PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jesse Venturia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akira Akiyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Venturia comes to the cage accompanied by Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise. Jesse Venturia has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Venturia
vs
Akiyama

210 cm
45
281 lbs
39 - 40 - 0

198 cm
40
257 lbs
12 - 22 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
World class MT
Granite chin

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 39 - 40 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jesse Venturia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Akira Akiyama!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akiyama throws a leg kick that is checked

and Venturia moves into the clinch.
Akiyama is trying to pull guard but Venturia has him pressed against the cage.
Akiyama blocking some punches.
Venturia is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Akiyama tries to pull guard but Venturia holds him up against the cage and eventually Akiyama drops back down to his feet.
Akiyama fails to pull guard.
Jesse Venturia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akira Akiyama.

Venturia breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Venturia on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Akiyama. Akiyama obviously looking to wear him down.
Venturia loads up on a big right hand but Akiyama slips the punch.
Akiyama throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Venturia counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Venturia avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Venturia looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Akiyama on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

It looks like Akira Akiyama has been cut.
Venturia keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A nice leg kick lands there from Akiyama.
Venturia scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Venturia lands a leg kick that knocks Akiyama off balance momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akiyama has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Akiyama there as he acknowledges the shot.

Oh, that's a big right hand from Venturia and Akiyama goes tumbling to the canvas! Venturia follows him to the ground and looks to finish from half guard.
Akiyama pushes Venturia off looking to stand but Venturia dives back in and keeps control.
Akiyama really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Venturia. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Venturia stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Akiyama to get to his feet.
The fighters circling - Venturia throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Venturia moves into the clinch.
Venturia definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Venturia lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That has opened up Akira Akiyama's cut even more.
Akiyama tries to pull guard but Venturia won't allow it.
Venturia lands with a light punch inside.
Akiyama jumps guard but Venturia stands there with Akiyama around his waist. Akiyama gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Venturia.
A bit of stalling here from Venturia.
Akiyama is trying to drag Venturia to the mat but Venturia just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Akiyama tries to pull guard but Venturia holds him up against the cage and eventually Akiyama drops back down to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama prevents a body shot from Venturia.
Venturia lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Venturia lands a hook to the side of the head.

Venturia escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Akiyama gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Akiyama connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Akiyama scores with a leg kick.

Venturia has managed to clinch.
Venturia pressing his opponent against the cage.
Venturia misses with a hook to the ribs.
Venturia prevents the takedown attempt.
A bit of stalling here from Venturia.
Venturia is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Venturia manages to break the clinch.
Venturia moves out of range of the body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama moves in looking to clinch but Venturia pushes him off.
Venturia throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Akiyama avoids the head kick by Venturia.
Venturia walks into a jab.
Venturia throws out a loose jab but Akiyama uses good head movement to avoid it.
A jab from Venturia misses.
An inside leg kick from Akiyama misses.
Akiyama cracks the inside of Venturia's front leg.
Akiyama misses with a low kick as Venturia jumps back.
I'm just looking down at my notes here and I see that.... oh! Akiyama has cracked Venturia with a big right, followed by a left! He's out on his feet! Akiyama lands another huge swinging hook and Venturia tumbles to the canvas! The ref dives in to save Venturia, before Akiyama can land any more shots!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:41 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Akira Akiyama!
Akira Akiyama decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.