PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Norifumi Akiyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Spike Smalls (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Norifumi Akiyama has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Akiyama
vs
Smalls

186 cm
20
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Norifumi Akiyama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Spike Smalls!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Matheus Silva and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akiyama plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Akiyama clinches up against the cage.

Akiyama escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smalls misses with a few strikes there.
Smalls throws a sloppy head kick

and Akiyama counters by clinching up.
Smalls gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Akiyama.

Smalls breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smalls throws a left and a right that both miss

and Akiyama counters by clinching up.
Smalls tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Akiyama smiles and moves away.

Smalls clinches up with Akiyama and pushes him back against the cage.
Smalls jumps guard but Akiyama stands there with Smalls around his waist. Smalls gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Akiyama prevents Smalls from breaking the clinch.
Smalls drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Norifumi Akiyama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Spike Smalls.

Smalls breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smalls fails with the takedown

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

Akiyama thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Akiyama will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Smalls trying to keep a closed guard but Akiyama is proving a slippery customer.
Smalls tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Smalls pushes Akiyama off and gets back to his feet.
Akiyama is breathing heavily.
Akiyama fails to land with a series of punches.
Akiyama moves in looking to clinch but Smalls pushes him off.
Akiyama shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Smalls pinned against the cage. Smalls gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Akiyama fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Smalls closes the distance but Akiyama moves to the side

and Akiyama decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Smalls's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama tries to free his leg and advance position but Smalls is retaining full guard.
Smalls controls Akiyama momentarily but Akiyama frees himself.
Akiyama with a flurry of punches that miss.
Akiyama has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Akiyama passes Smalls's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Akiyama is just content to waste time from the top position. Smalls takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Akiyama trying to control the position from guard on top but Smalls is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smalls utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Akiyama trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Akiyama content to stall in guard here.
Akiyama passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Smalls is trying to control Akiyama's posture but Akiyama avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smalls on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Akiyama is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Smalls is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Smalls is looking to reverse the position.
Akiyama wants to control but Smalls is keeping him busy.
Smalls wants to control but Akiyama postures up.
Smalls tries to improve position but can't.

Akiyama tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Akiyama has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Smalls can't do much from the bottom here.
Smalls is trying to get back to half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Akiyama moves into range and clinches up with Smalls.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Akiyama.
Smalls is pressed up against the cage. Akiyama has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Smalls down to the mat. Smalls avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Smalls takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Horrible takedown by Akiyama or perhaps it was just good defense by Smalls which made him look bad.

Akiyama closes the distance and clinches.

Smalls manages to break the clinch.

Akiyama shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Smalls's guard.

Akiyama avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Akiyama pushing down on Smalls's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
It looks like Akiyama is going to stand back up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smalls is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Akiyama's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Akiyama's back!
Smalls wants to control but Akiyama is keeping busy.
Smalls is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Norifumi Akiyama dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Smalls tries to clinch up

and Akiyama counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Akiyama.
Smalls can't break the clinch.
Akiyama drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Smalls tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Akiyama just stands there and leans against the cage.
Akiyama tries to pull guard but Smalls holds him up against the cage and eventually Akiyama drops back down to his feet.

Smalls jumps into guard, dragging Akiyama to the mat.
Smalls tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Smalls is pulling down on Akiyama's head to control his posture.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Smalls is on top in guard.
Smalls trying to control but Akiyama is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Akiyama working a defensive guard here.
Akiyama working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smalls.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Akiyama is looking for a triangle but Smalls pushes his legs off easily.
Smalls tries to stand but Akiyama is controlling from the bottom.
Akiyama bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smalls's guard.

Akiyama gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Smalls throws a head kick but Akiyama moves out of range.
Akiyama clinches but Smalls breaks the clinch

and Smalls decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Akiyama's guard.
Akiyama controls Smalls momentarily but Smalls frees himself.

Akiyama is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Akiyama trying to keep a closed guard but Smalls is proving a slippery customer.
Smalls trying to control the position from guard on top but Akiyama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smalls's guard.
Akiyama content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Akiyama stands and throws Smalls's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Norifumi Akiyama overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Akiyama working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Akiyama decides to stand back up. Akiyama steps back and let's Smalls get back to his feet.
Smalls has a takedown stuffed.

Akiyama has closed the distance and engaged Smalls in a clinch.
Akiyama drops down looking for an ankle pick but Smalls pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Norifumi Akiyama. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Smalls drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Smalls decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smalls closes the distance looking to clinch

and Akiyama counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Akiyama.
Akiyama controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Smalls manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Akiyama throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

Smalls stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

Smalls bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Smalls advances to mount.
Akiyama tries to hold on but Smalls postures up.
BOOM! Smalls connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smalls fails to advance to Akiyama's back.
Akiyama slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Akiyama gets full guard.
Akiyama is looking to stand up but Smalls isn't so interested in that idea.

Akiyama looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Smalls works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Akiyama kicks Smalls off and gets back to his feet.
Smalls throws a head kick but Akiyama moves out of range.
Akiyama shoots and misses

and Smalls counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Smalls pushing down on Akiyama's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Akiyama is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Smalls pulls his head out easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smalls trying to control from half guard but Akiyama is working away.
Smalls tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Akiyama.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Spike Smalls will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Smalls fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Akiyama connects with a high kick.
Akiyama stuffs the takedown attempt from Smalls. Smalls gets slowly back to his feet.
Akiyama tries for a takedown but Smalls circles away easily

so Smalls counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Akiyama trying to control the position.
Smalls pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Akiyama is keeping the position for now.
Smalls won't allow Akiyama to get back to his feet.

Akiyama is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Smalls stops Akiyama from standing up.
Smalls wants to control from the top but Akiyama keeps moving.
Akiyama looking to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Akiyama is on top in guard.
Smalls looking for a sweep. Not yet Smalls, not yet.

Akiyama gets to his feet. Smalls looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Horrible takedown by Akiyama or perhaps it was just good defense by Smalls which made him look bad.

Smalls decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Akiyama taking some punishment here, with Smalls in his half guard.

Smalls looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Akiyama is refusing to be controlled, as Smalls sits in half guard.
Smalls is thwarting Akiyama's attempts to control the position.
Smalls is looking to take a break and control but Akiyama is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smalls wants to stand up but Akiyama has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Akiyama makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Akiyama.

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

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Norifumi Akiyama!