PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Eddie Ever (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akira Filipunaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Eddie Ever has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Ever
vs
Filipunaki

185 cm
18
160 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

172 cm
19
165 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Eddie Ever!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akira Filipunaki!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Taro Takaoka and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Filipunaki closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Filipunaki lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Filipunaki slips a nice elbow through Ever's hands, connecting with Ever's forehead.

Filipunaki stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Ever tries to clinch but Filipunaki moves away

and Filipunaki counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Filipunaki tries to stand but Ever is controlling from the bottom.
Ever avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ever is working an open guard so Filipunaki takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Ever is breathing heavily.
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!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Filipunaki.
The referee asks Filipunaki politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Filipunaki prefers to stall for the moment though.
Filipunaki wants to control but Ever is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Ever's face as Filipunaki controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ever is trying to control Filipunaki's posture but Filipunaki avoids it.

Filipunaki decides to stand back up.

Filipunaki shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Filipunaki punishing his opponent with strikes.
Filipunaki wants to control the pace but Ever is squirming around nicely.
Filipunaki avoids the attempt from Ever to control.
Ever can't escape the position.
Ever is squirming around, avoiding Filipunaki's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ever tries to hold on but Filipunaki postures up.
Ever is in all sorts of trouble here.
Filipunaki wants to control the pace but Ever is squirming around nicely.
Filipunaki misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

Filipunaki stands up from mount. Strange move.
Ever doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Filipunaki counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filipunaki content to control rather than advance.
Ever avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Filipunaki.
Ever is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Filipunaki is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Filipunaki there.
Filipunaki wants to take a breather but Ever is having none of it.

Filipunaki is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ever is just riding it out for now. Filipunaki eventually gives up the hold.
Filipunaki is looking to take a break and control but Ever is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ever is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Filipunaki not doing much here.

Filipunaki is trying to work for a kimura but Ever is defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Filipunaki performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Filipunaki dominated that 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.

Filipunaki scores a takedown into full mount!

Filipunaki with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Ever is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Filipunaki scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Filipunaki tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Ever is desperately trying to improve his position but Filipunaki has a good base and remains in mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filipunaki looking to finish Ever with some ground and pound. This is bad for Ever!
Akira Filipunaki has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ever working to try and regain half guard.
Filipunaki sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Filipunaki has control of Ever's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Ever regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Filipunaki trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Filipunaki is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Filipunaki jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Ever manages to avoid the submission attempt.
You can see the frustration on Ever's face as Filipunaki controls the position.

Despite being in the dominant position, Akira Filipunaki just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Filipunaki scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Filipunaki moves nicely into side control.

Filipunaki looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Ever's face as Filipunaki controls the position.
Ever tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Filipunaki wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Filipunaki working away.
Filipunaki scores with punches from side control.

Filipunaki looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Filipunaki trying to control the action but Ever is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Filipunaki is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ever knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Filipunaki grinds an elbow into Ever's temple.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ever is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Filipunaki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Ever's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ever doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Filipunaki counters by clinching up.

Filipunaki manages to pull guard.
Filipunaki bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ever's guard.
Filipunaki trying to control the position from guard on top but Ever is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Filipunaki sitting in guard here, content to control.
Ever keeping full guard, as Filipunaki tries to pass.
Ever keeping moving, preventing Filipunaki from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Filipunaki looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filipunaki content to stall in guard here.
Filipunaki advances position into side control!
Ever can't do much from the bottom here.
Filipunaki wants to control but Ever is keeping him busy.
Filipunaki advances nicely into full mount.
Ever is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two 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.
Filipunaki with good strikes from the mount here!
Ever is desperately trying to improve his position but Filipunaki has a good base and remains in mount.
Filipunaki looking to control but Ever is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Filipunaki thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Filipunaki has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Ever's face.
Filipunaki looking to control and managing it successfully.
Filipunaki tries to control but Ever wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filipunaki scoring with strikes but Ever is staying in there.

Filipunaki with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Filipunaki stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Ever shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Filipunaki counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Filipunaki passes Ever's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Ever wants to improve his position but Filipunaki is controlling well.
Filipunaki looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filipunaki wants to control but Ever is keeping him busy.
Ever moves into full guard.
Filipunaki must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

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

Filipunaki forces Ever back against the cage and clinches.
Ever wants to break the clinch but can't.
Filipunaki is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Eddie Ever has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Filipunaki manages to pull guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akira Filipunaki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Filipunaki 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 26:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 26:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akira Filipunaki!