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 has chosen Alva Noto - Module 7 as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Shinichi
vs
Guth

155 cm
39
145 lbs
26 - 16 - 1

183 cm
36
153 lbs
25 - 19 - 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 - 16 - 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 25 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Burt Guth!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Guth misses with a head kick.

Guth gets a clinch.
Guth utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Guth breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Guth checks a leg kick nicely.
Shinichi blocks a head kick by Guth.
Donk. Guth catches Shinichi right on the button with a cross.
Guth lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Shinichi backs up against the cage.

Guth closes the distance and clinches.
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 a left hand that snaps the head of Shinichi backwards.
Guth is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Shinichi can't get the takedown.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Guth connects with a nasty looking knee right to Shinichi's face.
Shinichi jumps guard but Guth turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
A knee to the head by Guth.
Guth has had enough of the clinch but Shinichi keeps him there for the moment.
Guth is trying to push Shinichi away but Shinichi has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Shinichi gets a trip takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shinichi trying to control from half guard but Guth is working away.

Shinichi is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Guth tries to get to full guard but Shinichi has control of the leg.
Shinichi is trying to control. Guth wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Shinichi is looking for a kimura here.
Guth is concentrating on defense, preventing Shinichi from advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Shinichi is thwarting Guth's attempts to control the position.
Guth has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Rape Academy (7 elite, 6 2x elite+vending). Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Guth desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Guth won't allow Shinichi to pass to mount.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Shinichi is thwarting Guth's attempts to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nice shot by Guth.

Guth gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Shinichi has Guth pressed against the cage, preventing Guth from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Guth breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Shinichi drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shinichi changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Guth looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Shinichi looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Guth is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Shinichi off and has taken his back!
Shinichi tries to roll but Guth sticks to his back.
Shinichi is working hard here to advance position.
Guth controlling the position well here. Shinichi rolled but Guth kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
I really don't envy Shinichi right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shinichi trying to control the hands but Guth breaks the grip.
Shinichi tries to escape but Guth has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Guth just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
I really don't envy Shinichi right now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Guth is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Burt Guth dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Guth misses with an uppercut. Shinichi saw that one coming.

Guth instigates a clinch.
Guth tries to circle away but Shinichi has him pinned against the cage.

Guth's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Shinichi avoids the head kick by Guth.
Shinichi is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Guth.
Guth plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Guth throws a nice head kick!
Shinichi has been working on his balance at Heart Cave, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Guth.
Guth lands a head kick!

Shinichi shoots in and bounces Guth off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Guth 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.
Shinichi's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shinichi wants to pass the guard but Guth is keeping the position.
Guth seems keen to control Shinichi's posture.
Guth keeping moving, preventing Shinichi from controlling successfully.

Shinichi postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Guth is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Shinichi, into his guard.
Shinichi has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Guth has passed into side control.

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 looking for a sweep but Guth has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Shinichi regains half guard.
Shinichi wants to get back to full guard.
Shinichi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Guth is working away from the top position though.
Guth prevents Shinichi from improving his position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Guth has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Guth misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Guth misses with a looping left.
Guth tries to bum rush Shinichi with a series of wild strikes but Shinichi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shinichi walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Shinichi tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Guth defends well and Shinichi ends up having to push Guth into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Shinichi tries to keep at a distance but Guth has taken the fight into the clinch.
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.
Shinichi takes a shot to the head.

Guth breaks from the clinch.

Shinichi changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Guth looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Shinichi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Guth keeps working.
Shinichi tries to move into full mount but can't pass Guth's legs.
Guth is trying to control Shinichi's posture but Shinichi avoids it.

Shinichi looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Guth is looking for a sweep.
Shinichi tries to move into full mount but can't pass Guth's legs.
Shinichi is looking to take a break and control but Guth is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Shinichi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
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.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Guth fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Shinichi on the side of the head.
Guth lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Guth misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
No luck for Shinichi with that takedown attempt.
Guth cracks Shinichi with a right hand to the side of the head.
Shinichi darts in looking for a takedown but Guth gets double underhooks and turns Shinichi into the cage.
Shinichi will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Guth scores with a jab to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Guth throws a right and a left that Shinichi avoids nicely.
Guth scores with a head kick. Shinichi tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Guth scores with a crisp jab that stopped Shinichi in his tracks.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Shinichi closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Guth quickly recovers to half guard.
Guth is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Shinichi in particular looking to stall.

Shinichi is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Guth wants to control but Shinichi is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Shinichi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Guth does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Shinichi in particular looking to stall.
Guth has a hand on Shinichi's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Shinichi takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Shinichi looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Guth tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Guth defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Shinichi.
Shinichi wants to control the action but instead Guth gets a body lock and reverses into Shinichi's guard! Nice work!
Shinichi looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Guth puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Shinichi is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guth not doing much here.
Guth is continuing to stall.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Shinichi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Shinichi has a hand on Guth's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Guth takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Shinichi sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's four 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.
Shinichi slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Guth sitting in guard here, content to control.
Akiyama Shinichi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Shinichi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Shinichi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Shinichi throws a chopping leg kick but Guth manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
A punch lands to the side of Shinichi 's head but he takes it in his stride.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Guth rushes Shinichi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Shinichi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Guth fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Akiyama Shinichi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akiyama Shinichi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Guth takes the fight into the clinch.

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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Burt Guth!
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Burt Guth!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Burt Guth!

Burt Guth wins by unanimous decision!