PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Leandro Akkari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nate Springs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nate Springs is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Akkari
vs
Springs

186 cm
21
171 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
175 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Leandro Akkari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nate Springs!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Felipe Paraventi and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akkari staying out of range there.
Springs fails to land with a series of punches.
Akkari showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Springs.
Springs lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Akkari circles away quickly and effectively.
Springs clobbers Akkari with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Springs drops Akkari with a beautiful combination! Akkari stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Springs is looking for the KO!

Akkari is rocked!
Akkari showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Springs.

Akkari closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Springs to the mat! Springs manages to get full guard.
Akkari passes Springs's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Springs is trying to get back to full guard.

Springs is defending against the submission attempts here by Akkari.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akkari is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Springs!
Akkari avoids the attempt from Springs to control.
Springs is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Springs is trying to escape the mount.
Springs is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Springs has given up his back.

Akkari is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Springs knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Springs for a finish.
Akkari is trying to stick to Springs's back but Springs is turning into Akkari. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Akkari's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Springs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akkari controlling the position.
Springs stopping the sweep attempt from Akkari.
Akkari has a closed guard, preventing Springs from standing up.
Akkari trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Akkari is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Springs slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Akkari is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Springs is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Springs has escaped and now he's on top!
Akkari looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Akkari looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Akkari is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Springs defends well.
Akkari is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Springs pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Akkari is keeping the position for now.

Springs drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Akkari manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Springs has Akkari in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Springs wants to sweep but no luck.

Springs looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Akkari passes into side control.

Akkari wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Springs, who protects the arm well.
Akkari controls the position.
Springs regains half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Akkari passes to full mount!
Akkari with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Leandro Akkari will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Akkari shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Springs defends it nicely.
Springs will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Springs misses with a few strikes there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Springs misses with a double jab.
Akkari slips a straight right by Springs.
Springs misses with a series of wild punches.
Springs throws a jab when Akkari was well out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Springs misses.
Springs moves into range and connects with a jab.
Springs lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Akkari backs up against the cage.

Springs lands a left and a right that send Akkari crashing to the mat, dazed. Springs thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
Oh Akkari is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Springs pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Akkari showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Springs.
Akkari seems to have got his legs back now.
Springs looks to land a combination but Akkari avoids it well.
Akkari throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Springs's waist but Springs gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Akkari off to one side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akkari ducks under a wild hook from Springs.
Springs misses with a few strikes there.
Akkari showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Springs.
Springs misses with a series of wild punches.

Akkari decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Springs wants to improve his position but Akkari is controlling well.

Akkari 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.
Akkari is trying to control. Springs wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Akkari is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Akkari is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Springs looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Akkari is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Springs won't allow Akkari to pass to mount.

Akkari 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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Springs misses with a looping left.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nate Springs showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Springs throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Akkari.
Akkari has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Leandro Akkari has been cut.
Some wild striking there from Springs.
Springs throws a body punch but Akkari moves out of range.
Akkari uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Springs.
Akkari dodges the punch combination from Springs.
Springs will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Springs takes a swing at Akkari's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Springs throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Akkari.
Nice cross by Springs.
Nate Springs seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Springs takes a swing at Akkari's ribcage but misses.

Akkari throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Springs was covering up waiting for the punch and Akkari finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Akkari wants to control from the top but Springs keeps moving.
Springs wants to sweep but no luck.
Akkari wants to control from the top but Springs keeps moving.
Springs trying to control the position.
Akkari trying to control but Springs is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Springs not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Springs is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Akkari is aware though and is defending well.

Akkari drops back looking for a leg! Springs is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Springs manages to kick Akkari off! Akkari jumps back into Springs's guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Springs tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Akkari was well out of range. Poor timing from Springs.
Akkari will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Akkari slips a jab from Springs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Springs does no damage.
Springs rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Akkari moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Springs goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Nate Springs is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jab by Springs.
Springs tries to bum rush Akkari with a series of wild strikes but Akkari uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Springs throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nate Springs is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Springs takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Akkari scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Akkari is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Springs defends it well.

Springs looking for submissions off his back.
Leandro Akkari overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Akkari is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Springs trying to control from the bottom.

Akkari is working for a submission of some sort.

Akkari is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Springs has managed to free his arm - good work.
Springs slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nate Springs comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Springs 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight for Nate Springs!
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight for Nate Springs!
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight for Nate Springs!

Nate Springs wins by unanimous decision!