PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between yoshihiro akiyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Corey Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Alves's choice of entrance music: Shadows fall - Still I Rise. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

akiyama
vs
Alves

175 cm
18
175 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
20
170 lbs
2 - 7 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, yoshihiro akiyama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Corey Alves!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yuuki Gou and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Alves clinches up against the cage.
Alves scores with a shoulder strike.
akiyama is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Alves gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Alves gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from akiyama.

Alves manages to break the clinch.

Alves has taken the fight to the clinch.

Alves breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Alves throws a right and a left that both miss.
Alves stuffs the takedown attempt from akiyama. akiyama gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for yoshihiro akiyama. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alves misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Corey Alves seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
akiyama fails to land the takedown.
Alves misses with a series of wild punches.
Alves throws a series of strikes that have akiyama backpedaling.
Sloppy strikes from Alves. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alves gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Alves breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Alves fails to land with a series of punches.
Alves throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A punch combination from Alves misses.
akiyama tries to close the distance and clinch up but Alves swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Alves misses with the combination.
akiyama dodges the punch combination from Alves.
Alves tries a head kick but it misses.
Alves tries to bum rush akiyama with a series of wild strikes but akiyama uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
akiyama avoids a punch combination nicely.
akiyama takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Alves rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but akiyama moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Alves clinches up against the cage.

Alves escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
akiyama has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Alves.
akiyama fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Alves avoids it really well and circles away.

Alves closes the distance and pushes akiyama back into the cage.

Alves manages to break the clinch.
akiyama closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Alves lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Alves.
akiyama tries for a takedown but Alves sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
akiyama drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A solid body kick from Alves.
Alves throws a combination but it was largely blocked by akiyama.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alves looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

akiyama is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Alves defends well.
akiyama is breathing heavily.
Alves cracks akiyama with a solid left hand.
Alves chips away with some ground and pound.
Alves works over akiyama with some ground and pound from guard.

Alves stands up from akiyama's guard - Alves perhaps looking for a knockout.

Alves rushes akiyama and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Alves is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in akiyama's half guard.
Alves working over akiyama with some ground and pound. akiyama looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Alves stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Alves goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Alves throws a one two combo.

Alves looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
akiyama throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Corey Alves dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Alves displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Alves gets a takedown into half guard.
Alves tries to stand and escape but akiyama is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alves keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
akiyama gets full guard.
Alves tries to stand but akiyama is controlling from the bottom.
akiyama looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Alves must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Alves stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves fails to land with a series of punches.
Alves throws a quick head kick that skims the top of akiyama's head.
Some wild striking there from Alves.
Alves throws a half hearted mid kick.
akiyama dodges the punch combination from Alves.
Alves misses with a jab, cross combination.
Alves lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
yoshihiro akiyama is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
akiyama has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Alves is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in akiyama's half guard.

akiyama looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Alves connects with a nice short shot to akiyama's temple.
Alves scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Alves stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows akiyama to get to his feet.
A combination from Alves does no damage.

Alves drives through with a takedown into guard.
Alves makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
akiyama 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alves gets to his feet - akiyama follows without any prompting.
Alves rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but akiyama moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Alves lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Alves looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Alves is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and akiyama reverses the position - he's now on top in Alves's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
akiyama wants to control from the top but Alves keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
akiyama pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Alves is keeping the position for now.
Alves trying to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Corey Alves showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Alves has closed the distance and engaged akiyama in a clinch.

Alves has akiyama pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Alves pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending akiyama tumbling to the mat - Alves dives into akiyama's guard.
Alves has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of akiyama is proving hard to escape from.
Alves working some strikes from top position.

Alves decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on akiyama, up you get!
Alves has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
akiyama with a lazy takedown attempt

and Alves counters by moving into the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alves breaks from the clinch.
Alves lands a lovely overhand right.

Alves shoots in and bounces akiyama off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Alves gets to his feet. akiyama looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Alves lands a jab-cross combination.
akiyama dodges the punch combination from Alves.
Alves throws a series of strikes that have akiyama backpedaling.
Alves scores with a three punch combo!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alves scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Alves scores with a three punch combo!
Alves throws a combination but it was largely blocked by akiyama.
Alves misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Alves throws a series of punches but akiyama moves out of range.
akiyama misses with a takedown
and Alves counters with a one-two to the body.
Alves swinging wildly here.

Alves fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with akiyama, pushing him back against the cage.

Alves has dropped down and is working for a takedown. akiyama is trying to keep an underhook but Alves manages to get the takedown into half guard.
akiyama is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Alves scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Alves is nestled in close to akiyama, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Alves decides to return to a standing position.
Alves lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Alves looks to land a combination but akiyama avoids it well.
akiyama tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Alves manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Alves throws a combination. akiyama tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
akiyama doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Alves counters by clinching up.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for yoshihiro akiyama. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Alves breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Alves tries to land a front kick but akiyama steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alves will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
akiyama has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Alves misses with a series of wild punches.
Alves scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Alves looks to land a combination but akiyama avoids it well.
Alves misses with a two punch combination.

Alves moves into range and clinches up with akiyama.

Alves pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Alves throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
yoshihiro akiyama has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Corey Alves is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Alves scores with a one two! akiyama had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Corey Alves comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Alves 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Corey Alves!
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight for Corey Alves!
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for Corey Alves!

Corey Alves wins by unanimous decision!