to clinch but Yoshikuni is having none of it.

Yoshikuni drives through and clinches with Ackhbar against the ropes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ackhbar's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Yoshikuni swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ackhbar looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ackhbar scores with a jab. Yoshikuni acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Naoki Yoshikuni dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Yoshikuni throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Yoshikuni tries to clinch up but Ackhbar circles away and keeps his distance.
Verno Ackhbar is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Yoshikuni pivots, looking for a leg kick but Ackhbar is out of range and Yoshikuni settles back down.
Yoshikuni looks to score with a jab to the body but Ackhbar is just out of range.
Yoshikuni throws a body kick that misses.
Yoshikuni thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ackhbar tries to clinch but Yoshikuni is having none of it.
Ackhbar darts in trying to clinch
and Yoshikuni counters with a stiff right hand.

Yoshikuni tries to keep at a distance but Ackhbar has taken the fight into the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Ackhbar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short body shot lands from Ackhbar as the two fighters clinch.
Ackhbar stalling the fight.
Ackhbar lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Ackhbar breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ackhbar gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ackhbar lands with a short shot to the head.

Ackhbar manages to break the clinch.

Ackhbar gets a clinch.

Ackhbar breaks the clinch.

Yoshikuni shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Yoshikuni is trying to work for a kimura but Ackhbar is defending well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshikuni trying to mount his opponent but Ackhbar defends it.
Yoshikuni thows a huge punch but Ackhbar dodges it nicely.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ackhbar can do anything to dispel that myth.
Yoshikuni trying to control from half guard but Ackhbar is working away.

Yoshikuni is looking for a kimura but Ackhbar is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Yoshikuni to get the leverage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Verno Ackhbar will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Ackhbar closes the distance and pushes Yoshikuni back into the ropes.

Ackhbar breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ackhbar lands with an overhand left.

Ackhbar forces Yoshikuni back against the ropes and clinches.
Yoshikuni drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ackhbar gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Ackhbar pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ackhbar tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Yoshikuni uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ackhbar.
A nice combination there by Ackhbar.

Ackhbar clinches.

Ackhbar breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ackhbar tries to clinch
letting Yoshikuni counter with a right hand.
Ackhbar is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ackhbar tries to clinch up but Yoshikuni circles away and keeps his distance.
Ackhbar throws a nice looking combination but Yoshikuni bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ackhbar keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ackhbar doesn't manage to clinch there - Yoshikuni circles away.
Yoshikuni is looking to clinch.
Ackhbar darts in trying to clinch

and Yoshikuni holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Ackhbar breaks from the clinch.
Ackhbar tries to clinch but Yoshikuni is having none of it.
Ackhbar tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Yoshikuni paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Ackhbar clinches.
Still in the clinch, Ackhbar scores with a nice short uppercut.
Still in the clinch, Ackhbar scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ackhbar stalls.
Yoshikuni looking for a takedown.
Ackhbar controlling the action here for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ackhbar receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
A right handed body shot lands from Ackhbar.

Ackhbar breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ackhbar avoids the body shot from Yoshikuni.
Yoshikuni tries to clinch but Ackhbar is having none of it.
Verno Ackhbar is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ackhbar tries to clinch but Yoshikuni moves out of range.
Yoshikuni blocks a head kick by Ackhbar.
Ackhbar avoids the body shot from Yoshikuni.
Yoshikuni blocks a head kick by Ackhbar.
Ackhbar tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Yoshikuni counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Yoshikuni.
A hook to the body from Ackhbar.
Ackhbar looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Ackhbar stalling the fight.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Verno Ackhbar really dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Yoshikuni misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ackhbar.
Yoshikuni moves in looking to clinch but Ackhbar pushes him off.
Ackhbar is looking to clinch but Yoshikuni is avoiding it.

Ackhbar moves into the clinch successfully.

Ackhbar breaks from the clinch.
Ackhbar ducks under a wild hook from Yoshikuni.
A big right from Yoshikuni misses.

Ackhbar clinches up against the ropes.

Ackhbar's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Yoshikuni takes a swing at Ackhbar's ribcage but misses.
Ackhbar throws a nice looking combination but Yoshikuni bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ackhbar looks to clinch

and Yoshikuni counters by moving into the clinch.
Ackhbar scores with a shoulder strike.

Ackhbar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Yoshikuni has a takedown stuffed.
Yoshikuni lands a nice hook to Ackhbar's body. Ackhbar takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Ackhbar moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ackhbar breaks the clinch.
Ackhbar tries to close the distance and clinch but Yoshikuni swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Yoshikuni is looking to clinch but Ackhbar is avoiding it.
Ackhbar looks to land a combination but Yoshikuni avoids it well.

Ackhbar clinches with his opponent.
Ackhbar is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Ackhbar manages to break the clinch.

Ackhbar clinches with his opponent.
Ackhbar lands a left hand.

Ackhbar breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ackhbar circles away from the clinch attempt.
No luck for Yoshikuni with that takedown attempt.
Ackhbar wants to clinch up but Yoshikuni keeps it at a distance.
Nice takedown defense from Ackhbar. No joy for Yoshikuni on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Naoki Yoshikuni. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ackhbar avoids the body shot from Yoshikuni.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ackhbar slips under a jab.
Yoshikuni looks to score with a jab to the body but Ackhbar is just out of range.
Yoshikuni throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Yoshikuni misses with a wild body shot.
Ackhbar tries to clinch up but Yoshikuni circles away and keeps his distance.
Ackhbar goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Ackhbar misses with a series of wild punches.
Ackhbar wants to clinch but Yoshikuni slips to the side

and Yoshikuni counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Yoshikuni.
Yoshikuni passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Ackhbar is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Yoshikuni is controlling him well.
Ackhbar is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yoshikuni tries to move into full mount but can't pass Ackhbar's legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Yoshikuni tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Yoshikuni is looking to wear down Ackhbar with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Ackhbar moves into the clinch.
Yoshikuni looking for a takedown.
Ackhbar misses with an elbow over the top.
Ackhbar lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Yoshikuni.
Yoshikuni drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ackhbar pulls his leg out and moves away.
Yoshikuni ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ackhbar moves away.

Ackhbar closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.

Ackhbar's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ackhbar avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Yoshikuni misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ackhbar.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ackhbar looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Yoshikuni misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshikuni shoots in for a takedown but Ackhbar shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Naoki Yoshikuni. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ackhbar moves into the clinch successfully.
Ackhbar is pressed up against the ropes. Yoshikuni has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ackhbar down to the mat. Ackhbar avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ackhbar wants to clinch up but Yoshikuni keeps it at a distance.

Ackhbar moves into the clinch.
Good body shot from Ackhbar.

Ackhbar breaks from the clinch.

Ackhbar moves into the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Ackhbar scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ackhbar scores with a nice hook to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Ackhbar creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Yoshikuni is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Yoshikuni looking for a takedown.
Ackhbar pressing his opponent against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ackhbar trying to stall but Yoshikuni improves his position.
Yoshikuni taking a breather.

Ackhbar manages to break the clinch.
Yoshikuni tries to clinch but Ackhbar is having none of it.
Some wild striking there from Ackhbar.
Ackhbar fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Ackhbar pushes Yoshikuni up against the ropes in a clinch.
Ackhbar is trying to force a seperation but Yoshikuni has the dominant position.
Ackhbar misses with a punch on the inside.
Naoki Yoshikuni has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Verno Ackhbar is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ackhbar lands an uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Verno Ackhbar comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ackhbar has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 46:49
Judge George Francis scores the fight 46:49
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Verno Ackhbar!