PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kwame Akabaro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karl Denke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Akabaro comes to the cage accompanied by African Assassin - Mo Marah. Denke is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Runnin With The Devil. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Akabaro
vs
Denke

181 cm
30
198 lbs
17 - 7 - 0

186 cm
41
195 lbs
41 - 23 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

GREEN!160
Spartan Nutrition

Spartan Nutrition

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 17 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kwame Akabaro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 41 - 23 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Karl Denke!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Akabaro. Denke does a little dance to reset his feet.
Akabaro takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Denke throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Akabaro ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Denke moves away.
Denke's jab looks to have found its range, popping Akabaro under the eye.
Denke throws a body shot but no joy.
Denke looks to score with a jab to the body but Akabaro is just out of range.
A nice leg kick lands there from Denke.
Denke moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Akabaro checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Denke tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Akabaro is able to avoid easily.
Denke smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Akabaro tries to clinch but Denke is having none of it.
Akabaro throws a half hearted mid kick.
Akabaro misses the shot to the body.
It seemed like Denke was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Denke walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Akabaro checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Akabaro jabs Denke right on the nose. Denke blinks but takes it well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Denke slips a straight right by Akabaro.
Denke tries a low kick but Akabaro avoids it.
Akabaro is looking to counter with a body kick.
Denke misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Akabaro.
A quick step to the side and Akabaro tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denke avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Akabaro jabs at Denke's body.
Akabaro is looking to wear down Denke with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Denke throws a shot from downtown. Akabaro moves away and avoids it.
Akabaro quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Denke throws a big shot that misses.
Denke thows a leg kick but Akabaro checks it
and Akabaro cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Akabaro throws a head kick but Denke moves out of range.
Denke lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Denke connects with an inside leg kick.
Denke rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Akabaro makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Denke pushes Akabaro up against the cage in a clinch.
Akabaro misses with a body punch.
Denke tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Denke pushes Akabaro back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Denke misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Akabaro has a couple of punches blocked by Denke.
I was talking to Akabaro's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Denke's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
This has been an exciting period of action!
A short right from Akabaro.
Denke tries to work over Akabaro's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Denke doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akabaro is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Denke is defending well.

Akabaro breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Akabaro fails to land with a series of punches.
Akabaro checks a leg kick.
Denke missing with a left hand there. Akabaro was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Denke connects with a leg kick. Akabaro looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Denke chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Denke misses with a hook. Akabaro ducked under it nicely.
Akabaro misses the shot to the body.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Denke crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Akabaro - the referee stops the clock and Denke gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Akabaro. Denke manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Denke slips a straight right by Akabaro.
Denke lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Akabaro at a distance.
A slow jab from Denke misses its intended target.
Akabaro is looking to counter punch.
Akabaro throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Denke wants to land a leg kick but Akabaro is out of range.
Akabaro throws a half hearted mid kick.
Denke fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Akabaro is out of range.
Akabaro scores with a head kick. Denke tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Akabaro tries a head kick but it misses.
Denke steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Denke misses the target.
Denke misses with a low kick.
Akabaro feints and then cracks Denke's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Denke down.
Akabaro pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Akabaro tries to work over Denke's front leg with a kick but Denke checks it.
Akabaro tries to land a front kick but Denke steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Akabaro swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Denke throws a lazy body kick
and Akabaro counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A thudding body kick lands there by Akabaro!
Akabaro throws a lazy head kick
and Denke counters with a nice uppercut.
Denke rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Akabaro counters with a left and a right that stings Denke.
Akabaro ducks under a wild hook from Denke.
Akabaro tries to clinch but Denke is having none of it.
Denke swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Akabaro counters with a solid body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Denke misses with a leg kick
and Akabaro counters with a straight right hand.
Denke is looking to chop away at Akabaro's legs.
Denke tries to work over Akabaro's front leg with a kick but Akabaro checks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akabaro throws a head kick that misses.
Denke misses with a wild body shot.
Denke swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Denke lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Akabaro has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Akabaro and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Akabaro feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Denke on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Kwame Akabaro is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Akabaro takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Denke moves into the clinch.
Akabaro has a couple of punches blocked by Denke.
Akabaro swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Denke taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Denke fails to land.
Denke struggles to land a body shot inside as Akabaro controls his hands.

Akabaro gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Denke is trying to stand up here but Akabaro is controlling him well.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Akabaro looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Denke wants to improve his position but Akabaro is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kwame Akabaro will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Denke fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Akabaro looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Akabaro throws a one two combo.

