PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yureno Akimo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Durham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Durham told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Akimo
vs
Durham

174 cm
25
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
19
201 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yureno Akimo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, James Durham!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akimo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Akimo fails with the takedown.
Akimo misses with a takedown attempt
and Durham counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Akimo tries for a takedown but Durham sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yureno Akimo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Durham displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Akimo.
Akimo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Durham counters with a stiff right hand.
Durham fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Akimo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Durham pinned against the cage. Durham gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akimo dives in and grabs Durham's left leg, looking for a takedown. Durham pushes down on Akimo's head and hops out.
Akimo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Akimo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Durham but Durham pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Akimo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Durham tries to avoid it but Akimo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Durham to the ground. Durham escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akimo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Durham stuffs the takedown.
Durham thows a body shot but no joy.
Durham wants to clinch.
Durham tries to clinch but Akimo moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akimo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Akimo walks into a jab.
Durham uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Akimo.
Durham fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Akimo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akimo slips a jab from Durham.
Akimo with a poor takedown
and Durham counters with a stiff right hand.
Akimo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Durham counters with a left to the body.
Akimo is breathing heavily.
Akimo slips a jab and a cross from Durham.
Akimo closes the distance and clinches up with Durham, looking for a takedown. Akimo pushes Durham against the cage but Durham circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Durham dominated that round.
That's time! Akimo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Akimo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Durham counters with a stiff right hand.
Yureno Akimo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Akimo doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Durham cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Durham changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Akimo tries to avoid it but Durham manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Akimo to the ground. Akimo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Akimo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Durham.
Akimo fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yureno Akimo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Durham throws out a loose jab but Akimo uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akimo shoots and misses
and Durham counters with a stiff right hand.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Durham misses the jab.
Durham throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A jab from Durham misses.
Nice takedown defense from Durham. No joy for Akimo on that attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akimo has a takedown stuffed.
Durham tries to clinch up.
Durham shoots in and drives through. Akimo sprawls well.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Akimo.
Durham changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Akimo tries to avoid it but Durham manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Akimo to the ground. Akimo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akimo shoots in looking for a takedown but Durham manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Akimo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Durham is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Akimo swats away the attempt to clinch by Durham.

Akimo gets caught napping as Durham dives in and scores a takedown. Akimo manages to retain guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Akimo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Akimo controlling the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durham is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Durham would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Akimo wants to stand up but Durham is controlling him.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Akimo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Durham sprawls well. Durham wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Akimo gets slowly back to his feet.
Durham listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Durham showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Durham misses with a straight right.
Akimo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Durham but Durham pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Durham changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Akimo tries to avoid it but Durham manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Akimo to the ground. Akimo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Durham throws a shot from downtown. Akimo moves away and avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Some bone on bone action there as Akimo checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Akimo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akimo misses with the combination.
A looping hook to the body misses from Durham. Akimo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Akimo tries for a takedown but Durham sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yureno Akimo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Durham moves to clinch but Akimo breaks away

and Akimo counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durham is trying to stand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Akimo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Akimo is working for a submission of some sort.
Durham trying to control but Akimo postures up.
Durham might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Akimo kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durham is looking to escape.

Akimo is working for a kimura but Durham is defending it quite comfortably.

Akimo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Durham sees it coming and defends easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Durham wants to control but Akimo is keeping busy.
Yureno Akimo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Akimo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Durham sees it coming and defends easily.

Durham manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Durham lands a nice shot that snaps Akimo's head back.
Akimo misses with a left hand
and Durham cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Durham thows a body shot but no joy.
James Durham is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Akimo throws a poor cross that misses
and Durham counters with a lovely straight right hand!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Yureno Akimo.
I think Durham has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Durham!