PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ngozi Akoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazuya Kiriyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kazuya Kiriyama is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Akoto
vs
Kiriyama

156 cm
19
249 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
270 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 Tokyo, Ngozi Akoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazuya Kiriyama!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Ren Mimura and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akoto tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Kiriyama clinches up with Akoto and pushes him back against the cage.

Kiriyama decides to pull guard.
Akoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Kiriyama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Akoto really is a fat lump.
Kiriyama keeping full guard, as Akoto tries to pass.
Akoto is looking to advance position but Kiriyama has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Kiriyama prevents Akoto from getting the reversal.
Akoto is working hard here to advance position.
Akoto regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kiriyama decides to stand and escape the position.

Akoto closes the distance and clinches.
Kiriyama is stalling here.
Still in the clinch, Akoto scores with a nice short uppercut.

Kiriyama lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Akoto is defending against the submission attempts here by Kiriyama.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Akoto tries to roll over but Kiriyama keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akoto moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kiriyama is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Akoto is trying to control the position but Kiriyama postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Akoto keeping moving, preventing Kiriyama from controlling successfully.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Akoto working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Akoto throws his legs up looking for a submission but Kiriyama uses it to pass to side control.
Akoto is breathing heavily.
Kiriyama controls the position from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A control attempt from Akoto but he's now mounted!
Kiriyama controlling from mount.
Akoto is working to get back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kiriyama working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Kiriyama is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Akoto can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazuya Kiriyama dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kiriyama clinches.

It looks like Ngozi Akoto has been cut.
Kiriyama lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Akoto jumps guard but Kiriyama stands there with Akoto around his waist. Akoto gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Akoto jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kiriyama walks away with a smile on his face. Akoto gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Akoto tries to clinch up

and Kiriyama decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Akoto's guard.
Akoto knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kiriyama on the ground.
Akoto being controlled here, momentarily.
Kazuya Kiriyama has got the better of the ground game so far.
Akoto trying to control the position.
Kiriyama throws a big right hand that misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akoto tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Akoto looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Akoto working a defensive guard here.
Kiriyama trying to control the position from guard on top but Akoto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kiriyama pushes down on Akoto's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Kiriyama escapes and gets back to his feet.

Kiriyama closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Kiriyama there.
Kiriyama content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Kiriyama takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Akoto on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Akoto tries to get out of the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kiriyama keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Akoto looking for submissions off his back.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiriyama scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Akoto has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kiriyama is working away from the top position though.
Kiriyama content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Kazuya Kiriyama hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Kiriyama takes the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kiriyama digs a right hand underneath Akoto's ribcage. Akoto let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Kiriyama breaks from the clinch.

Kiriyama fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Akoto to the ground. Kiriyama is now in Akoto's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Akoto is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Akoto working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Kiriyama has passed into half guard!
Kiriyama scoring with strikes to the body and head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazuya Kiriyama showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ngozi Akoto's cut.
That's time! Akoto's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Akoto tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kiriyama swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Akoto tries to clinch up but Kiriyama circles away and keeps his distance.

Kiriyama moves into the clinch successfully.
Kiriyama leaning against his opponent.

Kiriyama's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Akoto wants to clinch.
Akoto tries to clinch up but Kiriyama circles away and keeps his distance.

Akoto fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kiriyama, pushing him back against the cage.
Akoto tries a body shot but Kiriyama blocks it.
Akoto tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kiriyama smiles and moves away.

Kiriyama pushes Akoto up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akoto misses with the head strike.
Kiriyama blocks a body shot from Akoto.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Akoto can't find room to land a body shot as Kiriyama controls the action.

Akoto drags the fight down to the ground.
Kiriyama wants to stand but Akoto is controlling his posture from full guard.
Akoto looking to control but Kiriyama passes into half guard.
Kiriyama controlling the pace.
Kiriyama working over Akoto with some ground and pound. Akoto looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kiriyama controlling the pace.
Kiriyama's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Kiriyama stands up out of the half guard.
Ngozi Akoto is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Kiriyama throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Akoto was covering up waiting for the punch and Kiriyama finishes the takedown easily into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kiriyama pushing down on Akoto's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiriyama slows the pace down in half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kiriyama lands a nice short elbow.

Kiriyama postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Akoto to stand up.

Kiriyama takes the fight into the clinch.

Kiriyama pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Kiriyama shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Akoto napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Kiriyama is staying tight to Akoto's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kiriyama has control of an arm but Akoto manages to advance to Kiriyama's back!
Kiriyama wants to escape the position but for the time being he's just trying to control the pace.
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!

Kiriyama showing good submission defense here.

Akoto working for a choke but Kiriyama is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kazuya Kiriyama comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kiriyama 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kazuya Kiriyama!