PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Aki Sirkesalo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shoju Bayushi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bayushi is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Masta Killa. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sirkesalo
vs
Bayushi

165 cm
26
151 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

170 cm
28
150 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Experienced

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Aki Sirkesalo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shoju Bayushi!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Hirohito Nitta and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bayushi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sirkesalo leaves Bayushi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bayushi shoots in looking for a takedown. Sirkesalo tries to sprawl out of it but Bayushi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sirkesalo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bayushi is defended easily by Sirkesalo.
Aki Sirkesalo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shoju Bayushi.
Bayushi doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Sirkesalo counter with a right hand.
A left and a right from Sirkesalo both land. Nice combination.
Shoju Bayushi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sirkesalo moves away from the strike by Bayushi.
Bayushi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Bayushi shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Bayushi showed some decent athleticism there.
Sirkesalo is not content to let Bayushi control the position.
Bayushi looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bayushi is working for a submission of some sort.
Sirkesalo tries to kick Bayushi off but Bayushi keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Sirkesalo is not content to let Bayushi control the position.
Bayushi is looking to stall here but Sirkesalo recovers full guard.
Bayushi wants to control from the top but Sirkesalo keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shoju Bayushi has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Bayushi tries for a takedown but Sirkesalo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Bayushi misses with a takedown attempt - Sirkesalo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bayushi with a poor takedown
and Sirkesalo counters with a left to the body.
Sirkesalo fails to land with a series of punches.
Sirkesalo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bayushi circles away quickly and effectively.

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

Sirkesalo has one foot on Bayushi's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
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!
Sirkesalo lands a nice shot that snaps Bayushi's head back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sirkesalo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bayushi was well out of range. Poor timing from Sirkesalo.
Sirkesalo throws a series of strikes that have Bayushi backpedaling.

It looks like Shoju Bayushi has been cut.
Sirkesalo stuffs the takedown attempt from Bayushi. Bayushi gets slowly back to his feet.
Bayushi tries to clinch there but Sirkesalo circles away.
Sirkesalo lands a nice shot to the body.
Sirkesalo misses with a few strikes there.
Sirkesalo throws a series of strikes that have Bayushi backpedaling.

Bayushi is rocked!
Bayushi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
No luck for Bayushi with that takedown attempt.
Sirkesalo connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Bayushi is still on wobbly legs! Can Sirkesalo finish him?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sirkesalo lands a hook that stumbles Bayushi back into the cage. Sirkesalo follows up with a straight and another hook that land right on the button, dropping Bayushi to the canvas! Sirkesalo pounces and lands several unanswered shots - Bayushi has had enough and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:51 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Aki Sirkesalo!
Aki Sirkesalo seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.