PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Wanderson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshiro Akiyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Akiyama has chosen Time To Say Goodbye as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Silva
vs
Akiyama

183 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
20
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Wanderson Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoshiro Akiyama!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akiyama connects with a jab.
Akiyama fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Akiyama tries to clinch up but Silva circles away and keeps his distance.

Silva closes the distance and clinches.
Silva avoiding damage as Akiyama throws knees to the body.

Silva pulls guard effortlessly.
Akiyama trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Akiyama throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Silva works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Silva is looking to stand up but Akiyama isn't so interested in that idea.
Akiyama working some strikes from top position.
Akiyama must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Silva wants to sweep but no luck.
Akiyama looking to sit in guard and control but Silva gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Silva advances position into side control!
Silva lands a few punches from side control.
Akiyama tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Silva wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Silva lands a nice forearm strike.
Sloppy strikes there by Silva.
Silva is putting a hurting on Akiyama here, landing some big shots from side control.
Akiyama wants to get back to his feet but Silva drags him back down.
Silva landing strikes.
Akiyama tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Silva presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Silva is landing with some decent strikes but Akiyama is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Akiyama is working to get back to half guard.
Akiyama sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Akiyama is trying to maintain the position but Silva is very close to passing his half guard.
Silva throws a strike but Akiyama avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Silva in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Silva decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva avoids the body shot from Akiyama.
Akiyama takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Silva closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Silva lands in his opponent's guard.
Silva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Akiyama is keeping the position for now.
Silva is breathing heavily.
Silva prevents Akiyama from getting back to his feet.
Akiyama doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Akiyama is working an open guard so Silva takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Akiyama moves into the clinch successfully.
Silva misses with an elbow over the top.
Akiyama fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Silva wants to break the clinch but can't.
Akiyama lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Akiyama manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Akiyama swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Silva postures up and lands a big shot to Akiyama's brow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silva throws a strike but Akiyama rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Silva is working an open guard so Akiyama takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Akiyama fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Wanderson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoshiro Akiyama.
Silva throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Akiyama's waist but Akiyama gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Silva off to one side.
The fighters circling - Akiyama throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Akiyama gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Akiyama is working for takedown but Silva is calmly controlling the position for now.

Akiyama has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Silva is trying to keep an underhook but Akiyama manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Silva moves into full guard.
Akiyama tries to free his leg and advance position but Silva is retaining full guard.
Akiyama is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Akiyama passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Silva wants to control but Akiyama postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Akiyama working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Silva has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Silva is looking to regain half guard here but Akiyama keeps moving and retains side control.
Silva sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Silva pushes Akiyama off and gets back to his feet.
Silva wants to clinch.
Akiyama tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Akiyama darts in trying to clinch

and Silva counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Silva missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Akiyama wants to sweep but Silva has passed to side control!
Akiyama regains half guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama is looking to improve his position.
Akiyama wants to sweep but Silva has passed to side control!
Silva has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Akiyama!
Silva punishing his opponent with strikes.
Akiyama wants to hold on but Silva pushes him away.
Akiyama's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Silva lands a heavy elbow.
Silva scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Akiyama?
Akiyama wants to hold on but Silva pushes him away.
Akiyama is looking to improve his position but Silva isn't that keen on the idea.
Silva unloading with bombs!

Silva working for a guillotine from mount but Akiyama is in no mood to give up.
Akiyama wants to hold on but Silva pushes him away.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Silva kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Akiyama is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Silva pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Silva lands a big elbow.
Akiyama tries to lock up and control but Silva gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Silva lands a nice shot to the head.
Silva raining down shots from the mount!
Akiyama is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Akiyama regains half guard.

Akiyama actively working from the bottom here.
Akiyama trying to hold on to Silva's head to control him but Silva postures up.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Silva scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Akiyama missing with punches from the bottom.
Akiyama avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Silva.
Nice strikes from Silva there.
Silva missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Akiyama is looking to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Silva gets a takedown into half guard.
Silva landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Silva sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Akiyama defending well though.
Silva lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Akiyama is looking for a sweep. Silva is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Silva tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Silva missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Akiyama kicks off Silva and gets to his feet.
Akiyama connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Akiyama tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Silva counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Akiyama moves in looking to clinch but Silva pushes him off.
Akiyama slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Silva throws a right and a left that both miss.
Akiyama tries to clinch up

and Silva counters with a shoot takedown. Akiyama fights it but they end up in guard.
Akiyama preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Akiyama looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Akiyama preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Akiyama manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama blocks Silva's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Silva working to try and regain half guard.
Akiyama landing strikes from the mount.
BOOM! Akiyama connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Akiyama looking to control but Silva is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Akiyama landing strikes from the mount and Silva is in trouble!
Akiyama working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Silva defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Akiyama.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Akiyama looking to finish Silva with some ground and pound. This is bad for Silva!
Silva is trying to escape the mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Akiyama cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderson Silva dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Silva shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Silva showed some decent athleticism there.
Akiyama is looking for a sweep. Silva is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Silva is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Akiyama throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Akiyama makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Akiyama.
Silva missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Silva keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Akiyama's head.
Silva wanted to stand there but Akiyama had control of the position.
Akiyama looking to control.
Akiyama wants to stand up but Silva is controlling him.
Akiyama working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Silva.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Akiyama pushes Silva off and scrambles back to his feet.
Silva fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Wanderson Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akiyama tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Akiyama moves in looking to clinch but Silva pushes him off.
No luck for Silva with that takedown attempt.
Akiyama lands a body shot.
Nice sprawl there from Akiyama as Silva shoots in.

