PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zombo Axe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akimoto Akira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Akimoto Akira has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Axe
vs
Akira

180 cm
26
255 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

198 cm
25
260 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Zombo Axe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Akimoto Akira!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Steve Erwin and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Axe circles away from the clinch attempt.
Axe misses with an uppercut.
Axe with a hook.
Akira shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Axe pinned against the cage. Axe gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Axe scores with a nice head shot.
Axe misses with the combination.
Akira looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Akira misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Axe with a lazy takedown attempt

and Akira holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Akira gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Akira content to control rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akira's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Akira stands up and beckons Axe to join him on the feet.

Akira clinches with his opponent.

Akira has clasped his hands together around Axe's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Axe defending against the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Axe is not content to let Akira control the position.
Akira working the ground and pound from side control.
Akira works to advance to full mount. Axe defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Akira controlling from the full mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akira looking to finish with strikes here!

Akira working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Akira trying to control but Axe is having none of it.

Akira swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Axe is now in Akira's guard. A big mistake from Akira there, giving up the dominant position!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Axe got a little sloppy there for a moment and Akira has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Axe has managed to get both his arms back between Akira's legs - danger averted.
Akira seems keen to control Axe's posture.
Axe missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Akira looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Akira pulls Axe in to control the position.
Axe distracts Akira with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Axe trying to control but Akira is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akimoto Akira dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A left lands for Axe.
Akira throws out a leg kick but Axe moves out of range and Akira only half commits.
Axe with a nice cross.
Akira keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zombo Axe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Akira uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Axe.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Akira.

Akira moves into the clinch.
Akira wants a takedown.
Axe prevents the takedown attempt.
Zombo Axe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akimoto Akira.
Axe tries a body shot but Akira blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Axe goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Akira drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Axe effectively controlling the action here.
Axe is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Akira is keeping busy.
Akira goes for a takedown attempt but Axe pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akira will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Axe shoots in but no luck this time.
Akira looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Axe throws a sloppy head kick and Akira moves out of range easily.
Axe lands a jab to the nose.
Axe looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Akira dives in and scores a takedown into Axe's guard.
Akira is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akira distracts Axe with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Akira sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Akira trying to control the position from guard on top but Axe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Akira seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Akimoto Akira wasn't active enough on the ground.
Akira shoots and misses
and Axe counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Zombo Axe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akira is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Axe closes the distance and clinches up with Akira, looking for a takedown. Axe pushes Akira against the cage but Akira circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Akira takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Akira tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Axe swivels and escapes.
Akira is breathing heavily.

Akira drives through and clinches with Axe against the cage.
Axe is pressed up against the cage. Akira has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Axe down to the mat. Axe avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Axe fails with a takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Axe throws a head kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Akimoto Akira will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Akira doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Axe catches Akira with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Zombo Axe is winning the standup battle so far.
Akira shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Akira gets a takedown into half guard.

Akira stands up from half guard.
Axe's corner calls for a 1-2. Axe obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Akira shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Axe pinned against the cage. Axe gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Akira moves out of range as Axe throws a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Akira.
A solid leg kick lands there for Axe.
Akira takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Axe lands a jab to Akira's midsection.
Akira fails in his attempt to clinch.
Akira fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Axe avoids it really well and circles away.
Zombo Axe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akimoto Akira.
Axe thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akira has a takedown stuffed.
A nice inside leg kick there by Axe. That's going to slow Akira down.
Akira doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Axe.
Akira shoots in and drives through. Axe sprawls well.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Axe.
Axe throws out a powerful jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Akira is looking to clinch.
Axe with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Axe goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Axe drives through and clinches with Akira against the cage.
Akira is trying to pull guard but Axe has him pressed against the cage.
A short right from Axe.
Zombo Axe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Axe gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Akimoto Akira has been cut.
Axe prevents a takedown attempt there.
Axe comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Axe landing knees to the body.
Axe working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Axe pushes Akira back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Axe escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Axe closes this distance looking for a takedown but Akira circles away.
Akira on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A slapping leg kick lands for Axe.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Axe connects with a crisp jab.
Akira gets cracked there but stands up to it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Axe lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Axe tries a head kick but it misses.
Akimoto Akira is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Zombo Axe showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Akira 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29

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