PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maigonis Lupata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Seijuro Akashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lupata
vs
Akashi

190 cm
22
210 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

199 cm
24
201 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Maigonis Lupata!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Seijuro Akashi!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Winston Alpacca and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lupata shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Akashi counters with a shoot takedown. Lupata fights it but they end up in guard.
Lupata looking to control.
Lupata looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Akashi puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Lupata trying to control here.
Akashi passes the guard and advances to mount!
Akashi controlling his opponent.
Akashi landing strikes, looking to finish!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Akashi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Lupata is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lupata tries to lock up and control but Akashi gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Akashi scoring with strikes but Lupata is staying in there.
Lupata is squirming around, avoiding Akashi's attempts to control the action.
Lupata wants to control but Akashi is having none of it.
Akashi looking to finish with strikes here!
Akashi is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Lupata can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Akashi prevents Lupata from getting the reversal.
Lupata wants to hold on but Akashi pushes him away.
Akashi misses with a head shot.
Lupata tries to lock up and control but Akashi gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Akashi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akashi landing punches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lupata reaches up to try and control the position but Akashi seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Lupata rolls and tries to escape and now Akashi has his back!
Lupata trying to control the hands but Akashi breaks the grip.
Akashi wants to control but Lupata is keeping busy.
Akashi is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Akashi lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Lupata hold on?!
Lupata wants to get back to his feet.
Akashi controlling well, preventing Lupata from escaping the position.

Akashi looking to break Lupata's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Lupata remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Akashi will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Even with his hooks in, Akashi manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Lupata is keeping busy.
Our spies down at at Cozad The Island inform us that Akashi has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akashi keeps control of the position as Lupata tries to break free.
Akashi misses with a punch to the head.
Akashi controlling from the back.

Akashi is cranking Lupata's head sideways - that looks painful. He's managed to get his other arm under the chin and this looks bad for Lupata! He's tightened the choke and Lupata is tapping out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:41 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Seijuro Akashi!