PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mayron Rocha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshihiro Akiyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yoshihiro Akiyama will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Rocha
vs
Akiyama

185 cm
23
199 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

178 cm
22
185 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid 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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mayron Rocha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Yoshihiro Akiyama!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Matheus Silva and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Akiyama has Rocha up against the cage in a clinch.

Akiyama drags the fight down to the ground.
Rocha postures up.
Rocha throwing strikes but missing.

Akiyama is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Akiyama avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Akiyama wants to sweep but no luck.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rocha trying to control but Akiyama is working from the bottom.
Rocha throws a strike but Akiyama rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Akiyama accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rocha shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Rocha connects with a couple of short punches.
Akiyama controlling the position.
Rocha trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocha throws and elbow that misses. Akiyama uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rocha's guard. Nice move by Akiyama!
Akiyama is looking to stand up but Rocha won't let him.
Rocha on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rocha tries to get out of the position.

Akiyama gets to his feet - Rocha follows without any prompting.
Akiyama stuffs the takedown.
No luck for Akiyama with that takedown attempt.
Akiyama misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocha wants to clinch but Akiyama slips to the side

and Akiyama counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rocha!
Rocha is in all sorts of trouble here.
Rocha manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Rocha, under a barage of strikes from Akiyama.
Rocha is not content to let Akiyama control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Akiyama tries to stand and escape but Rocha actually recovers to full guard.
Rocha 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshihiro Akiyama dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Akiyama will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Akiyama gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rocha to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Akiyama striking off his back but it's not causing Rocha any problems.
Akiyama will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Rocha wants to control from the top but Akiyama keeps moving.

Rocha postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Akiyama is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rocha, into his guard.
Akiyama wants to control from the top but Rocha keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Akiyama looking to sit in guard and control but Rocha gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Akiyama wants to sweep here but Rocha controlling him for the moment.
Rocha landing with the ground and pound.
Akiyama not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama wants to sweep but no luck.
Akiyama is trying to control the position but Rocha postures up.
Rocha trying to control the position from guard on top but Akiyama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Akiyama shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rocha's guard.
Akiyama wants to stand but Rocha is controlling his posture from full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Rocha wants to sweep here but Akiyama controlling him for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Akiyama trying to control the position from guard on top but Rocha is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Yoshihiro Akiyama will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Rocha's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rocha is trying hard to land a takedown here. Akiyama sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rocha with a lazy takedown attempt

and Akiyama counters by moving into the clinch.
Akiyama goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rocha prevents it.
Rocha drops down looking for an ankle pick but Akiyama pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mayron Rocha. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Akiyama pushes Rocha up against the cage in a clinch.
Akiyama lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rocha or not.

Akiyama breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rocha with a lazy takedown attempt
and Akiyama counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Akiyama misses with a takedown

and Rocha counters with a single leg into guard. Akiyama didn't expect that.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rocha throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Akiyama works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Rocha avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocha stopping the sweep attempt from Akiyama.
Akiyama being controlled here, momentarily.
Akiyama not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two 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.
Rocha trying to control but Akiyama is working from the bottom.
Akiyama wants to stand up but Rocha is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rocha trying to control but Akiyama is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rocha tries for a takedown but Akiyama circles away easily

and Akiyama holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Akiyama breaks from the clinch.

Akiyama scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Akiyama lands a nice forearm strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama wants to control but Rocha is keeping him busy.
Akiyama wants to take a breather but Rocha manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Akiyama.
Akiyama wants to control from the top but Rocha keeps moving.
Mayron Rocha has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Akiyama must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Akiyama is looking to work some ground and pound but Rocha has wrist control.
Rocha wants to sweep here but Akiyama controlling him for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yoshihiro Akiyama comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Akiyama 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30

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