PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Felix Akamai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Merk Roop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Akamai
vs
Roop

178 cm
23
165 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

175 cm
23
166 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Felix Akamai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Merk Roop!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Jeff Smith and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roop throws a hook but Akamai blocks it.
Akamai throws a nice looking combination but Roop bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Roop misses with a body punch
and Akamai counters with a left and a right that stings Roop.
Akamai looks to land a combination but Roop avoids it well.
Roop shoots in and drives through. Akamai sprawls well.
Akamai misses with a wild body shot.
Roop misses with a body shot.

Akamai gets caught flat footed, as Roop shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Roop tries to free his leg and advance position but Akamai is retaining full guard.

Akamai had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Roop defends it easily.

Akamai is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Akamai keeping moving, preventing Roop from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akamai keeping full guard, as Roop tries to pass.
Roop is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Akamai escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Roop gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Akamai seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Akamai looking for a guillotine here but Roop defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roop wants to control from the top but Akamai keeps moving.
Roop with a nice head shot there.
Roop must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Akamai looking for a guillotine here but Roop defends easily.
Roop trying to control the position from guard on top but Akamai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roop landing some decent shots from guard.

Akamai is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Roop is aware though and is defending well.
Roop trying to control the position from guard on top but Akamai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Roop is looking to advance position but Akamai has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Roop tries to hold on but Akamai pushes him away.
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.
Roop is looking to improve his position but Akamai isn't that keen on the idea.
Roop is trying to reverse the position but instead Akamai has taken his back - oops!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Roop fending off the submission attempt from Akamai.
Roop trying to control the hands but Akamai won't let him.
Roop tries to roll but Akamai sticks to his back.

Akamai working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
I really don't envy Roop right now.
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 Felix Akamai will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Akamai gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A shot to the liver by Roop. Beautiful body shot.
Akamai misses with a jab, cross combination.
Akamai connects with a looping right hand.
A shot to the liver by Roop. Beautiful body shot.
Akamai swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Roop ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Merk Roop seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Akamai waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Roop.
Akamai misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Roop scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Akamai gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Akamai looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roop tries to pass the half guard into mount. Akamai knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Roop trying to control the pace.
Roop working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Akamai's thigh. Akamai counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Roop stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Akamai swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Akamai looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Roop passes into half guard.

Akamai looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Akamai is looking for a sweep. Roop is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Roop seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Akamai does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Akamai looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akamai gets full guard.
Roop is pushing down on Akamai's leg trying to pass to half guard. Akamai is fighting to maintain full guard but Roop has managed to sneak the leg through.

Akamai is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Roop pulls his head out easily.
Merk Roop has got the better of the ground game so far.

Akamai is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Roop pulls his head out easily.
Akamai is refusing to be controlled, as Roop sits in half guard.
Akamai works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Akamai throws his legs up looking for a submission but Roop uses it to pass to side control.
Check out the look on Roop's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Akamai is looking to reverse the position.
Roop controls the position from side control.
Akamai is working to avoid the ground and pound but Roop connects with a decent elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Akamai is not content to let Roop control the position.
Roop working the head and body with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Merk Roop showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Akamai's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Akamai will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Roop uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Akamai.
Akamai lands an overhand right.
Sloppy strikes from Akamai. Those never looked like landing.
A shot to the body from Roop misses
and Akamai counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Akamai lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Roop circles away quickly and effectively.
Akamai misses with a double jab.
Akamai walks into a straight right hand from Roop.
Akamai on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Roop closes the distance and clinches up with Akamai, looking for a takedown. Roop pushes Akamai against the ropes but Akamai circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Roop dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Roop scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roop misses the shot to the body.
Akamai misses with a series of wild punches.
Roop digs a good body shot into Akamai's ribs.
Roop dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A lazy left from Roop finds it's target.
Felix Akamai is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Akamai pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Donk. Roop catches Akamai right on the button with a cross.
Roop looks to score with a jab to the body but Akamai is just out of range.
A nice combination there by Akamai.
Roop lands with a good body shot.
Akamai bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Akamai digs a good hook to Roop's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roop misses with a body shot.
Merk Roop seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Roop swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Akamai takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Roop misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Akamai.
Roop takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Roop feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Roop stands and throws Akamai's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Roop working the ground and pound from side control.
Akamai is looking to reverse the position.
Roop wants to lay and pray for a moment but Akamai keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roop lands an elbow.
Akamai is not content to let Roop control the position.
Akamai is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the ropes but Roop has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Roop wants to control but Akamai is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roop controlling from side mount.
Akamai is looking for a sweep.
Akamai is not content to let Roop control the position.
Akamai manages to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Akamai looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Merk Roop comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Roop 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Merk Roop!