Akiyama takes the fight into the clinch.
Akiyama is pressed up against the cage. Silva has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Akiyama down to the mat. Akiyama avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wanderson Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Akiyama connects with a nice looking jab.
A punch combination from Silva misses.
Silva misses with a jab, cross combination.
Silva works the jab nicely.

Silva has taken the fight to the clinch.

Silva breaks from the clinch.
Silva connects with a good right hand that stumbles Akiyama. Akiyama circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
The fight stays on the outside here - Akiyama looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Silva with a jab.

Silva has managed to clinch.
Akiyama drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Silva gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Akiyama manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva wants to control from the top but Akiyama keeps moving.
Silva connects with a couple of short punches.

Silva stands up from Akiyama's guard - Silva perhaps looking for a knockout.
Silva throws a head kick that misses.
Silva throws a head kick that half lands.
Silva tries to bum rush Akiyama with a series of wild strikes but Akiyama uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Akiyama showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Silva.
Akiyama fails in his attempt to clinch.

Silva has closed the distance and engaged Akiyama in a clinch.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Akiyama blocks with his arms.
Silva tries to pull guard but Akiyama won't allow it.
Silva stops a takedown attempt from Akiyama.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Akiyama struggles to land a body shot inside as Silva controls his hands.
Silva is trying to maintain a safe position but Akiyama gets an underhook and turns Silva into the cage.
Akiyama has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Silva avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Silva leaning his opponent against the cage.

Akiyama pulls Silva into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Akiyama looking for a guillotine here but Silva defends easily.
Akiyama lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Silva!
Akiyama lands a big shot there that rocks Silva but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Akiyama dominating with strikes here.
Akiyama lands with some strikes.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Akiyama cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Akiyama looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Akiyama cracks Silva with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

Silva is rocked!
Silva is bucking up trying to escape but Akiyama cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Akiyama trying to control but Silva is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama with shots to the head and body - Silva looks very uncomfortable down there.
Silva is desperately trying to improve his position but Akiyama has a good base and remains in mount.
Silva tries to buck Akiyama off but he can't manage it.
Akiyama throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Silva because Akiyama loaded up on that one.
Silva bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Silva trying to control but Akiyama is working from the bottom.
Silva is pushing down on Akiyama's leg trying to pass to half guard. Akiyama is fighting to maintain full guard but Silva has managed to sneak the leg through.

Silva stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Akiyama to get to his feet.
Silva misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Left hook, right uppercut from Silva.
Silva tries a head kick but it misses.
Silva wants to clinch but Akiyama slips to the side

and Akiyama counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Akiyama.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Silva bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Akiyama's guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Akiyama is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Silva escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Silva tries to clinch but Akiyama moves away

and Akiyama counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Silva!
Silva is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Akiyama trying to control but Silva is having none of it.
Silva taking shots to the head.
You get the feeling that Silva really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Akiyama prevents Silva from getting the reversal.
Akiyama fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Akiyama is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Silva can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Akiyama in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Oh Silva is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Akiyama lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Silva in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Akiyama punishing his opponent with strikes.
A nice elbow there by Akiyama.
Silva throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Silva is looking to get to half guard.
Akiyama landing strikes, looking to finish!
Silva tries to lock up and control but Akiyama gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Silva seems to have got his legs back now.
Akiyama won't let Silva get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Silva can't escape the position.
Yoshiro Akiyama has got the better of the ground game so far.
Akiyama trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Akiyama landing punches.
Silva is working to get back to half guard.

Akiyama working for a guillotine from mount but Silva is in no mood to give up.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama prevents Silva from getting the reversal.
Akiyama is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Silva can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Silva tries to reverse the position but Akiyama maintains control.
Akiyama scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Silva really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Akiyama has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Silva's face.
Akiyama lands with some strikes.
Silva is in all sorts of trouble here.
Silva is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Akiyama lands a heavy elbow.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama unloading with bombs!
Akiyama dominating with strikes here.
Akiyama lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Silva hang on?
Silva is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Akiyama lands with some strikes.
Akiyama in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Silva slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Silva is trying to stand back up but Akiyama is controlling him
Akiyama is tying to control. Silva wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Silva striking from the bottom.
Silva is not content to let Akiyama control the position.
Akiyama is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Akiyama is stalling here. Silva is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Akiyama seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Silva has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Akiyama on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Silva holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Akiyama prevents Silva from breaking the clinch.
Silva wants to break free but Akiyama has control.
Akiyama is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Silva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Akiyama takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Silva fails to land with a series of punches.

Akiyama scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Akiyama cracks Silva with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Silva tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Akiyama wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Silva managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Akiyama.
Silva is working to avoid the ground and pound but Akiyama connects with a decent elbow.
Akiyama cracks Silva with a big elbow.
Silva regains half guard.
Akiyama lands with a punch from half guard.
Silva is refusing to be controlled, as Akiyama sits in half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Akiyama stops Silva from getting back to his feet.
Silva makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Silva.

Akiyama gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yoshiro Akiyama comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight for Yoshiro Akiyama!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Yoshiro Akiyama!
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight for Yoshiro Akiyama!

Yoshiro Akiyama wins by unanimous decision!