PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kasim Akande (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nate Good (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kasim Akande has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Akande
vs
Good

189 cm
31
223 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

185 cm
27
205 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Dangerous knees
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

Meet the Future

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kasim Akande!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nate Good!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akande fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Akande misses with a takedown attempt - Good sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kasim Akande seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Akande throws a leg kick
and Good counters with a body kick that stops Akande in his tracks momentarily.
Akande fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Good on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Good drives through and clinches with Akande against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Good.
Good using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Akande has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A shot in the inside from Good.
Good with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Good lands with a light punch inside.
Akande wants to get back to striking at distance but Good won't allow it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A short right from Good.

Akande gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Good tries to get to full guard but Akande has control of the leg.
Akande tries to pass to full mount but Good defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Good is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Akande pulls his head out easily.

Akande is trying to work for a kimura but Good is defending well.
Good is looking to improve his position.
Akande looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Akande is looking to stall here but Good recovers full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akande passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Good gets back to half guard.
Good trying to hold on to Akande's head to control him but Akande postures up.
Akande wants to free his trapped foot but Good is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Akande seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Good does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akande controlling the pace.
Akande wants to advance to full mount but Good doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Good looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Akande trying to control the position from guard on top but Good is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

We're going to have a standup here because Kasim Akande wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Akande scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Good gets full guard.
Akande is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good looking to hit a scissor sweep but Akande is one step ahead there.
Akande stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Good swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Akande is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at TOUGH DOJO-family dojo for best result that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Akande chips away with some ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Akande controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Good tries to land a sweep but no joy.
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 Kasim Akande will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Good takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Akande uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Good.
Akande doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Good connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Akande shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Akande is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Good wants to control but Akande is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Good keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Good is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Akande scores with a couple of nice shots.
Kasim Akande overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
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!
Akande moves into full mount! Good won't be happy about that!
Good tries to reverse the position but Akande maintains control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akande fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Akande moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Good has worked his arm free - good work by Good!
Akande is trying to ground and pound but Good uses the momentary lack of control by Akande to regain half guard.
Akande wants to stand up but Good manages to regain full guard.
Good trying to keep a closed guard but Akande is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Akande advances position into side control!

Akande tries for a kimura but Good is defending well.
Good is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Akande off and has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Akande showing good submission defense here.
Akande tries to escape but Good has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Good struggling to keep hold of the position.
Akande trying to control but not successfully.
Good struggling to keep hold of the position.
Good is trying to stick to Akande's back but Akande is turning into Good. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Good's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Akande.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akande showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Akande looking to sit in guard and control but Good gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Good tries to free his leg and advance position but Akande is retaining full guard.
Good slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Akande is looking to regain half guard here but Good keeps moving and retains side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Akande manages to work his way to half guard, despite Good's best efforts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kasim Akande dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Akande rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Good moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Akande uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Akande shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Good as he jumps to the side.
Good lands with a right hand.
Akande looks to throw a body kick
and Good counters with a three punch combo that has Akande backing up. Akande nods at Good to acknowledge the strikes.
Good throws an overhand right that lands on Akande's shoulder, as Akande tries to avoid the shot.
Good bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Akande gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Akande avoids the head kick by Good.
Good misses with a head kick.
Akande slips under a jab.
Akande shoots in and drives through. Good sprawls well.
Good's coach down at was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Good's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Akande throws a right hand that Good ducks under and follows up with a left that Good also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akande misses with a body shot
and Good counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Akande is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Good will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Akande shoots in and gets a takedown into Good's guard.
Good not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Akande is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Good is trying to hold Akande in close to prevent damage but Akande has managed to pass into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Akande wants to pass to mount but Good is defending the position.
Nate Good has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good tries to roll over but Akande keeps him under control.

Good is defending against the submission attempts here by Akande.
Akande wants to free his trapped foot but Good is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Akande seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Good does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akande is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Good is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Akande thows a huge punch but Good dodges it nicely.
Good on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Akande is looking to take a break and control but Good is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Good is defending against the submission attempts here by Akande.
Kasim Akande is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Good wants to improve his position but Akande is controlling well.
Akande is thwarting Good's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Akande seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Good for as long as he can get away with.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nate Good.
I think Akande 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kasim Akande!
A victorious Kasim Akande thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.