PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Talib Kweli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ichiro Akamuri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Kweli
vs
Akamuri

176 cm
24
160 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

177 cm
19
163 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Talib Kweli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ichiro Akamuri!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Yukihiro Shimada and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akamuri misses with a wild body shot.
Akamuri throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A head kick misses from Akamuri.
Akamuri throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kweli.
Kweli takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Kweli scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Akamuri on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Kweli moves out of range of the leg kick from Akamuri.
Akamuri avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Akamuri lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Akamuri lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Akamuri throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Akamuri misses with a low kick.
Nice straight punches there by Kweli. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Kweli.
Kweli pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Akamuri tries to land a leg kick but Kweli saw it coming and moves away.
Kweli uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Akamuri has time to react.
Kweli throws an overhand right that lands on Akamuri's shoulder, as Akamuri tries to avoid the shot.
Kweli tries to clinch but Akamuri moves out of range.
Kweli swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kweli lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akamuri lands a nice looking kick to the body. Kweli takes a step back to recover.
Akamuri with a nice cross.
Akamuri avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Akamuri throws a leg kick that misses.
Kweli cracks Akamuri with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Kweli throws a lazy right hand but Akamuri sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Akamuri misses with a low kick.
Kweli throws a body punch but Akamuri moves out of range.
Akamuri moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kweli checks a leg kick.
Akamuri misses with a low kick.
Akamuri tries to land a body kick

and Kweli moves into the clinch.
Kweli tries to throw a body punch but Akamuri avoids it by throwing Kweli back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Akamuri.
Kweli is trying to break the clinch but Akamuri is controlling him.
A hook to the body from Kweli.
Akamuri swings wildly with an uppercut but Kweli uses good head movement to avoid it.
Akamuri working aggressively here.
A head punch on the inside from Akamuri fails to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akamuri lands a nice uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Kweli fails to land.
Akamuri lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A hook to the body from Kweli.
Kweli looking to slow down the pace here.
Good body shot from Akamuri.
Kweli is trying to stall.
Kweli lands with a left to the head.
Kweli misses with a punch on the inside.
Kweli works on Akamuri's body with a couple of short punches.
Akamuri throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A nice left hand lands by Akamuri.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kweli creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Kweli breaks from the clinch.
Akamuri staying out of range there.

Kweli gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Akamuri lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kweli backwards.
Kweli blocking some punches.
Akamuri blocking some punches.
Akamuri misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kweli taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Akamuri tries to stall but Kweli uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kweli can't find room to land a body shot as Akamuri controls the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kweli lands with a light punch inside.
Akamuri lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kweli backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Akamuri creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Akamuri throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kwelis head.
Akamuri lands with a left to the head.
Akamuri trying to control the position but instead, Kweli has worked for underhooks and has pushed Akamuri into the cage.
Kweli can't break the clinch.
Kweli tries to throw a body punch but Akamuri avoids it by throwing Kweli back against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Kweli scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kweli has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kweli swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kweli is struggling to control the position.
A right hand to the body from Akamuri.
Stalling in the clinch from Akamuri.
Akamuri throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Akamuri.
Good body shot from Kweli.
Nice body punch from Kweli.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kweli.
Kweli swings wildly with an uppercut but Akamuri uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kweli tries to break the clinch but Akamuri is controlling the position.
Kweli stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kweli has Akamuri pressed against the cage.
Akamuri looking to slow down the pace here.
Kweli lands a shot to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Akamuri gets through Kweli's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Kweli breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kweli turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Akamuri takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Akamuri looks gassed!
Akamuri tried to score with a low kick but Kweli checks it.
Kweli checks a leg kick.
Akamuri on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Akamuri closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Ichiro Akamuri seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kweli wants to clinch.
Kweli throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kweli connects with a solid leg kick.
Akamuri throws a head kick that Kweli semi-blocks.
Kweli connects with an inside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Talib Kweli will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kweli connects with a jab.
Kweli connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A low kick from Akamuri misses
and Kweli connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Talib Kweli is winning the standup battle so far.
Kweli scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Kweli fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Akamuri manages to avoid it.
Kweli scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kweli dodges the punch combination from Akamuri.
Akamuri slips a jab from Kweli.
An inside leg kick from Akamuri misses.
Kweli walks forward, straight into a front kick from Akamuri.
Akamuri throws a sloppy head kick and Kweli moves out of range easily.

Kweli rushes Akamuri and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Akamuri lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kweli wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Akamuri has him pressed against the cage.
Kweli presses Akamuri against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Akamuri is breathing heavily.
Kweli throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Akamuri misses with some punches.
Kweli lands a shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kweli scores with a shoulder strike.
Kweli scores with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kweli's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kweli ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Nice shot by Kweli.
Akamuri takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Akamuri takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Kweli fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Some bone on bone action there as Kweli checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Kweli connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kweli buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kweli lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Akamuri's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Kweli throws a nice inside leg kick.
Akamuri takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kweli.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kweli changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Kweli throws a head kick but Akamuri moves out of range.
Kweli tries to bum rush Akamuri with a series of wild strikes but Akamuri uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Kweli.
Kweli blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Akamuri misses with a punch on the inside.
Kweli content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Akamuri swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kweli lands a body punch.
Kweli prevents a body shot from Akamuri.
Kweli lands a body shot.
Kweli lands with a left to the head.
Kweli lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Kweli.

