PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Owens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Seijuro Akashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Owens comes to the cage accompanied by Street Fighting Years by Simple Minds. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Owens
vs
Akashi

185 cm
25
211 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

199 cm
25
201 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Owens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Seijuro Akashi!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akashi closes the distance and clinches up with Owens, looking for a takedown. Akashi pushes Owens against the cage but Owens circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Akashi clinches with his opponent.

Owens gets control of Akashi's arms and successfully pulls guard. Owens will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Akashi trying to control but Owens is working from the bottom.
Owens is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Owens tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Owens wants to control the position but Akashi says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Owens tries to roll over but Akashi keeps him under control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Owens manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Akashi keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Akashi looking for a takedown.

Akashi is fighting off a takedown attempt but Owens is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Akashi to the mat. Akashi regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Owens is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Akashi wants to stand and escape but Owens is having none of it.
Owens is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Akashi is trying to keep Owens in close.
Owens working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Owens trying to control but Akashi is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Owens avoids the head kick by Akashi.

Owens gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Owens gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Owens got a little sloppy there for a moment and Akashi has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Owens has managed to get both his arms back between Akashi's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Owens sitting in guard here, content to control.
We've been hearing that Owens has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Akashi is trying to control the position but Owens postures up.
Owens is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Owens trying to control but Akashi is working from the bottom.
Owens working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Owens connects with a couple of short punches.
Owens with a nice head shot there.
Owens controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Owens trying to control the position from guard on top but Akashi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Owens slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nice sprawl there from Owens as Akashi shoots in.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Owens dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Akashi shoots in but Owens avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Akashi closes the distance and clinches.
Owens blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Akashi blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Owens pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Akashi gets caught napping as Owens dives in and scores a takedown. Akashi manages to retain guard.
Owens throws a big elbow that misses.

Akashi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Akashi trying to keep a closed guard but Owens is proving a slippery customer.
Owens might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Owens throwing strikes from guard but Akashi blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Owens is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Owens won't allow Akashi to get back to his feet.
Owens trying to control the position from guard on top but Akashi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Owens looking to sit in guard and control but Akashi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Owens looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Owens is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Owens looking for a sweep. Not yet Owens, not yet.
Owens is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Akashi preventing the sweep.
Owens is working hard here to advance position.
Owens is trying to control the position but Akashi postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Owens looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Akashi!
Akashi is trying to control Owens's posture but Owens avoids it.
Owens is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Akashi can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Owens controls the position from side control.
Akashi tries to buck Owens off but Owens is having none of it.
Owens wants to lay and pray for a moment but Akashi keeps working.
Akashi is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Akashi moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Owens trying to control but Akashi is working from the bottom.
Owens would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Akashi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Owens won't allow Akashi to sweep him here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Akashi being controlled here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Owens dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Owens shoots in but Akashi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Owens misses with a takedown attempt - Akashi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Akashi blocks a low kick nicely.
Owens shoots in for a takedown but Akashi shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Owens. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Owens drives through and clinches with Akashi against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Owens as Akashi tries to tie him up.

Owens has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Akashi regains guard immediately.
Akashi being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akashi trying to control the position here.
Akashi trying to keep a closed guard but Owens is proving a slippery customer.
Akashi can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Owens controls the pace.
Owens wants to control from the top but Akashi keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Owens showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Owens wants to control from the top but Akashi keeps moving.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Akashi throws a series of punches but Owens moves out of range.
Akashi wants to clinch up but Owens keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Owens tries to clinch but Akashi moves away

and Akashi counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Akashi drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Owens gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Owens tries to pull guard but Akashi won't allow it.
Owens fails to pull guard.
Akashi tries to break free but Owens pushes him back against the cage.

Owens breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Akashi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Akashi tries to sprawl but Owens drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Owens wants to pass the guard but Akashi is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Owens keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Michael Owens is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Owens tries to pass to full mount but Akashi defends it.
Akashi tries to get to full guard but Owens has control of the leg.
Owens is stalling here. Akashi is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Owens seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Akashi has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Akashi tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Owens showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Owens, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Owens!