PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lauren Bray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daichi Akiyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lauren Bray has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Bray
vs
Akiyama

151 cm
24
194 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

200 cm
24
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Lauren Bray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Daichi Akiyama!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Sosuke Kotani and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bray avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Akiyama swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bray is trying hard to land a takedown here. Akiyama sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bray looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Akiyama is fending him off so far but Bray persists. Nope, Akiyama circles away and we're back to standing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bray. Akiyama does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bray really is a fat lump.
Akiyama fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Akiyama drives through and clinches with Bray against the cage.

Akiyama manages to break the clinch.

Bray has closed the distance and engaged Akiyama in a clinch.

Bray breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bray stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bray wants it to stay on the feet.
Bray fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lauren Bray. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bray stuffs the takedown attempt from Akiyama. Akiyama gets slowly back to his feet.
Horrible takedown by Akiyama or perhaps it was just good defense by Bray which made him look bad.
Akiyama looks winded!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bray is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Akiyama shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bray but Bray pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Bray moves into the clinch.
Akiyama wants to break the clinch but can't.
Bray with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Daichi Akiyama has been cut.
Bray has Akiyama pushed against the cage.
Bray can't get the takedown.

Bray jumps guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Bray is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Bray trying to control the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Akiyama is trying to stand back up but Bray is controlling him

Bray escapes and gets back to his feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bray has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Akiyama is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Akiyama is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Bray pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Akiyama wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bray is pressed up against the cage. Akiyama has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Bray down to the mat. Bray avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Bray fails to land the takedown.
Bray looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Akiyama is fending him off so far but Bray persists. Nope, Akiyama circles away and we're back to standing.

Bray moves into the clinch successfully.

Bray pulls guard successfully.
Bray is trying to control the position but Akiyama postures up.
Akiyama wants to control from the top but Bray keeps moving.
Akiyama is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Daichi Akiyama has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Bray clinches.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Akiyama prevents a takedown attempt there.
Akiyama is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Bray is trying to push Akiyama away but Akiyama has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Akiyama jumps guard but Bray stands there with Akiyama around his waist. Akiyama gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Bray lands a good knee to the midsection. Akiyama won't want to take too many of those.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bray drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bray stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lauren Bray dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Daichi Akiyama's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bray tries for a takedown but Akiyama sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Akiyama walks into a left hand.
Bray keeps the fight on the outside.
Bray takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

It looks like Lauren Bray has been cut.
Bray looks to land a combination but Akiyama avoids it well.
Akiyama scores with a head kick. Bray tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Akiyama tries to clinch but Bray is having none of it.
Akiyama moves out of range as Bray throws a body kick.
Bray misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bray slaps away a takedown attempt from Akiyama, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bray.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lauren Bray. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Akiyama is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donk. Akiyama catches Bray right on the button with a cross.
Daichi Akiyama seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A head kick by Bray misses
and Akiyama counters with a body kick that stops Bray in his tracks momentarily.
Akiyama looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bray is fending him off so far but Akiyama persists. Nope, Bray circles away and we're back to standing.
Akiyama ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Akiyama misses with a head kick.
Bray shoots in but Akiyama avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Bray fails with a takedown attempt.
Bray darts in looking for a takedown but Akiyama gets double underhooks and turns Bray into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama leaning against his opponent.

Akiyama escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bray lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Bray looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Bray closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Akiyama tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bray smiles and moves away.
Akiyama shoots in and drives through. Bray sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama stuffs the takedown.

Bray darts in and clinches Akiyama up against the cage.
Bray keeps control of Akiyama as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Akiyama trying to stall but Bray improves his position.
Akiyama has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Akiyama throws a punch but it's blocked by Bray.

Bray breaks the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Akiyama. No joy for Bray on that attempt.

Bray closes the distance and clinches.

Bray has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Akiyama uses from the top position.
Akiyama trying to control but Bray is working from the bottom.

Bray has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Akiyama can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Akiyama drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Bray manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Akiyama has Bray in his guard.
Bray content to stall in guard here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bray advances position into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lauren Bray will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Bray's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Bray throws a right and a left that Akiyama avoids nicely.
Bray shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Akiyama pinned against the cage. Akiyama gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bray displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Akiyama.
Akiyama shoots in but Bray avoids the takedown attempt easily.
No luck for Akiyama with that takedown attempt.
Lauren Bray has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daichi Akiyama.
Akiyama takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Bray, right into the meat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bray closes this distance looking for a takedown but Akiyama circles away.
Bray swats away the attempt to clinch by Akiyama.
Akiyama on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Bray dives in and grabs Akiyama's left leg, looking for a takedown. Akiyama pushes down on Bray's head and hops out.
Akiyama shoots for a double leg takedown but Bray sprawls well. He's pushed Akiyama's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bray pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Akiyama shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bray sprawls well. Bray wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Akiyama gets slowly back to his feet.
Bray fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Bray closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama is trying to break the clinch but Bray is controlling him.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Bray has Akiyama pressed against the cage.

Bray breaks the clinch.
Akiyama needs to keep his hands up - Bray had a free shot at his head there.
Bray thows a body kick. Akiyama tries to catch it but that hurt him.
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!
Bray goes for a double leg but Akiyama avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Akiyama continues to drive forward.

Bray drags the fight down to the ground.
Akiyama throwing strikes from guard but Bray blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama looking to sit in guard and control but Bray gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Bray is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Akiyama keeping moving, preventing Bray from controlling successfully.
Akiyama manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Bray is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama avoids the attempt from Bray to control.
Bray is working to get back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Akiyama is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Bray has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Bray!

And that's the end of the fight!
Lauren Bray showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bray has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lauren Bray!