PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Leonardo Caria (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leandro Akkari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Caria
vs
Akkari

190 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
21
171 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Leonardo Caria!
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, Leandro Akkari!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Edson Gomes and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Caria throws a leg kick but Akkari sees it coming and moves out of range.
Caria avoids the body shot from Akkari.

Caria shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Akkari is trying to defend but Caria finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Caria is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Akkari has managed to free his arm - good work.
Caria looks to land a strike but Akkari avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Akkari has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Caria off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Akkari stuffs the takedown attempt from Caria. Caria gets slowly back to his feet.
Caria throws a nice looking combination but Akkari bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akkari throws a hook but Caria avoids it easily.
Akkari looks to throw the jab but Caria is out of range.

Caria fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Akkari sprawls well initially but Caria persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Akkari pushes Caria off and gets back to his feet.
Akkari misses with a body shot.
Akkari waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Caria.
Akkari looks to land a right hand but Caria moved out of range.
Akkari throws a shot from downtown. Caria moves away and avoids it.
Caria goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Caria is trying hard to land a takedown here. Akkari sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Akkari misses with an uppercut. Caria saw that one coming.
Akkari thows a body shot but no joy.
Caria lands a nice looking kick to the body. Akkari takes a step back to recover.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akkari throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Caria slips under a jab.
Caria avoids the body shot from Akkari.
Caria steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Akkari.
Akkari misses with a wild body shot.
Caria uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Akkari.
Caria avoids the body shot from Akkari.
Caria tries to score a power double leg takedown but Akkari sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Caria somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leonardo Caria. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Caria drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Caria working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akkari gets back to half guard.
Akkari is trying to stand up here but Caria is controlling him well.

Caria is working for a kimura but Akkari is defending it quite comfortably.
Caria prevents Akkari from standing back up.

Caria is looking for a kimura but Akkari is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Caria to get the leverage.
Caria is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Akkari is trying to stand up here but Caria is controlling him well.
Caria trying to control the action but Akkari is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Akkari thows a left - swing and a miss!
Akkari throws a body punch but Caria moves out of range.
Caria throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Akkari's waist but Akkari gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Caria off to one side.
Caria fails to land the takedown.
Caria keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Caria tries for a takedown but Akkari sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Akkari throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
No luck for Caria with that takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonardo Caria dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Akkari takes a swing at Caria's ribcage but misses.
Akkari thows a left - swing and a miss!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Caria is defended easily by Akkari.
Akkari throws a looping overhand right but Caria ducks down to avoid it.
Akkari thows a left - swing and a miss!
Caria ducks under a wild hook from Akkari.
Leonardo Caria is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Akkari shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Akkari forces his way into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Akkari not doing much here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akkari has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Akkari controlling from mount.
Caria sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akkari trying to control the pace.
Caria trying to hold on to Akkari's head to control him but Akkari postures up.
Akkari passes to side control.
Caria seems a little lost for a moment, as Akkari dominates the positioning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Leandro Akkari just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Caria tries to clinch up.
A big right from Akkari misses.
Caria tries for a takedown but Akkari circles away easily

and Akkari counters with a single leg into guard. Caria didn't expect that.
Caria is trying to control the position but Akkari postures up.
Akkari slips nicely into half guard.

Caria looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Caria misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Akkari not doing much here.
Let's hope that Akkari has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leandro Akkari showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Caria avoids the body shot from Akkari.
Caria keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Akkari swings for the body but Caria moves out of range.
Caria slips a straight right by Akkari.
Caria with a poor takedown
and Akkari counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Caria gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Akkari counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Akkari not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Akkari forces his way into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Caria wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Caria is defending against the submission attempts here by Akkari.
Caria wants to control but Akkari is keeping busy.
Akkari perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Caria is looking to improve his position.

Akkari is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Caria is just riding it out for now. Akkari eventually gives up the hold.
Caria is trying to control but can't.
Leandro Akkari has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Akkari takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Akkari passes to side control.
Caria is being controlled here.

Akkari stands up.
A jab from Akkari misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akkari tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Caria was well out of range. Poor timing from Akkari.
The fighters circling - Akkari throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Akkari fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Caria manages to avoid it.
Akkari moves out of range of the body kick from Caria.

Caria moves into range and clinches up with Akkari.
Caria keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Akkari's efforts to push away.
Akkari doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Caria is trying to drag Akkari to the mat but Akkari just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leonardo Caria. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Akkari tries to break the clinch but Caria is controlling the position.
Caria prevents Akkari from breaking the clinch.
Akkari working hard to break the clinch.
Akkari wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Caria tries for a takedown but Akkari manages to get underhooks.
Akkari prevents a takedown attempt there.
Akkari tries to break the clinch but Caria is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leandro Akkari comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Akkari has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leandro Akkari!