PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Soul Jah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akira Akiyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jah comes to the cage accompanied by Bob Marley - Buffalo Soldier. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Jah
vs
Akiyama

196 cm
22
252 lbs
9 - 0 - 0

198 cm
35
257 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
World class MT
Granite chin

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Soul Jah!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Akira Akiyama!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akiyama lands with a nice combination. Jah backs away looking to recover.
Akiyama throws a low kick, looking for Jah's leg but Jah calmly moves out of range.
Jah is looking to slow Akiyama down with leg kicks.
Akiyama throws a right hand that Jah ducks under and follows up with a left that Jah also avoids with ease.
A good leg kick by Jah.
Akiyama swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Jah counters with a low kick, right behind Akiyama 's knee.
Akiyama takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Jah scoring well with a low kick there.
Jah lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Akiyama circles away quickly and effectively.
Nice body kick there by Jah.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Akiyama tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Akiyama swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Jah takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Akiyama throws out a leg kick but Jah moves out of range and Akiyama only half commits.
Akira Akiyama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jah bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Jah.
Jah throws a head kick that Akiyama semi-blocks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jah connects with a solid leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Akiyama looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Akiyama throws a leg kick but Jah sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Crunch! Jah slams his shin into Akiyama's torso.
Akiyama throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Jah.
Jah throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Akiyama looks winded!
Jah lands with a kick to the temple. Akiyama shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Jah cracks the inside of Akiyama's front leg.
Jah misses with a low kick.
Jah throws a right and a left that Akiyama avoids nicely.

Akiyama gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Jah manages to break the clinch.
Akiyama misses with an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jah tries to score with a low kick but Akiyama moves his leg out of the way.

Jah rushes Akiyama and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Jah dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Akiyama prevents a body shot from Jah.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Jah.
Jah with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Akiyama is trying to pull guard but Jah turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Akiyama pulls Jah into guard.
Jah is stalling in the full guard.
Jah has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Akiyama can't keep his opponent in guard - Jah advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four 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.
Jah prevents Akiyama from standing back up.
Jah wants to pass to mount but Akiyama is defending the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Akiyama lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Akiyama.
Jah throws a sloppy head kick and Akiyama moves out of range easily.
Jah throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Akiyama's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Akiyama on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Soul Jah dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Akira Akiyama's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Jah throws the kick towards the body but Akiyama avoids it.
Jah misses with a body kick.
Jah scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Jah throws a front kick that sends Akiyama stumbling back into the cage.
Jah throws a half hearted mid kick.
Akiyama scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Jah drives through and clinches with Akiyama against the cage.
Jah controlling the action here for a moment.
Akiyama tries to pull guard but Jah won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jah is pressed up against the cage. Akiyama has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Jah down to the mat. Jah avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Akiyama throws a wild body kick that Jah sees coming a mile off.
Jah throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Jah throws a leg kick which misses Akiyama's front leg but catches the back leg as Akiyama tries to avoid it.
Akiyama slips a jab and a cross from Jah.
Soul Jah is winning the standup battle so far.
Jah lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jah misses with a head kick.
Akiyama misses with a hook.
Jah throws a quick counter kick to the body but Akiyama avoids it.
Akiyama checks the leg kick nicely there.
Akiyama fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jah has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
A leg kick checked by Akiyama.
You can see that Akiyama has visibly slowed down as a result of the leg kicks

Jah clinches up against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Jah tries to land knees in the clinch but Akiyama avoids the damage to the body.
Jah goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Akiyama wants a takedown.
Soul Jah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akira Akiyama.

