PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Salim Ayeh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akeel Lynch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ayeh
vs
Lynch

183 cm
20
215 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

185 cm
21
215 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Salim Ayeh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Akeel Lynch!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Shimada and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lynch jabs Ayeh to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Ayeh tries to close the distance and clinch but Lynch swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lynch displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ayeh throws out the jab.
Ayeh is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lynch has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Jab from Lynch.
Lynch circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lynch connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Ayeh's hands.
Ayeh doesn't manage to clinch there - Lynch circles away.
Ayeh drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Salim Ayeh seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ayeh tries to clinch there but Lynch circles away.
Lynch dodges the punch combination from Ayeh.
Ayeh throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ayeh throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ayeh looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Lynch connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Ayeh doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ayeh throws a shot from downtown. Lynch moves away and avoids it.
Ayeh is looking to clinch but Lynch is avoiding it.
Ayeh tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Lynch shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Lynch is looking to take a break and control but Ayeh is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ayeh keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Lynch moves nicely into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ayeh is looking for a sweep.
Lynch grinds an elbow into Ayeh's temple.
Lynch controls the position from side control.
Lynch trying to control the position but Ayeh is working away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ayeh regains half guard, as Lynch was trying to land strikes.
Ayeh trying to hold on to Lynch's head to control him but Lynch postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lynch lands with a punch from half guard.
Ayeh controlling the position for now.
Lynch trying to pass the guard but Ayeh defending well.
Lynch is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Lynch is trying to control. Ayeh wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Lynch missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Lynch seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Ground and pound from Lynch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lynch not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Lynch lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Lynch looks to land a strike but Ayeh avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Ayeh looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lynch is one step ahead there.
Lynch working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ayeh's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ayeh wants to sweep but no luck.
Ayeh not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Lynch wants to pass the guard but Ayeh is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akeel Lynch dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Lynch lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Lynch shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ayeh as he avoids it easily.
Ayeh tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ayeh wants to clinch up but Lynch keeps it at a distance.
Ayeh tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lynch swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lynch circles away from the clinch attempt

and Lynch counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Lynch looking to pass the guard.
Lynch trying to control the position from guard on top but Ayeh is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lynch trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ayeh wants to sweep but no luck.
Lynch stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ayeh swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lynch is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ayeh preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ayeh keeping moving, preventing Lynch from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ayeh shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Ayeh tries to land a leg kick but Lynch saw it coming and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lynch lands a nice shot to the body.
Ayeh tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lynch paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ayeh doesn't manage to clinch there - Lynch circles away.
Ayeh scoring well with a low kick there.
Lynch circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lynch keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ayeh.
Lynch fails with a takedown attempt.
Ayeh takes one on the button.
Ayeh misses with a low kick.
Lynch circles away from the clinch attempt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ayeh takes one to the side of the head.
A telegraphed right hand from Lynch misses the target.
Lynch scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ayeh keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Akeel Lynch seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ayeh lands with a thumping leg kick.
Ayeh scores with a leg kick.

Ayeh gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Lynch to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Lynch pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ayeh is keeping the position for now.
Lynch with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Ayeh bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lynch's guard.
Ayeh trying to control but Lynch is working from the bottom.
Lynch wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Ayeh is now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lynch controlling the position for now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lynch is trying to get back to full guard.
Lynch is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ayeh missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akeel Lynch showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Nice shot by Lynch.
Lynch fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Ayeh on the side of the head.
Ayeh takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Donk. Lynch catches Ayeh right on the button with a cross.
Lynch looks to land a left hand but Ayeh moved out of range nicely.
A nice inside leg kick there by Ayeh. That's going to slow Lynch down.
Ayeh throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
An inside leg kick lands from Ayeh.
An inside leg kick from Ayeh misses.
Ayeh moves out of range of the strikes.
Lynch lands with a cross.
Lynch tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ayeh swivels and escapes.
A lazy left from Lynch finds it's target.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ayeh instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ayeh swings wildly with an uppercut but Lynch uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ayeh misses with a punch to the body.

Lynch works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Ayeh avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ayeh is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lynch tries to free his leg and advance position but Ayeh is retaining full guard.
Lynch trying to control but Ayeh is working from the bottom.
Lynch wants to pass the guard but Ayeh is keeping the position.
Ayeh wants to stand up but Lynch is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ayeh is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Salim Ayeh.
Ayeh chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Lynch blocks a leg kick.
Lynch blocks a leg kick.
Ayeh takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Lynch connects with a body shot that sends Ayeh's belly button to the back.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Good work by Lynch as he checks the leg kick.
Ayeh doesn't manage to clinch there - Lynch circles away.
Ayeh tries to work over Lynch's front leg with a kick but Lynch checks it.
Ayeh looks to throw the jab but Lynch is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lynch fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Ayeh to the ground. Lynch is now in Ayeh's guard.
Ayeh tries to strike from the bottom.
Lynch wants to control from the top but Ayeh keeps moving.
Lynch sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Lynch wants to control from the top but Ayeh keeps moving.
Lynch throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ayeh can't keep his opponent in guard - Lynch advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lynch trying to mount his opponent but Ayeh defends it.
Lynch wants to control but Ayeh is keeping him busy.
Lynch throwing shots but Ayeh is blocking nicely.
Lynch slips a nice elbow through Ayeh's hands, connecting with Ayeh's forehead.
Ayeh wants to control but Lynch is keeping busy.
Lynch lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lynch wants to free his trapped foot but Ayeh is holding on for dear life with his legs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akeel Lynch comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lynch 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akeel Lynch!
An out of breath Akeel Lynch thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.