Kweli manages to break the clinch.
Kweli lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Kweli getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Kweli gets a clinch.
Akamuri can't find room to land a body shot as Kweli controls the action.
Akamuri misses with the head strike.
Akamuri throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kweli.
Akamuri has a couple of punches blocked by Kweli.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Kweli has had enough of the clinch but Akamuri keeps him there for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kweli stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Kweli breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kweli swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Akamuri.
Akamuri takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Kweli chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kweli works Akamuri's body with a nice hook.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kweli.
Akamuri stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kweli.
Kweli lands a jab to the nose.
Kweli punishes Akamuri's body with a nice straight punch.
Akamuri takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Kweli closes the distance and clinches.
Kweli effectively controlling the action here.

Kweli breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kweli lands a body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Akamuri throws a sloppy head kick

and Kweli counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Kweli lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Kweli wants to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kweli can't break the clinch.
Akamuri swings wildly with an uppercut but Kweli uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kweli stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Akamuri.
Kweli lands with a left to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kweli.
Talib Kweli has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Akamuri misses with a punch on the inside.
Kweli leaning his opponent against the cage.

Kweli pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from Akamuri.
Akamuri thows a leg kick but Kweli checks it
and Kweli counters with a nice uppercut.

Kweli instigates a clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Akamuri scores with a shot to the side of Kweli's head.
Kweli prevents a body shot from Akamuri.
Kweli lands with a short shot to the head.
Akamuri working aggressively here.
A right hand to the body from Kweli.
Kweli digs a right hand underneath Akamuri's ribcage. Akamuri let out a lung full of air as it connected.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Talib Kweli dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Akamuri tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Akamuri drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Good leg kick by Akamuri there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Akamuri throws a wild body kick that Kweli sees coming a mile off.
Akamuri throws a leg kick
and Kweli connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kweli moves in looking to clinch but Akamuri pushes him off.
Kweli throws a hook but Akamuri blocks it.
Akamuri misses with the body kick
and Kweli counters with a low kick, right behind Akamuri 's knee.

Kweli rushes Akamuri and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Good body shot from Kweli.
Kweli lands a body shot.
Kweli pushes Akamuri back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Kweli lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Akamuri.
Kweli stalling.
Kweli looking to slow down the pace here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice body punch from Kweli.
A shot in the inside from Kweli.
Kweli works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A short uppercut from Kweli.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Kweli.
Kweli lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Kweli is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Akamuri can do to turn this around?
A nice right hand lands inside from Kweli.
Akamuri misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kweli stalling the fight.
Kweli lands a left hand.
Kweli tries to break the clinch but Akamuri is controlling the position.
A right hook to the body lands for Kweli.
Kweli lands a shot to the body.
A short uppercut from Kweli.
Akamuri tries to throw a body punch but Kweli avoids it by throwing Akamuri back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Akamuri fails to land.
The referee is keeping an eye on Kweli - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Kweli wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kweli avoiding damage.
Akamuri stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A short right from Kweli on the inside.
Akamuri pressing his opponent against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akamuri swings wildly with an uppercut but Kweli uses good head movement to avoid it.
A hook to the body from Kweli.
Kweli digs a right hand underneath Akamuri's ribcage. Akamuri let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Kweli lands a nice shot to the body.
Kweli stalls.
Kweli works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Ichiro Akamuri has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Kweli breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Akamuri throws a sloppy head kick and Kweli moves out of range easily.
Kweli looks for the body kick but Akamuri saw that one coming.
Kweli with a nice cross.
Akamuri is looking to clinch but Kweli is avoiding it.
Akamuri loads up on a big right hand but Kweli slips the punch.
Kweli tries to clinch there but Akamuri circles away.
Akamuri takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akamuri misses with a leg kick
and Kweli counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kweli.
A punch lands to the side of Akamuri 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Kweli with a nice cross.
Kweli tests Akamuri's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kweli works Akamuri's body with a nice hook.
Kweli lands a body shot.
Akamuri throws a sloppy head kick
and Kweli connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Akamuri uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kweli.
Akamuri throws a sloppy head kick
and Kweli counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Talib Kweli is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kweli works the jab nicely.
Kweli works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Kweli closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kweli lands a right hand that snaps the head of Akamuri backwards.
Akamuri misses with a short punch on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Kweli.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kweli pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Akamuri takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Kweli closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Akamuri swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kweli lands a hook to the side of the head.
Akamuri throws a head punch that misses.
Kweli lands a body punch in the clinch.
Kweli presses Akamuri against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Kweli lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Akamuri or not.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A short body shot lands from Kweli as the two fighters clinch.
Kweli lands a right hand that snaps the head of Akamuri backwards.
Akamuri is trying to maintain a safe position but Kweli gets an underhook and turns Akamuri into the cage.
Akamuri misses with the head strike.
Kweli scores with a shot to the side of Akamuri's head.
Kweli lands a nice shot to the body.

Kweli breaks from the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kweli pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Kweli gets a clinch.
Akamuri tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Akamuri tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kweli stalling in the clinch but Akamuri improves position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Talib Kweli showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kweli 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:25
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:26
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Talib Kweli!