PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kasim Akande (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Devin Kruse (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.

Akande
vs
Kruse

189 cm
19
269 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
285 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Very confident

Phoenix Nutrition - 158 recovery $99

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kasim Akande!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Devin Kruse!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shirou Masuda and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akande throws a front kick aimed at Kruse's knee but Kruse avoids it well.
Kruse fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Akande defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kruse.
Akande takes a swing at Kruse's ribcage but misses.
Akande shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kruse defends it nicely.

Kruse is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Akande's half guard.
Akande is not content to let Kruse control the position.
Akande wants to get back to full guard.
Akande is working hard here to advance position.
Akande gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Akande throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kruse would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Kruse must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Akande has his foot on Kruse's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kruse works his way back into a safe position though.
Akande is trying to control the position but Kruse postures up.

Kruse has gone for a leg lock! Akande slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kruse's guard.
Akande trying to control the position from guard on top but Kruse is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kruse can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akande working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kruse looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kruse manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Akande manages to get himself to full guard.
Akande not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Akande keeping moving, preventing Kruse from controlling successfully.

Kruse gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Kruse ducks under a wild hook from Akande.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akande swings for the body but Kruse moves out of range.
Akande throws a series of punches but Kruse avoids them all with ease.
Akande circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kruse fails to land the takedown.
Kasim Akande has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Devin Kruse.
Akande throws a right and a left that Kruse avoids nicely.
Kruse fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kruse misses with a wild combination.
Kruse doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Akande counters with a nice uppercut.
Kruse looks gassed!

Kruse gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Akande showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akande thows a big elbow that misses.
Akande wants to control from the top but Kruse keeps moving.
Akande is really struggling to control Kruse but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kasim Akande.
Kruse tries for a takedown but Akande circles away easily
and Akande counters with a stiff right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kasim Akande dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kruse tries to clinch up but Akande circles away and keeps his distance.
Kruse misses with a takedown attempt

and Akande counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kruse's guard now.
Akande looking to sit in guard and control but Kruse gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Akande keeping full guard, as Kruse tries to pass.
Akande is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Akande pulls Kruse in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kruse stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Akande feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Kruse's calf.
Kruse is breathing heavily.

Kruse gets caught flat footed, as Akande shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Akande postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Akande trying to control but Kruse is working from the bottom.

Akande thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kasim Akande overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Akande trying to control the position from guard on top but Kruse is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Akande drops back looking for a leg! Kruse is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kruse manages to kick Akande off! Akande jumps back into Kruse's guard.
Kruse striking off his back but it's not causing Akande any problems.

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

Kruse has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Akande can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Akande with a lazy takedown attempt

and Kruse counters with a shoot takedown. Akande fights it but they end up in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Akande is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kruse is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kruse trying to control but Akande is working from the bottom.
Akande wants to sweep here but Kruse controlling him for the moment.
Kruse throws a big right hand that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kruse accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kruse postures up.
Kruse sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Kruse wants to pass the guard but Akande is keeping the position.

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.
Akande has Kruse pulled in close to control his posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Akande misses with a wild body shot.

Kruse shoots in and bounces Akande off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Kruse wants to get up but he can't break Akande's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kasim Akande dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Akande swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Akande misses with a straight right.
Akande circles away from the clinch attempt.
Akande throws a low kick but Kruse moves out of range easily.
Akande looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Akande misses with a low kick as Kruse jumps back.
Kruse is looking to clinch.
Kruse shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Akande sprawls well. Akande wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kruse gets slowly back to his feet.
Akande misses with a series of wild punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kruse looks to land a combination but Akande avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akande looks to score with a jab to the body but Kruse is just out of range.
Akande lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kruse circles away quickly and effectively.
Akande misses with a straight left.
Kruse is looking to chop away at Akande's legs.
Akande misses with a wild combination.
Kruse throws a jab when Akande was well out of range.
Akande misses with a looping right.
Kruse with a lazy takedown attempt

and Akande counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Kruse takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kruse keeping moving, preventing Akande from controlling successfully.
Akande throwing strikes from guard but Kruse blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kruse keeping moving, preventing Akande from controlling successfully.

Akande drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kruse dives on top into guard.
Kruse looking to sit in guard and control but Akande gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kruse looking to hit a scissor sweep but Akande is one step ahead there.

Akande is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Kruse is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Kruse has escaped and now he's on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kruseis looking to pass into half guard but Akande pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Akande is in guard.
Kruse looking to control.
Akande postures up in Kruse's guard and throws a big left but Kruse blocks it.
Akande wants to control from the top but Kruse keeps moving.

Akande 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kruse trying to control the position.
Akande thows a big elbow that misses.
Kasim Akande is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A jab from Akande misses.
Kruse throws a head kick that misses.
Akande swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kruse doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Akande decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kruse's guard.
Devin Kruse has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kasim Akande has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Devin Kruse.
Akande controls from within his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kasim Akande showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Akande has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kasim Akande!