Jah breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Akiyama looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Akiyama throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Jah throws a big counter combination but Akiyama scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
A low kick from Akiyama misses
and Jah counters with a nice kick to the body.
Akiyama is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jah lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Akiyama lands a leg kick that knocks Jah off balance momentarily.
Jah goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Jah connects with a high kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Akiyama throws out a leg kick but Jah moves out of range and Akiyama only half commits.
Jah throws a nice inside leg kick.
Jah rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Akiyama moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Akiyama misses with an uppercut. Jah saw that one coming.
Jah avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jah fires out a quick counter leg kick but Akiyama just manages to avoid it.
Jah fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Akiyama has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Jah clinches up with Akiyama and pushes him back against the cage.
Nice body punch from Jah - that landed with a thud.
Jah landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Jah works on Akiyama's body with a couple of short punches.
Jah is struggling to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jah unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Jah lands a shot to the body.
Jah misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Akiyama.
Akiyama tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A right hook to the body lands for Jah.
Jah scores with a shot to the side of Akiyama's head.
Jah scores with a hook to the body.
Jah scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Jah throws a knee to the head but misses.
Jah utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

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

Jah takes the fight into the clinch.
Jah lands a knee to the head.
Jah is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Akiyama can do to turn this around?
A short uppercut from Jah.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jah unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jah missing with knees to the body.
Akiyama wants a takedown.
Jah digs a right hand into Akiyama's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Akiyama's gas tank.
Jah is pushing Akiyama up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Jah stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Jah throws a knee to the head but misses.
Jah missing with knees to the body.
Jah lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Akiyama backwards.
Akiyama drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jah lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Akiyama managing to block the knees to the body from Jah.
Jah lands a knee to the body.

Jah escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Jah takes the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Soul Jah dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Akira Akiyama's cut.
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!

Akiyama takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Akiyama sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

Jah forces Akiyama back against the cage and clinches.
Akiyama blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Jah lands with a light punch inside.
Jah is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Jah holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Jah seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
A hook to the body from Jah.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jah lands with a left to the head.
Jah misses with a knee strike.
Knees to the body from Jah.
Akiyama managing to block the knees to the body from Jah.
Akiyama takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Jah manages to break the clinch.
Jah tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akiyama doesn't manage to clinch there - Jah circles away.
Akiyama avoids the head kick by Jah.
Jah changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Akiyama keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've been told by Jah's head coaches at Broken Halo's -Temple of Illumination that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Jah moves away from the strike by Akiyama.
Jah avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Jah lands with a shot to the body.
An inside leg kick lands from Jah.
Akiyama throws a low kick, looking for Jah's leg but Jah calmly moves out of range.
Jah turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Jah rushes Akiyama and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Akiyama blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Jah pushes Akiyama back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Jah can't find room to land a body shot as Akiyama controls the action.
Akiyama has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Jah.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Jah takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Akiyama jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Jah walks away with a smile on his face. Akiyama gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Jah is looking to wear down Akiyama with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Akiyama tries to close the distance and clinch up but Jah swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jah throws a nice inside leg kick.
Akiyama thumps Jah with a low kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Akiyama tries to close the distance and clinch but Jah swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Jah lands with a nice body kick.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Jah, as that shot connected.
Jah scores with a push kick.
Jah throws a nice outside leg kick.

Jah moves into the clinch successfully.
Jah utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Jah with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama is working for takedown but Jah is calmly controlling the position for now.
Jah putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Akiyama in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Jah misses with a punch to the body.
Jah pushes Akiyama back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Akiyama takes a knee to the side of the body.
A right hand to the body from Jah.
Jah lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A bit of stalling here from Jah.
Jah throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Jah lands a nice knee to the body.
Jah tries to land knees in the clinch but Akiyama avoids the damage to the body.
Jah pressing his opponent against the cage.
Akiyama takes a knee right on the jaw!
Jah lands a good knee to the midsection. Akiyama won't want to take too many of those.
Jah tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Akiyama avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama wants to take the fight to the mat but Jah manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Soul Jah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akira Akiyama.
Jah scores with a hook to the body.
Jah with an attempt at a knee that misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jah can't find room to land a body shot as Akiyama controls the action.
Jah landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Jah with a knee to the head.
Jah unloads a knee to the mid-section. Akiyama lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Jah throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Akiyama blocks it with crossed arms.
Akira Akiyama has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jah lands a knee to the head.
Akiyama is trying to pull guard but Jah has him pressed against the cage.

Jah pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jah misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Akiyama looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Jah throws the kick towards the body but Akiyama avoids it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Jah with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Soul Jah showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Jah has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:25
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:26
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Soul Jah!
Soul Jah thanked the fans post fight for their support.