PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zaky Umary (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Akenzua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rodrigo Akenzua will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Umary
vs
Akenzua

167 cm
19
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

179 cm
21
176 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Zaky Umary!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rodrigo Akenzua!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Joseph Jones and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Umary shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Akenzua is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Umary not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Akenzua gets back to full guard.

Akenzua has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Umary can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Umary pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Akenzua is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Umary wants to control from the top but Akenzua keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Akenzua keeping full guard, as Umary tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akenzua striking off his back but it's not causing Umary any problems.
Akenzua is looking to stand up but Umary isn't so interested in that idea.
Umary trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Akenzua manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Akenzua wants to control from the top but Umary keeps moving.
Umary being controlled here, momentarily.
Umary might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Akenzua trying to control the position from guard on top but Umary is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Umary definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Akenzua wants to pass the guard but Umary is keeping the position.
Akenzua would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Umary is looking for a triangle but Akenzua pushes his legs off easily.
Akenzua throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Umary works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Umary wants to control the position but Akenzua says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Akenzua trying to control the action but Umary is working from the bottom.
Umary is breathing heavily.
Akenzua working the head and body with strikes.
Akenzua really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Umary. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Akenzua content to control rather than advance.
Akenzua takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Akenzua trying to control from half guard but Umary is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akenzua thows a huge punch but Umary dodges it nicely.
Akenzua thows a huge punch but Umary dodges it nicely.
Akenzua is looking to take a break and control but Umary is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Umary is trying to control but can't.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Akenzua tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Umary defends well and Akenzua ends up having to push Umary into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Akenzua has a takedown stuffed.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Umary is trying hard to land a takedown here. Akenzua sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Umary gets a takedown into half guard.
Akenzua wants to control but Umary is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rodrigo Akenzua will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Akenzua darts in and clinches Umary up against the cage.

Akenzua decides to pull guard.
Umary preventing the sweep.
Akenzua keeping moving, preventing Umary from controlling successfully.
Umary is looking to stand up but Akenzua won't let him.

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

Akenzua working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Umary doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Umary manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Umary advances to half guard.
Akenzua is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Umary controlling the pace.
Umary is looking to advance position but Akenzua won't allow it.

Umary is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Akenzua is just riding it out for now. Umary eventually gives up the hold.

Akenzua is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Umary pulls his head out easily.
Akenzua wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Umary is looking to stall here but Akenzua recovers full guard.

Umary avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Umary throws a big elbow that misses.
Umary working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Umary pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Akenzua is keeping the position for now.
Umary pushing down on Akenzua's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Umary passes to side control.

Umary is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Akenzua has escaped the position, nice work there.
Umary wants to lay and pray for a moment but Akenzua keeps working.
Umary tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Akenzua wants to get back to his feet but Umary drags him back down.
Akenzua felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Akenzua tries to bench press Umary off him but Umary keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Akenzua defending against the ground and pound.
Umary working away.
Umary tries to advance to mount but Akenzua denies him.
Umary advances to full mount.
Akenzua prevents any damage by holding on tight.
Umary could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Akenzua is working to get back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Umary trying to control but Akenzua is having none of it.
Umary looking to ground and pound but Akenzua is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zaky Umary dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

A nice combination there by Akenzua.

Akenzua clinches with his opponent.
Akenzua tries to pull guard but Umary forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Umary can't get the takedown.
Akenzua is trying to pull guard but Umary turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Akenzua decides to pull guard.
Umary slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Umary tries to advance to mount but Akenzua denies him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
You can see the frustration on Akenzua's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Umary has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Umary enables Akenzua to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Umary manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Umary wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Akenzua manages to pass to side control.

Umary looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Akenzua tries to pass to full mount but Umary defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akenzua wants to lay and pray for a moment but Umary keeps working.

Akenzua is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Umary sees it coming and defends easily.
Umary wants to get back to full guard.

Umary looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Akenzua keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akenzua takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Akenzua wants to lay and pray for a moment but Umary keeps working.
Umary wants to get back to full guard.
Akenzua passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Umary!
Umary wants to control but Akenzua is having none of it.
Akenzua won't let Umary get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akenzua has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Umary's face.
Akenzua unloading with bombs!
Umary is in a horrible position here. Akenzua smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Akenzua landing punches.

Akenzua is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Umary to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Umary shrugs it off.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Akenzua wants to control the pace but Umary is squirming around nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodrigo Akenzua comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Akenzua has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rodrigo Akenzua!