It looks like Karl Denke has been cut.
Denke does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Akabaro showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Denke.
Akabaro swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Denke throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Denke scores with a hook.
Denke looks for the body kick but Akabaro saw that one coming.
A bone on bone clash there as Akabaro blocks the leg kick.
Akabaro lands with a nice body punch.
Akabaro doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Akabaro scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Denke needs to keep his hands up - Akabaro had a free shot at his head there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A combination from Denke does no damage.
Denke just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromAkabaro.
Denke wants to clinch
and Akabaro counters with a three punch combo that has Denke backing up. Denke nods at Akabaro to acknowledge the strikes.
Akabaro throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denke throws a sloppy head kick
and Akabaro counters with an inside leg kick.
Akabaro scores with a punch to the head.
Denke tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Akabaro was well out of range. Poor timing from Denke.
Akabaro throws a jab when Denke was well out of range.
A bone on bone clash there as Akabaro blocks the leg kick.
Akabaro thinks about countering with a body kick.
Denke circles away from the clinch attempt.
Denke dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Akabaro moves into the clinch successfully.
Denke prevents a takedown attempt there.
Akabaro on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Denke is pushing Akabaro up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Akabaro lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Akabaro gets through Denke's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Denke can't find room to land a body shot as Akabaro controls the action.
Akabaro misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Akabaro.
Denke misses with a punch to the body.
Akabaro is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Denke can do to turn this around?
Akabaro doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Akabaro drops down looking for an ankle pick but Denke pulls his leg out and moves away.
Akabaro misses with a jab, cross combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Denke throws a leg kick but Akabaro checks it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Denke.
Denke is looking to chop away at Akabaro's legs.
A head kick misses from Akabaro.
Akabaro tries to move into range but Denke moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Akabaro misses with an attempted mid kick.
Denke was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Akabaro goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Denke lands a nice looking body shot.

Akabaro moves into the clinch.
Nice body punch from Akabaro - that landed with a thud.
Denke is trying to break free.
Akabaro tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denke is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Akabaro scores with a shoulder strike.
Denke tries a body shot but Akabaro blocks it.
Denke lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short uppercut from Akabaro.
Denke tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Denke misses with a body punch.
Denke using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Akabaro has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nice body punch from Denke - that landed with a thud.
Denke misses with a hook to the ribs.
A right hand to the body from Akabaro.
Denke is breathing heavily.
Akabaro pushes Denke back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Denke's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Denke throws a front kick aimed at Akabaro's knee but Akabaro avoids it well.
Akabaro scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Denke doesn't seem bothered though.
Denke blocks a jab.
Akabaro lands a nice looking body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akabaro explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Akabaro throws a quick inside leg kick.
Denke looks to land a left hand but Akabaro moved out of range nicely.

Akabaro takes the fight into the clinch.
Kwame Akabaro has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Akabaro has Denke pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Denke manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kwame Akabaro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Akabaro blocks a body shot from Denke.
Denke tries to throw a body punch but Akabaro avoids it by throwing Denke back against the cage.
Denke doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Denke misses with a hook to the ribs.
Akabaro prevents a body shot from Denke.
Akabaro lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Akabaro works on Denke's body with a couple of short punches.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Akabaro.
Akabaro scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Still in the clinch, Akabaro scores with a nice short uppercut.
Akabaro lands with a light punch inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kwame Akabaro dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Karl Denke'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!

Akabaro lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Denke throws a chopping leg kick but Akabaro manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Akabaro chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Akabaro scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Denke avoids the body shot from Akabaro.
Akabaro throws a head kick that misses.
Denke jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Denke is looking to score with low kicks.
Denke avoids a kick to the body.
Denke tries to move into range but Akabaro moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Akabaro tries a head kick but it misses.
Denke avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Denke. Akabaro does a little dance to reset his feet.
An inside leg kick lands from Akabaro.

Akabaro rushes Denke and presses him up against the cage.
Denke goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Denke tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Akabaro blocks a body shot from Denke.
Akabaro 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denke can't find room to land a body shot as Akabaro controls the action.
Akabaro gets through Denke's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Denke tries to break the clinch but Akabaro is controlling the position.
Denke throws a punch but it's blocked by Akabaro.
Akabaro lands with a short shot to the head.
Akabaro softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Karl Denke has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Akabaro's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Denke tries a body shot but Akabaro blocks it.
Denke prevents a body shot from Akabaro.
Akabaro misses with a punch to the body.
Akabaro prevents Denke from breaking the clinch.
Akabaro lands a body shot.
Denke misses with a punch on the inside.
Stalling in the clinch from Akabaro.
Akabaro can't find room to land a body shot as Denke controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denke is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Denke breaks the clinch.
A good leg kick by Akabaro.
Akabaro takes a swing at Denke's ribcage but misses.
Denke will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Denke gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Denke uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Akabaro.
Crunch! Denke slams his shin into Akabaro's torso.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Akabaro misses with a wild combination.
Kwame Akabaro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Denke's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Denke looks to land a body kick but Akabaro moved away.
Jab from Akabaro.
Akabaro fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Denke has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Denke fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Akabaro checks it well.
Akabaro tried to score with a low kick but Denke checks it.
Akabaro backing away here, and Denke unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Akabaro lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Akabaro lands a jab to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akabaro moves out of range of the strikes.
It looked like Akabaro wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Denke throws a body shot but no joy.
Denke misses with a body kick.
Akabaro throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Denke takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Denke thuds his shin into the meat of Akabaro's side.
Denke throws a leg kick but Akabaro sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Denke fails to land with a series of punches.
Denke takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Denke clinches up against the cage.
Denke fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Denke is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Denke can't find room to land a body shot as Akabaro controls the action.
Denke tries for a takedown but Akabaro manages to get underhooks.
Akabaro is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Akabaro makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Denke tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Akabaro's elbow.
Denke goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Akabaro lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Denke tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Denke tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Akabaro's elbow.
Akabaro lands with a light punch inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Akabaro has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Denke clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Akabaro gets his hands free as Denke looks to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kwame Akabaro showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Akabaro 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kwame Akabaro!
A very excited looking Kwame Akabaro made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.