PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Akiyama Shinichi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Burt Guth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Guth comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Alva Noto - Module 7 kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Burt Guth will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Shinichi
vs
Guth

155 cm
38
145 lbs
26 - 13 - 1

183 cm
35
153 lbs
24 - 17 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Akiyama Shinichi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Burt Guth!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shinichi misses with a takedown
and Guth counters with a stiff right hand.

Shinichi darts in and clinches Guth up against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Guth.
I was talking to Shinichi's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Shinichi drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Guth gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Shinichi tightens his grip and picks Guth up, before dumping him to the ground. Guth manages to land in guard.
Guth is pulling down on Shinichi's head. It's preventing any offense from Shinichi, at least for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Guth working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shinichi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Guth swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Shinichi looking to sit in guard and control but Guth gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Guth passes into half guard.
Guth prevents Shinichi from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Guth seems to be working for a kimura but Shinichi defends the submission attempt.
Guth wants to stand up but Shinichi has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Guth is trying to control the action in half guard but Shinichi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Shinichi wants to control but Guth is keeping busy.
Shinichi punching from the bottom.
Shinichi regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shinichi trying to keep a closed guard but Guth is proving a slippery customer.
Shinichi looking for a sweep. Not yet Shinichi, not yet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Guth keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akiyama Shinichi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Guth throws a good cross that connects.
Sloppy strikes from Guth. Those never looked like landing.
Guth misses with a wild combination.
Shinichi fails with a takedown attempt.
Shinichi sets himself, and Guth steps forward looking for the clinch! Shinichi avoids it this time.

Guth has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Guth lands a knee to the head.
Guth scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Guth scores with a nice hook to the head.
Shinichi is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Guth is defending well for now.
Guth is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Shinichi is defending well for now.
Guth lands with a left to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Knees in the clinch landing for Guth.
Guth tries to land knees in the clinch but Shinichi avoids the damage to the body.
Guth connects with a nasty looking knee right to Shinichi's face.
Shinichi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Guth.
Shinichi drops down looking for an ankle pick but Guth pulls his leg out and moves away.
Guth lunges at Shinichi with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Shinichi's hand.
Shinichi throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Shinichi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Shinichi sets himself, and Guth steps forward looking for the clinch! Shinichi avoids it this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Burt Guth dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Guth pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Guth clinches up with Shinichi and pushes him back against the cage.
Guth landing knees to the body.
Shinichi tries to score a body lock takedown but Guth shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Guth scores with a knee to the head.
Guth misses with a knee to the head.
Shinichi effectively controlling the action here.
Guth is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Guth gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Shinichi.
Shinichi can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akiyama Shinichi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shinichi has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Guth is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Guth swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Guth throws a knee to the head but misses.
Guth tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Shinichi avoids it.
Guth misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Shinichi.

Shinichi manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shinichi looking for a sweep. Not yet Shinichi, not yet.
Shinichi wants to control but Guth passes easily into half guard.
My spies in Rape Academy inform me that Guth has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Shinichi wants to improve his position but Guth is controlling well.
Shinichi is trying to maintain the position but Guth is very close to passing his half guard.
Shinichi keeps control of the position for the meantime.

Guth looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Shinichi tries to roll over but Guth keeps him under control.
Guth wants to control but Shinichi is keeping him busy.
Shinichi wants to control but Guth passes into side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guth controls the position.
Guth wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shinichi keeps working.
Guth working away.
Shinichi is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Shinichi looking for a sweep but Guth has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Shinichi really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Shinichi slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shinichi trying to control from the bottom.
Guth controlling the action here.
It looks like Guth is going to stand back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Shinichi clinches.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Guth lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Shinichi is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Guth is defending well.
Guth landing knees to the head.
Guth lands on the inside with an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Burt Guth showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Shinichi avoids the head kick by Guth.
Shinichi takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Shinichi gets tackled into the cage by Guth. Guth maintains the clinch.
Guth lands with a right to the head.

Shinichi ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Shinichi no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Shinichi wants to sweep here but Guth controlling him for the moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Shinichi is on top in guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Guth not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Guth keeping moving, preventing Shinichi from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guth is trying to hold Shinichi in close to prevent damage but Shinichi has managed to pass into half guard.
Guth has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Shinichi is working away from the top position though.

Shinichi is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Guth doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Shinichi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Guth regains full guard. Nicely done.
Shinichi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Shinichi looking to pass the guard.
Shinichi preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shinichi tries to free his leg and advance position but Guth is retaining full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shinichi moves forwards but Guth connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Guth has taken the fight to the clinch.
Shinichi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Shinichi tries for a takedown but Guth manages to get underhooks.
Guth is pressed up against the cage. Shinichi has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Guth down to the mat. Guth avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Burt Guth is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Guth with a nice cross.
Burt Guth seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Guth throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Shinichi.
Guth throws a good cross that connects.
Shinichi looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A decent looking cross lands there for Guth.

Guth gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Guth throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Shinichi blocks it with crossed arms.
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!
Guth scores with a shot to the side of Shinichi's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shinichi takes a knee right on the jaw!
Guth misses with some punches.
Guth has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Shinichi drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akiyama Shinichi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shinichi wants to take the fight to the mat but Guth manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Guth prevents the takedown attempt.
Shinichi throws a head punch that misses.
Guth prevents a takedown attempt there.
Guth lands an uppercut.
A short uppercut from Guth.
Guth with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Shinichi is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Guth to keep the fight standing.
Guth misses with a knee strike.
Akiyama Shinichi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Guth lands a knee to the head.
Guth managing to block the knees to the body from Shinichi.

And that's the end of the fight!
Burt Guth comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Guth winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 for Burt Guth!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Burt Guth!
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Burt Guth!

Burt Guth wins by unanimous decision!