PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yoshihiro Akiyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Burr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yoshihiro Akiyama could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Mark Burr's chin.

Akiyama
vs
Burr

183 cm
22
184 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yoshihiro Akiyama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Burr!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Daniel Franklin and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burr tries to clinch up.
Akiyama looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Burr tries to clinch up but Akiyama circles away and keeps his distance.

Akiyama moves into range and clinches up with Burr.
Burr throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Akiyama blocks it with crossed arms.
Burr tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Akiyama looking to stall.
A left hand lands to the body for Akiyama.
Burr connects with a knee to the head.
Burr looking to throw knees to the head but Akiyama is blocking nicely.
Burr with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Burr tries a knee to the head but Akiyama blocks it.

Akiyama escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Akiyama fails with the takedown.

Burr moves into range and clinches up with Akiyama.
Burr tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Akiyama just stands there and leans against the cage.
Burr landing knees to the body.
Burr has had enough of the clinch but Akiyama keeps him there for the moment.
A nice left hand lands by Akiyama.
Burr throws a knee to the head but misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Burr just misses with a elbow thrown towards Akiyama's brow.
Burr is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Burr looking to throw knees to the head but Akiyama is blocking nicely.
Burr tries to land a knee to the head but Akiyama blocks with his arms.
Burr using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Akiyama has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Akiyama breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burr tries to clinch up

and Akiyama counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Burr tries to get to full guard but Akiyama has control of the leg.
Burr slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Akiyama trying to control but Burr is working from the bottom.
Akiyama is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Burr is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Burr is trying to control the position but Akiyama postures up.
Burr looking to hit a scissor sweep but Akiyama is one step ahead there.

Burr looking for a guillotine here but Akiyama defends easily.
Akiyama pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Burr is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Burr working for submissions but it's allowed Akiyama to get to half guard.
Burr tries to get to full guard but Akiyama has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Burr has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Akiyama is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Akiyama decides to stand up.
Burr doesn't manage to clinch there - Akiyama circles away.
Akiyama avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Akiyama shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Akiyama trying to control the position from guard on top but Burr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Akiyama scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama trying to control but Burr is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Akiyama accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Akiyama throwing strikes but missing.
Akiyama slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Akiyama stops Burr from standing up.
Akiyama working some strikes from top position.

Burr looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Akiyama loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Akiyama looking to pass the guard.
Burr looking to hit a scissor sweep but Akiyama is one step ahead there.
Burr throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

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.

Burr looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Burr bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Akiyama's guard.
Akiyama has a closed guard, preventing Burr from standing up.
Akiyama looking for a sweep. Not yet Akiyama, not yet.

Burr gets to his feet. Akiyama looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Akiyama fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Akiyama clinches with his opponent.
Burr scores with a knee to the head.
Akiyama is trying to maintain a safe position but Burr gets an underhook and turns Akiyama into the cage.
Burr tries a knee to the head but Akiyama blocks it.
Akiyama can't break the clinch.
Akiyama has had enough of the clinch but Burr keeps him there for the moment.
Burr on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Akiyama jumps into guard, dragging Burr to the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Akiyama looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Akiyama striking from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshihiro Akiyama dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Akiyama drives through and clinches with Burr against the cage.

Burr escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Burr tries to clinch but Akiyama moves away

and Akiyama counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Akiyama.

Burr is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Burr wants to sweep here but Akiyama controlling him for the moment.
Burr lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Akiyama!
Burr trying to control but Akiyama is having none of it.
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.
Burr is landing with some decent strikes but Akiyama is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Burr can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Akiyama is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akiyama tries to reverse the position but Burr maintains control.
Akiyama is working hard here to advance position.
Akiyama tries to lock up and control but Burr gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Burr controlling his opponent.
Burr prevents Akiyama from getting the reversal.

Burr working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Burr is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Akiyama can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Akiyama is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two 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.
A nice elbow there by Burr.
Akiyama tries to lock up and control but Burr gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Burr landing punches.
Burr punishing his opponent with strikes.
Burr with shots to the head and body - Akiyama looks very uncomfortable down there.
Akiyama is looking to get to half guard.
Burr landing punches.

Akiyama bucks up and throws Burr to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!

Akiyama takes the fight into the clinch.
Burr using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Akiyama has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Burr tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Burr connects with a nasty looking knee right to Akiyama's face.
Burr prevents Akiyama from breaking the clinch.

