PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Silverio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshihiro Akiyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Silverio
vs
Akiyama

178 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rafael Silverio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoshihiro Akiyama!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silverio tries to clinch up but Akiyama circles away and keeps his distance.

Akiyama decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Akiyama thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Akiyama not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Silverio works his way to full guard. Good work.
Akiyama trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Akiyama content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Akiyama thows a big elbow that misses.
Silverio utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Akiyama in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Akiyama tries to stand but Silverio is controlling from the bottom.
Akiyama is looking to work some ground and pound but Silverio has wrist control.
Akiyama throwing strikes from guard but Silverio blocks nicely.
Silverio wants to sweep but no luck.
Silverio is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Akiyama moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silverio takes a knee right on the jaw!
A knee to the head by Akiyama.
Silverio is trying to maintain a safe position but Akiyama gets an underhook and turns Silverio into the cage.
Akiyama tries a knee to the head but Silverio blocks it.
Akiyama tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Silverio breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Akiyama fails with a takedown attempt.
Akiyama changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Silverio tries to avoid it but Akiyama manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Silverio to the ground. Silverio escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A combination from Silverio does no damage.
Silverio tries to clinch up

and Akiyama counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Silverio's guard now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama distracts Silverio with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Silverio is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Silverio wants to sweep here but Akiyama controlling him for the moment.
Silverio trying to keep a closed guard but Akiyama is proving a slippery customer.
Silverio is breathing heavily.
Akiyama landing with the ground and pound.
Akiyama postures up.
Akiyama throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Silverio working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Akiyama.
Akiyama slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Silverio is looking for a sweep.
Akiyama looks up at the clock and then as Silverio takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Akiyama smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Silverio parries the strikes from Akiyama easily there. Akiyama is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Silverio to escape.

Akiyama decides to stand back up.
Yoshihiro Akiyama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Akiyama moves into the clinch.
Silverio goes for a takedown in the clinch but Akiyama prevents it.
Akiyama connects with a knee to the head.
Akiyama tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Silverio fails to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silverio tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafael Silverio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Akiyama with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Akiyama looking to throw knees to the head but Silverio is blocking nicely.
Akiyama with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A knee to the head by Akiyama.
Akiyama drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Silverio jumps guard but Akiyama stands there with Silverio around his waist. Silverio gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Silverio is looking to control Akiyama's arms but Akiyama gets an underhook and turns him. Now Silverio has his back to the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshihiro Akiyama dominated that 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.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Silverio wants to break free but Akiyama has control.
Akiyama with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Akiyama misses with a knee to the head.
Akiyama tries to land a knee to the head but Silverio blocks with his arms.
Silverio misses with a hook from the clinch.
Akiyama tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Akiyama looking to throw knees to the head but Silverio is blocking nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silverio tries to stall but Akiyama uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Silverio fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Silverio is trying to stall.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Akiyama with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silverio is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Silverio breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Akiyama clinches with his opponent.
Silverio can't break the clinch.
Silverio tries for a takedown but Akiyama manages to get underhooks.
Akiyama looking to throw knees to the head but Silverio is blocking nicely.
Akiyama throws a knee to the head but misses.
Akiyama keeps control of Silverio as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Akiyama with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Akiyama tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Akiyama throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Silverio blocks it with crossed arms.

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.
Akiyama misses with a knee to the head.
Silverio wants to break the clinch but can't.
Silverio wants to get back to striking at distance but Akiyama won't allow it.
Akiyama with a knee to the head.

It looks like Rafael Silverio has been cut.
Silverio drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Akiyama gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafael Silverio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silverio is trying to stall.
A knee to the head by Akiyama.
Akiyama with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Akiyama throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silverio drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Akiyama with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Akiyama misses with a knee strike.
Akiyama tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Silverio takes a knee right on the jaw!
Akiyama using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Silverio has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Silverio drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Akiyama throws a knee to the head but misses.
Akiyama misses with a knee strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Akiyama with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Akiyama looking to throw knees to the head but Silverio is blocking nicely.
Akiyama with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Silverio misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Silverio tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Akiyama smiles and moves away.

Akiyama scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Silverio on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Akiyama working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Akiyama looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Silverio with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Akiyama lands with a punch from half guard.
Akiyama scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Akiyama lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshihiro Akiyama showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rafael Silverio's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Akiyama is looking to clinch but Silverio is avoiding it.

Akiyama has managed to clinch.
Akiyama stops a takedown attempt from Silverio.
Akiyama avoids the elbow strike from Silverio, against the cage.
Silverio fails to pull guard.
Silverio wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Akiyama has him pressed against the cage.
Silverio looking to throw knees to the head but Akiyama is blocking nicely.
Silverio is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Akiyama gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafael Silverio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Akiyama looking to throw knees to the head but Silverio is blocking nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Akiyama tries a knee to the head but Silverio blocks it.
Akiyama with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silverio fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Akiyama tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akiyama misses with a knee to the head.
Akiyama connects with a nasty looking knee right to Silverio's face.
Silverio doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Akiyama throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Silverio blocks it with crossed arms.
Akiyama misses with a knee strike.
Akiyama using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Silverio has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Akiyama throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Silverio blocks it with crossed arms.
Akiyama misses with a knee to the head.
Silverio is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Akiyama is keeping busy.
Silverio tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Akiyama smiles and moves away.
Silverio misses with a takedown attempt

and Akiyama decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Silverio's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Akiyama missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Akiyama lands a couple of elbows.

Akiyama stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Silverio clinches but Akiyama breaks the clinch

and Akiyama counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Akiyama goes for a takedown in the clinch but Silverio prevents it.
Akiyama throws a knee to the head but misses.
Silverio tries to pull guard but Akiyama won't allow it.
Akiyama tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Akiyama using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Silverio has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Akiyama with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Silverio tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Akiyama smiles and moves away.
Akiyama tries to close the distance and clinch up but Silverio swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Akiyama throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Akiyama tries to clinch but Silverio moves out of range.
Akiyama lands with a nice body kick.

Akiyama fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Silverio, pushing him back against the cage.
Silverio jumps guard but Akiyama stands there with Silverio around his waist. Silverio gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Akiyama connects with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama misses with a knee strike.
Silverio tries to pull guard but Akiyama won't allow it.
Akiyama landing knees to the head.
Akiyama with a knee to the head.
Akiyama connects with a knee to the head.
Akiyama tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Akiyama tries a knee to the head but Silverio blocks it.
Silverio throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Akiyama blocks it with crossed arms.
Akiyama connects with a nasty looking knee right to Silverio's face.
Akiyama throws a knee to the head but misses.
Silverio looking for a takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yoshihiro Akiyama comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Akiyama has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yoshihiro Akiyama!