PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Michak Ropuia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Felix Akamai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ropuia comes into the arena with Here comes the pain - Slayer blaring out of the sound system. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Ropuia
vs
Akamai

176 cm
24
152 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

178 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Michak Ropuia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Felix Akamai!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Ryoma Takatsuka and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ropuia shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Akamai is trying to defend but Ropuia finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Ropuia uses his free foot to push down on Akamai's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Akamai.
Ropuia throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Ropuia controlling from the full mount.

Ropuia stands up from mount. Strange move.
Akamai ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Akamai connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Akamai rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ropuia moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ropuia showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Akamai.

Ropuia changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Akamai looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ropuia trying to control the action but Akamai is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ropuia decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Ropuia throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Akamai with a nice cross.
Akamai throws a right and a left that both miss.
Akamai throws a series of punches but Ropuia moves out of range.

Ropuia gets a clinch.

Ropuia pulls Akamai into guard.
Ropuia is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Ropuia had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Akamai defends it easily.
Ropuia wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ropuia throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ropuia has his feet on Akamai's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Ropuia shoots in and drives through. Akamai sprawls well.
Akamai lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ropuia at a distance.
Akamai fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ropuia manages to avoid it.
Michak Ropuia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Akamai connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Ropuia momentarily.
Akamai throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ropuia on the side of the head.
Akamai lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ropuia at a distance.
Akamai fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ropuia dodges the punch combination from Akamai.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akamai misses with the combination.
Akamai misses with a two punch combination.
Akamai jabs Ropuia to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Akamai throws a nice looking combination but Ropuia bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Felix Akamai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Akamai smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Ropuia gets a clinch.

Ropuia escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Akamai scores with a sloppy right hand. Ropuia should have avoided that one.

Ropuia shoots in and gets a takedown into Akamai's guard.

Ropuia drops back looking for a leg! Akamai is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Akamai manages to kick Ropuia off! Ropuia jumps back into Akamai's guard.
Ropuia won't allow Akamai to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ropuia looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Akamai wants to get back to his feet but Ropuia is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Akamai is working an open guard so Ropuia takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Akamai tries to bum rush Ropuia with a series of wild strikes but Ropuia uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Danga de danga de dang - Akamai scores with a four punch combination!
Akamai throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ropuia.
Akamai shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Ropuia eats them both and turns towards Akamai to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michak Ropuia dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ropuia shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Akamai pinned against the cage. Akamai gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Akamai feints a jab promting Ropuia to slip. Akamai then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Ropuia slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Felix Akamai seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ropuia throws a sloppy head kick and Akamai moves out of range easily.
Akamai throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ropuia tries to move into range but Akamai moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Ropuia clinches with his opponent.
Ropuia jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Akamai walks away with a smile on his face. Ropuia gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Ropuia tries to score a power double leg takedown but Akamai sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ropuia somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michak Ropuia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Akamai misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left and a right from Akamai both land. Nice combination.
Ropuia takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Ropuia tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Akamai swivels and escapes.
Ropuia slips a jab and a cross from Akamai.

Ropuia gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ropuia goes for a takedown in the clinch but Akamai prevents it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Ropuia breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Ropuia closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Akamai quickly recovers to half guard.

Ropuia is working for a kimura but Akamai is defending it quite comfortably.
Ropuia stops Akamai from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ropuia seems to be working for a kimura but Akamai defends the submission attempt.
Akamai is trying to stand up here but Ropuia is controlling him well.
Akamai is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Ropuia uses his free foot to push down on Akamai's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Akamai.
Akamai has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.

Akamai fending off the submission attempt from Ropuia.

Ropuia looking to break Akamai's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Akamai remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Ropuia will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akamai holding both Ropuia 's hands and preventing any damage.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

Ropuia has the hooks in and he's looking for a rear naked choke here. Akamai is defending well but eventually Ropuia manages to get an arm under the chin and he's locked on the RNC! Akamai has no choice but to tap now! He does! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Michak Ropuia!
Michak Ropuia thanked the fans post fight for their support.