Burr breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mark Burr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Burr moves into range and clinches up with Akiyama.
Akiyama manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Akiyama wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Burr using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Akiyama has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama takes a knee right on the jaw!
Burr throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Akiyama blocks it with crossed arms.

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

Burr darts in and clinches Akiyama up against the cage.
Burr connects with a nasty looking knee right to Akiyama's face.
Burr wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Akiyama is trying to break free.
Burr tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Burr tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Burr misses with an elbow over the top.

Burr escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Burr is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Burr darts in and clinches Akiyama up against the cage.
Burr tries to pull guard but Akiyama holds him up against the cage and eventually Burr drops back down to his feet.
Burr is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Akiyama is keeping busy.
Burr tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Burr misses with some punches.
Burr trying to stall but Akiyama improves his position.

Akiyama drags the fight down to the ground.
Akiyama throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Akiyama working a defensive guard here.
Akiyama manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama with good strikes from the mount here!
Burr tries to hold on but Akiyama postures up.
Burr is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Akiyama content just to control the position here.
Akiyama prevents Burr from getting the reversal.
Burr wants to control but Akiyama is having none of it.
Burr is wriggling around trying to escape.
Burr tries to hold on but Akiyama pushes him away.
Burr is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Yoshihiro Akiyama will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Akiyama gets a clinch.

Akiyama pulls guard.
Akiyama is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Burr must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Burr stands up and waves to Akiyama to follow him.
Burr misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Akiyama feints and as Burr raises his hands in defense, Akiyama changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Burr not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Akiyama trying to control the position from guard on top but Burr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Akiyama wants to pass the guard but Burr is keeping the position.
Akiyama trying to control the position from guard on top but Burr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Burr is trying to control the position but Akiyama postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burr looking to hit a scissor sweep but Akiyama is one step ahead there.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Burr drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Akiyama taking a bit of punishment here - Burr scoring with strikes.
Burr wants to stand but Akiyama has his arm trapped.
Akiyama regains half guard.
Akiyama trying to control from the bottom.

Akiyama kicks off Burr and gets to his feet.

Akiyama moves into the clinch.
Burr with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Akiyama wants a takedown but no success here.
Burr lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Akiyama wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Burr has him pressed against the cage.
Burr tries a knee to the head but Akiyama blocks it.
Burr tries to land a knee to the head but Akiyama blocks with his arms.
Burr with a knee to the head.
Burr with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burr with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Akiyama blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Burr jumps into guard, dragging Akiyama to the mat.
Akiyama pushing down on Burr's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Akiyama drops an elbow to the side of Burr's head.
Burr is trying to stand back up but Akiyama is controlling him
Burr moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Yoshihiro Akiyama overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Burr throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Burr is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Akiyama trying to control but Burr is working from the bottom.
Akiyama tries to free his leg and advance position but Burr is retaining full guard.
Burr tries to strike from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Some wild striking there from Burr.
Akiyama circles away from the clinch attempt

and Akiyama counters by clinching up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burr has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Akiyama avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Burr with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Akiyama lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Burr is looking to control Akiyama's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Burr avoid being mounted?
Burr is doing well to control the position and prevent Akiyama from advancing to side control.
Burr trying to control here.
Burr punching from the bottom.
Akiyama stops Burr from getting back to his feet.
Burr 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!
Akiyama trying to control the position but Burr manages to sink in the hooks.
Akiyama tries to escape the position.
Burr lands a shot to the head.
I would not like to be Akiyama right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burr is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Akiyama up.
Burr connects with a big shot to the side of Akiyama's head.
Akiyama trying to control the action but Burr just sinks the hooks in.
Akiyama is covering up but some of the strikes from Burr are getting through and doing damage.
Akiyama manages to reverse the position and now he's in Burr's guard. Nice work there by Akiyama.
Akiyama trying to control the position from guard on top but Burr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Akiyama lands a couple of elbows.
Akiyama connects with a couple of short punches.
Akiyama works over Burr with some ground and pound from guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Akiyama stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Burr swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Burr wants to sweep here but Akiyama controlling him for the moment.
Mark Burr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Akiyama stands and throws Burr's legs to the side, diving into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yoshihiro Akiyama showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Akiyama, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yoshihiro Akiyama!