PBP Commentary

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

Akashi
vs
Manhove

199 cm
25
201 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

188 cm
23
211 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Seijuro Akashi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Darren Manhove!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manhove looks for the body kick but Akashi saw that one coming.
Manhove takes a swing at Akashi's ribcage but misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Manhove looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Manhove scores with a shot to the side of Akashi's head.
Manhove is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Akashi is defending well.
Manhove on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Manhove breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Akashi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A shot to the liver by Manhove. Beautiful body shot.
Manhove getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Akashi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Manhove has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

Manhove instigates a clinch.
Manhove has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Akashi avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Akashi gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Manhove.
Seijuro Akashi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darren Manhove.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akashi tries to land a knee to the head but Manhove blocks with his arms.
Manhove has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Akashi avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Akashi prevents a takedown attempt there.
Akashi working hard to break the clinch.
Manhove changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Akashi fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Akashi tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Manhove defends well and Akashi ends up having to push Manhove into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Manhove manages to break the clinch.

Akashi has taken the fight to the clinch.

Akashi pulls guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Akashi keeping moving, preventing Manhove from controlling successfully.
Manhove sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Akashi's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Akashi tries to roll over but Manhove keeps him under control.
Manhove really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Akashi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Akashi is staying active underneath Manhove, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Akashi is looking to control Manhove's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Akashi avoid being mounted?

Manhove is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Manhove is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Akashi is just riding it out for now. Manhove eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akashi tries to roll over but Manhove keeps him under control.
Manhove is thwarting Akashi's attempts to control the position.
Akashi keeping hold of Manhove's head, controlling as best he can.
Manhove looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Akashi pushes Manhove off looking to stand but Manhove dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akashi is pressing down on Manhove's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Manhove throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Manhove with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Manhove controls from within his opponent's guard.
Manhove is looking to work some ground and pound but Akashi has wrist control.
Manhove looking to sit in guard and control but Akashi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Manhove manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Akashi manages to get himself to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darren Manhove dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Akashi misses with a takedown
and Manhove counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Akashi chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Manhove can pounce on him.
Akashi will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Akashi throws a left and a right that both miss
and Akashi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Manhove moves into the clinch successfully.
Manhove drops down looking for an ankle pick but Akashi pulls his leg out and moves away.

Manhove fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Akashi, pushing him back against the cage.

Manhove has hold of one of Akashi's legs. Akashi is fighting the takedown attempt but Manhove gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Manhove looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Manhove must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Manhove pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Akashi is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manhove content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Manhove not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Akashi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Manhove.
Manhove won't allow Akashi to sweep him here.
Darren Manhove has got the better of the ground game so far.
Manhove trying to control but Akashi is working from the bottom.
Manhove working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akashi is pulling down on Manhove's head to control his posture.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Akashi shoots in for a takedown but Manhove shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Seijuro Akashi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Akashi's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Manhove connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Akashi scrambles back to his feet.
Manhove tries to clinch there but Akashi circles away.
Akashi shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Manhove tries to keep at a distance but Akashi has taken the fight into the clinch.

Manhove turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Akashi is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Manhove off and has taken his back!
Manhove avoids the strikes from Akashi.
Akashi is hanging on to Manhove's back as he tries to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akashi is trying to stick to Manhove's back but Manhove is turning into Akashi. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Akashi's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Manhove.
Manhove throws a big elbow that misses.
Akashi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Manhove manages to get himself to full guard.
Manhove wants to sweep here but Akashi controlling him for the moment.
Manhove utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Manhove is trying to keep Akashi in close.
Manhove is controlling Akashi's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manhove looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Manhove keeping moving, preventing Akashi from controlling successfully.

Seijuro Akashi has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Manhove tries to sprawl but Akashi drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Akashi is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Manhove sees it coming and defends easily.
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.
Akashi tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darren Manhove 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!

Akashi looks to land a body kick but Manhove moved away.
Manhove misses with a double jab.
Manhove scores with a nice right hand.
Akashi throws an overhand right that lands on Manhove's shoulder, as Manhove tries to avoid the shot.
Akashi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Akashi closes the distance and clinches.
Akashi prevents a takedown attempt there.

Akashi pulls guard effortlessly.
Manhove wants to pass the guard but Akashi is keeping the position.
Akashi is looking to stand up but Manhove isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manhove throwing strikes but missing.
Manhove wants to pass the guard but Akashi is keeping the position.
Manhove loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Akashi is trying to hold Manhove in close to prevent damage but Manhove has managed to pass into half guard.
Manhove tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Manhove wants to free his trapped foot but Akashi is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manhove lands with a punch from half guard.
Akashi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Manhove.
Akashi trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Manhove with shots to the head and body - Akashi looks very uncomfortable down there.
Manhove with good strikes from the mount here!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Akashi wants to hold on but Manhove pushes him away.
Manhove is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Manhove with the ground and pound from mount.
Akashi is trying desperately to improve position.
Manhove with shots to the head and body - Akashi looks very uncomfortable down there.

Akashi is rocked!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manhove lands a big shot to the head and Akashi winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Darren Manhove!