PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between aj styles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Akari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

styles
vs
Akari

190 cm
22
245 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

189 cm
23
230 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, aj styles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dan Akari!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
styles throws a head kick that misses.
Akari shoots for a double leg takedown but styles sprawls well. He's pushed Akari's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

styles has managed to clinch.
Akari jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as styles walks away with a smile on his face. Akari gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nice takedown defense from styles. No joy for Akari on that attempt.
aj styles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Akari.
styles misses with a takedown

and Akari counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Akari seems to be working for a kimura but styles defends the submission attempt.
Akari is looking to advance position but styles won't allow it.
styles is pressing down on Akari's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Akari tries to free his leg and advance position but styles is retaining full guard.

Akari has gone for a leg lock! styles slips out almost immediately though and dives into Akari's guard.

Akari is looking for a triangle here but styles uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Akari looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
styles trying to control the action but Akari is working from the bottom.
styles remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Akari is looking to regain half guard here but styles keeps moving and retains side control.
styles in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Akari wants to control but styles postures up.

styles has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
styles scores with a sloppy right hand. Akari should have avoided that one.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akari using the Thai plumb to throw knees but styles has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

styles works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
styles forces his way into half guard.
styles not landing any meaningful shots this time.
styles tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Akari keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
styles perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Akari missing with punches from the bottom.
styles controlling the action here.
styles is trying to control. Akari wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

and styles counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Akari keeping moving, preventing styles from controlling successfully.

styles got a little sloppy there for a moment and Akari has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, styles has managed to get both his arms back between Akari's legs - danger averted.

Akari is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
styles with a flurry of punches that miss.

Akari looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

styles decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Akari, up you get!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
styles lands with a kick to the temple. Akari shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Akari gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and styles counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Akari wants a takedown but no success here.
Akari tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

styles escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

styles rushes Akari and presses him up against the cage.

styles has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Akari is trying to keep an underhook but styles manages to get the takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
styles is looking to take a break and control but Akari is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Akari is pressing down on styles's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
styles trying to control the position from guard on top but Akari is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

aj styles dominated that round.
That's time! styles's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Akari has his takedown stuffed

and styles counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Akari is pressing down on styles's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Akari is looking for a triangle here but styles uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
styles wants to control but Akari is keeping him busy.

styles decides to stand up, so the ref orders Akari to his feet.
Dan Akari seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Akari closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming styles to the mat! styles manages to get full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Akari has gone for a leg lock! styles slips out almost immediately though and dives into Akari's guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Akari has an active guard here but styles has managed to pass into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
styles trying to pass the guard but Akari defending well.

Akari looking for submissions off his back.
Akari is staying active underneath styles, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Akari has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. styles is working away from the top position though.
styles not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Akari keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
styles is keen to just control but Akari is a slippery customer.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Akari changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. styles looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
styles is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Akari is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so styles is just riding it out for now. Akari eventually gives up the hold.
Akari tries to pass the half guard into mount. styles knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Akari seems to be working for a kimura but styles defends the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Akari is working for a kimura but styles is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Akari seems to be looking for submissions.
styles keeps control of the position for the meantime.

Akari is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, styles has managed to free his arm - good work.
Akari missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
styles trying to control from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
styles doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Akari counters with a nice double leg into side control. styles won't be happy with that.

Akari tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Akari has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Akari working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Akari working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Akari showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

styles misses with a takedown attempt

and Akari counters with a shoot takedown. styles fights it but they end up in guard.
styles throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
styles is trying to control the position but Akari postures up.

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

Akari working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. styles doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. styles manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
styles not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
styles postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Akari throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Akari escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. styles gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Akari has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but styles can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
styles trying to control the position from guard on top but Akari is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Akari is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! styles has his hands clasped together but Akari extends an breaks styles's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Akari.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Dan Akari!