PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joe Mcpaene (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tiagong Akyat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Akyat has chosen Crank That as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mcpaene
vs
Akyat

183 cm
20
184 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

181 cm
22
185 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joe Mcpaene!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tiagong Akyat!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Shirou Masuda and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mcpaene throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Akyat was covering up waiting for the punch and Mcpaene finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Mcpaene looking to pass the guard.

Mcpaene got a little sloppy there for a moment and Akyat has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mcpaene has managed to get both his arms back between Akyat's legs - danger averted.
Mcpaene trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mcpaene postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Mcpaene trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mcpaene trying to move into half guard but instead Akyat has managed to sweep!
Mcpaene trying to keep a closed guard but Akyat is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Akyat drops back looking for a leg! Mcpaene is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Mcpaene manages to kick Akyat off! Akyat jumps back into Mcpaene's guard.
Mcpaene wants to sweep but no luck.
Mcpaene is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Akyat is controlling him.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mcpaene shoots for a double leg takedown but Akyat sprawls well. He's pushed Mcpaene's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Akyat has his takedown stuffed

and Mcpaene counters with a single leg into guard. Akyat didn't expect that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mcpaene looking to pass the guard.
Akyat keeping moving, preventing Mcpaene from controlling successfully.

Mcpaene decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Akyat, up you get!
Mcpaene tries to bum rush Akyat with a series of wild strikes but Akyat uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Akyat looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Akyat 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.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Mcpaene is looking to control Akyat's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mcpaene avoid being mounted?
Mcpaene slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Akyat drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Akyat jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Mcpaene wants to get back to his feet but Akyat is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Mcpaene bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Akyat's guard.
Mcpaene tries to stand but Akyat is controlling from the bottom.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Mcpaene wants to pass the guard but Akyat is keeping the position.
Akyat manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mcpaene manages to get himself to full guard.
Mcpaene is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Akyat advances to half guard.
Akyat prevents Mcpaene from improving his position.
Mcpaene is working hard here to advance position.
Mcpaene is breathing heavily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Mcpaene dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mcpaene misses with a takedown attempt

and Akyat counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Akyat.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Akyat won't allow Mcpaene to sweep him here.
Akyat pushes down on Mcpaene's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Mcpaene is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Akyat moves nicely into side control.
Mcpaene tries to improve position but can't.

Akyat is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Mcpaene knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Akyat is trying to get an arm triangle but Mcpaene is defending well.
You can see the frustration on Mcpaene's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Akyat looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Mcpaene tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Akyat wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Akyat advances nicely into full mount.

Akyat has control of Mcpaene's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Mcpaene regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Mcpaene is desperately trying to improve his position but Akyat has a good base and remains in mount.
Mcpaene tries to hold on but Akyat postures up.
Mcpaene throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Akyat is working for a guillotine from mount but Mcpaene frees his head quite easily.
Mcpaene tries to hold on but Akyat pushes him away.

Akyat working for a submission but Mcpaene is keeping him at bay.
Mcpaene keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Mcpaene tries to hold on but Akyat pushes him away.

Akyat goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Mcpaene is on top in guard.
Mcpaene tries to free his leg and advance position but Akyat is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcpaene wants to stand but Akyat is controlling his posture from full guard.
Mcpaene wants to control from the top but Akyat keeps moving.
Mcpaene advances to half guard.
Akyat gets back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Mcpaene tries to free his leg and advance position but Akyat is retaining full guard.

Akyat working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mcpaene doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mcpaene manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Akyat working for a triangle but Mcpaene defends it easily.
Mcpaene wants to control from the top but Akyat keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tiagong Akyat showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Akyat ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Mcpaene tries for a takedown but Akyat circles away easily

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

Akyat is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Mcpaene is trying to keep Akyat in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akyat pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mcpaene is keeping the position for now.
Akyat stops Mcpaene from standing up.
Mcpaene manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Mcpaene tries to control but Akyat wriggling away.
Akyat is trying desperately to improve position.
Mcpaene tries to control but Akyat wriggling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
A nice elbow there by Mcpaene.
Mcpaene postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Akyat looks a forlorn figure.
Akyat takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Mcpaene looking to finish with strikes here!
Mcpaene punching from mount but Akyat doing a good job of avoiding damage.

Mcpaene moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Akyat has worked his arm free - good work by Akyat!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mcpaene swings around for an armbar but Akyat sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Mcpaene's guard.
Tiagong Akyat has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Akyat thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Mcpaene working a defensive guard here.

Akyat drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Akyat jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Mcpaene is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Akyat passes into half guard.

That's four 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.
Akyat passes to side control.
Mcpaene is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Mcpaene is looking to improve his position.

Akyat is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Mcpaene is looking to control Akyat's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mcpaene avoid being mounted?

Akyat is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Mcpaene has managed to free his arm - good work.
Mcpaene tries to roll over but Akyat keeps him under control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tiagong Akyat comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Akyat 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight for Tiagong Akyat!
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Tiagong Akyat!
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight for Tiagong Akyat!

Tiagong Akyat wins by unanimous decision!