PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Purple Aki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dom DeNardo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aki kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Slim Whitman - Indian Love Call. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Aki
vs
DeNardo

196 cm
27
280 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

190 cm
26
240 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160

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 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Purple Aki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dom DeNardo!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Shigeki Sano and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
DeNardo chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Aki can pounce on him.
A low kick from DeNardo misses

and Aki counters by moving into the clinch.
Aki is trying to push DeNardo away but DeNardo has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
DeNardo can't find room to land a body shot as Aki controls the action.

Aki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Aki throws a nice outside leg kick.
A slow jab from DeNardo misses its intended target.
We've been told by Aki's head coaches at The Rat Cage that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Aki tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and DeNardo counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
DeNardo misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
DeNardo trying to control the action but Aki is working from the bottom.
Aki is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aki is trying to control DeNardo's posture but DeNardo avoids it.
The strikes coming from DeNardo are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Aki tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but DeNardo wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
DeNardo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Aki keeps working.
DeNardo lands a nice forearm strike.
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.
Aki is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
DeNardo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
DeNardo trying to control the action but Aki is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

DeNardo tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no DeNardo has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Aki dodges the ground and pound from DeNardo.
An elbow from DeNardo crashes against the mat.
DeNardo advances nicely into full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aki blocking the ground and pound.
Aki slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Aki wants to get back to full guard.
Aki trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but DeNardo manages to pass to mount!
DeNardo scores with a couple of good head shots there.
DeNardo looking to ground and pound but Aki is blocking nicely.
DeNardo looking to control and managing it successfully.
Aki avoids a series of strikes thrown by DeNardo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
DeNardo lands a nice shot to the head.
Aki can't escape the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
DeNardo trying to control but Aki is having none of it.
Aki avoids a series of strikes thrown by DeNardo.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
DeNardo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Aki is looking to escape.
Aki is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dom DeNardo dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Aki waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract DeNardo.
DeNardo connects with an inside leg kick.
Aki misses with a body shot.
DeNardo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Aki getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Aki walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
DeNardo shoots in for a takedown but Aki shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Aki blocks a leg kick.
A punch lands to the side of DeNardo 's head but he takes it in his stride.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Aki is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by DeNardo.
DeNardo throws a leg kick but Aki checks it.

DeNardo closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Aki to the mat! Aki manages to get full guard.
Aki tries to land a sweep but no joy.
DeNardo wants to control from the top but Aki keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aki bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in DeNardo's guard.
DeNardo keeping moving, preventing Aki from controlling successfully.

DeNardo looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Aki has picked DeNardo up and slammed him! DeNardo can't keep hold of the triangle and Aki manages to pass to side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aki trying to control the action but DeNardo is working from the bottom.
DeNardo is looking for a sweep.
DeNardo keeps trying to improve his position.
DeNardo seems a little lost for a moment, as Aki dominates the positioning.
DeNardo tries to buck Aki off but Aki is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aki is looking to take a break and control but DeNardo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
DeNardo tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Aki wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Aki remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for DeNardo. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
DeNardo struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Purple Aki wasn't doing enough on the ground.
DeNardo stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Aki.
DeNardo looks for the body kick but Aki saw that one coming.
Aki throws a body punch but DeNardo moves out of range.
Aki on the wrong end of a nice hook.
DeNardo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Aki was well out of range. Poor timing from DeNardo.
Aki tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
DeNardo scores with a hook to the body. Aki takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Aki crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from DeNardo - the referee stops the clock and Aki gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says DeNardo. Aki manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
DeNardo misses with a takedown attempt - Aki sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Aki is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dom DeNardo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Nice defenses there by Aki.
DeNardo misses the shot to the body.
Aki lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Purple Aki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
DeNardo throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Aki stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Aki throws a leg kick but DeNardo sees it coming and moves out of range.
DeNardo thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Aki if he has to take too many more of those.
A jab from DeNardo does it's job there.
DeNardo goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
DeNardo connects with a crisp jab.
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!
DeNardo scores with a leg kick.
DeNardo misses the jab.
DeNardo explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
DeNardo fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Aki on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aki sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
DeNardo looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Aki tries to land a front kick but DeNardo steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Dom DeNardo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aki sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
A solid leg kick lands there for DeNardo.
DeNardo lands a jab to the nose.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
DeNardo thuds a left hand into Aki's body.

DeNardo closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Aki's guard.
DeNardo looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
DeNardo pushes down on Aki's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Purple Aki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
DeNardo wants to control but Aki is keeping him busy.
DeNardo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
DeNardo is pressing down on Aki's thigh, looking to free his foot. Aki is holding on for now.
DeNardo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
DeNardo looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Dom DeNardo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DeNardo is thwarting Aki's attempts to control the position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
DeNardo is trying to control. Aki wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
DeNardo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dom DeNardo was stalling too much, according to the referee.
DeNardo lands a nice hook to Aki's body. Aki takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
DeNardo throws a half hearted mid kick.
A solid body kick from DeNardo.
Some wild striking there from Aki.
Purple Aki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Aki takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
DeNardo lunges at Aki with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Aki's hand.
A punch lands to the side of Aki 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Dom DeNardo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
DeNardo fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Aki has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

DeNardo gets the takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aki is looking for a sweep.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
DeNardo staying calm.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dom DeNardo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got DeNardo winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 26:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 26:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dom DeNardo!