PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dwight Ingram (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Haru Akura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Haru Akura will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Ingram
vs
Akura

208 cm
24
140 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

160 cm
21
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dwight Ingram!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Haru Akura!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Sosuke Kotani and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Akura closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ingram's guard.
Akura throwing strikes but missing.
Ingram controls Akura momentarily but Akura frees himself.
Akura wants to control from the top but Ingram keeps moving.

Ingram looking for a guillotine here but Akura defends easily.
Ingram will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ingram wants to stand but Akura is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Akura looking to pass the guard.
Akura must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Akura won't allow Ingram to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ingram has his feet on Akura's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Akura gets a takedown into half guard.
Akura trying to control the action but Ingram is working from the bottom.
Ingram is looking to escape.
Akura tries to pass to full mount but Ingram defends it.
Ingram controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Akura is looking to take a break and control but Ingram is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ingram tries to roll over but Akura keeps him under control.

Ingram kicks Akura off and gets back to his feet.

Ingram forces Akura back against the cage and clinches.
Ingram pushes Akura back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Ingram really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Akura trying to stall but Ingram improves his position.

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

Akura gets a clinch.
Akura is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Ingram is trying to break free.
Ingram working hard to break the clinch.

Ingram manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ingram shoots for a takedown but Akura saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Akura defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ingram.
Akura tries to clinch but Ingram moves away

and Ingram counters with a nice double leg into side control. Akura won't be happy with that.
Akura is looking for a sweep.
Ingram fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Ingram creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Akura sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Akura regains half guard.
Ingram takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Ingram seems to be looking for submissions.
Ingram lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Akura has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Ingram is on him like a limpet, forcing Akura back against the cage.
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!
Ingram fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dwight Ingram. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Akura looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Akura looks winded!
Akura prevents Ingram from standing back up.

Ingram manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Akura keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Ingram avoiding damage as Akura throws knees to the body.
Ingram is trying to break free.

Ingram's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
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 Dwight Ingram will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ingram moves into the clinch successfully.
Ingram wants to get back to striking at distance but Akura won't allow it.

Ingram jumps into guard, dragging Akura to the mat.
Dwight Ingram overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Akura prevents Ingram from getting back to his feet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Akura accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ingram is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Ingram is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Akura presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Akura has clasped his hands together around Ingram's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Ingram wants to get back to his feet but Akura drags him back down.
Akura taking a breather here.
Ingram gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ingram is refusing to be controlled, as Akura sits in half guard.

Ingram looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ingram keeps control of the position for the meantime.

Akura is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ingram doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Akura.
Akura is breathing heavily.
Ingram is looking to control Akura's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ingram avoid being mounted?

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.

Ingram kicks off Akura and gets to his feet.

Akura shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ingram is looking to escape.
Ingram is refusing to be controlled, as Akura sits in half guard.
Ingram tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akura wants to pass the guard but Ingram is defending well.
Ingram landing small, sideways elbows.
Ingram is looking for a sweep. Akura is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ingram wants to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Akura lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ingram circles away quickly and effectively.

Akura darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Ingram keeping hold of Akura's head, controlling as best he can.

Ingram manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Akura keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ingram wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Ingram breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Akura keeps the fight on the outside.
Akura tries to clinch

and Ingram counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Akura!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Akura is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Akura taking punishment in the form of punches.
Akura tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Akura is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dwight Ingram dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ingram will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ingram with a poor takedown

and Akura counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Akura.
Ingram tries to break free but Akura pushes him back against the cage.
Ingram is looking to break free of the clinch but Akura has double underhooks.
Akura blocks a body shot from Ingram.
Ingram is trying to force a seperation but Akura has the dominant position.

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

Akura has closed the distance and engaged Ingram in a clinch.

Akura has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Ingram regains guard immediately.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ingram preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Akura trying to control the position from guard on top but Ingram is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ingram is trying to control the position but Akura postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akura stops Ingram from standing up.
Ingram is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Akura prevents Ingram from getting back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Akura wants to clinch up but Ingram keeps it at a distance.
A low kick from Akura misses

and Ingram counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Akura takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Ingram stands up and waves to Akura to follow him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ingram shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Akura but Akura pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dwight Ingram. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A slapping leg kick lands for Akura.
Akura tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ingram paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Ingram drives through and clinches with Akura against the cage.
Ingram misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Akura.

Ingram is fighting off a takedown attempt but Akura is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Ingram to the mat. Ingram regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Akura tries to free his leg and advance position but Ingram is retaining full guard.
Akura stands and throws Ingram's legs to the side, diving into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ingram isn't going anywhere.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ingram is pushing Akura's head away, looking to escape. Akura manages to hold on to the position though.
Ingram striking from the bottom but nothing landed.

Ingram bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

Ingram shoots in and bounces Akura off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Akura working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Ingram has passed into half guard!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ingram seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Ingram looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Akura with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Ingram controlling the action here.
Akura is trying to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Dwight Ingram.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ingram, 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dwight Ingram!