PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Wanderlei Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kashihiro Akiyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rua
vs
Akiyama

185 cm
22
185 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

178 cm
23
190 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Wanderlei Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kashihiro Akiyama!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua fails to land the takedown.
Rua checks the leg kick.
Good work by Rua as he checks the leg kick.
Akiyama attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Akiyama throws out a leg kick but Rua moves out of range and Akiyama only half commits.
Akiyama wants to clinch up but Rua keeps it at a distance.
Akiyama throws a nice outside leg kick.
Akiyama wants to slow Rua down by chopping away at his legs.
Rua bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Akiyama tries to score with a low kick but Rua moves his leg out of the way.
Rua fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rua will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wanderlei Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A choreographed right hand from Akiyama misses the target.

Rua shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Akiyama's guard.
Rua trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akiyama looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rua is one step ahead there.
Akiyama doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Akiyama had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Rua is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Akiyama Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Rua's back instead.

Akiyama has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Akiyama is looking for the choke from the back position but Rua is controlling his hands well.
Akiyama looks gassed!

Akiyama has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Akiyama patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Rua trying to control the action but Akiyama just sinks the hooks in.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Akiyama doesn't have the hooks in and Rua manages to turn into his guard.
Rua stopping the sweep attempt from Akiyama.

Akiyama working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Rua has passed into half guard!
Rua prevents Akiyama from improving his position.

Akiyama actively working from the bottom here.

Akiyama looking for submissions off his back.
Akiyama has hold of Rua's hands but Rua slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rua is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Rua is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Rua trying to control the action but Akiyama is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rua chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Akiyama can pounce on him.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rua.
Rua walks into a stiff left hand from Akiyama.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Akiyama, right into the meat.
Rua shoots for a double leg takedown but Akiyama sprawls well. He's pushed Rua's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Rua drives through with a takedown into guard.
Akiyama doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Rua stopping the sweep attempt from Akiyama.

Akiyama is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rua controls from within his opponent's guard.
Rua passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Rua thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
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 Wanderlei Rua will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Akiyama dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rua. That did some damage!
Akiyama tries to clinch but Rua is having none of it.
A choreographed right hand from Akiyama misses the target.
Rua looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Akiyama is fending him off so far but Rua persists. Nope, Akiyama circles away and we're back to standing.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Rua checks a leg kick.
Akiyama lands with a right hand.

Akiyama gets caught flat footed, as Rua shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Akiyama is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rua thows a big elbow that misses.
Rua tries to free his leg and advance position but Akiyama is retaining full guard.
Akiyama is breathing heavily.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akiyama keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.

Akiyama escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rua gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rua slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Akiyama sneaks back into half guard.

Akiyama is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Rua pulls his head out easily.
Akiyama is trying to get back to full guard.
Rua trying to control from half guard but Akiyama is working away.
Rua passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Akiyama!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Akiyama tries to reverse the position but Rua maintains control.
Rua landing shots from mount.

Rua looking for a guillotine from mount but Akiyama is having none of it.
Akiyama is looking to get to half guard.

Rua is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Akiyama has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Rua wants to finish this one by submission but Akiyama is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Rua.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama is trying to escape the mount.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Rua blocks Akiyama's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Akiyama gets back to half guard.
Akiyama blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rua.
Rua is looking to advance position but Akiyama won't allow it.
Akiyama misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Rua wants to free his trapped foot but Akiyama is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Akiyama looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Rua is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Akiyama is trying to get back to full guard.
Rua works his way into side control.
Rua tries to score with some ground and pound. Akiyama controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Akiyama sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Rua is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Akiyama has managed to free his arm - good work.
Akiyama tries to get to full guard but Rua has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderlei Rua dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Rua checks a leg kick nicely.
A chopping leg kick lands by Akiyama.
Akiyama throws the left hand but Rua avoids the punch easily.
Kashihiro Akiyama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rua shoots in but Akiyama avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Akiyama looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Akiyama misses with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rua tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Akiyama swivels and escapes.
Akiyama scores with a hook.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Akiyama shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Rua shoots in looking for a takedown. Akiyama tries to sprawl out of it but Rua keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Akiyama manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wanderlei Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rua misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akiyama lands with a cross.
Akiyama smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Akiyama has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
A slapping leg kick lands for Akiyama.
Akiyama tries to close the distance and clinch but Rua swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Akiyama attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Rua shoots in for a double leg but Akiyama sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Akiyama lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Rua shoots in but no luck this time.

Akiyama gets a clinch.
Rua tries to pull guard but Akiyama holds him up against the ropes and eventually Rua drops back down to his feet.
Kashihiro Akiyama has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rua drags the fight down to the ground.

Akiyama drops back looking for a leg! Rua is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rua manages to kick Akiyama off! Akiyama jumps back into Rua's guard.
Akiyama postures up in Rua's guard and throws a big left but Rua blocks it.
Rua looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Akiyama wants to pass the guard but Rua is keeping the position.
Rua not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rua is really struggling to control Akiyama but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rua fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Akiyama keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua misses with a takedown attempt - Akiyama sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rua slips a straight right by Akiyama.
Rua misses with a takedown attempt - Akiyama sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Rua gets the takedown into side control.
Wanderlei Rua overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Rua is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Akiyama knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Akiyama tries to buck Rua off but Rua is having none of it.
Akiyama sneaks back into half guard.
Akiyama slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua slips nicely into half guard.

Akiyama looking for submissions off his back.
Rua prevents Akiyama from improving his position.

Rua is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Akiyama is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Rua pulls his head out easily.

Rua is looking for a kimura but Akiyama is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rua to get the leverage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kashihiro Akiyama comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rua has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wanderlei Rua!