PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dmitry Boitsov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akoni Gray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Boitsov
vs
Gray

178 cm
28
215 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

189 cm
22
210 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

M.O. Fight Wear

Bare Knuckle Fisticuffs Clothing
Sully's Bar & Grill

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dmitry Boitsov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Akoni Gray!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, William Gold and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Gray, right into the meat.
Gray cracks the inside of Boitsov's front leg.

Boitsov scores with a takedown into Gray's guard.
Gray pulls Boitsov in to control the position.
Gray looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Boitsov is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Gray is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Gray has escaped and now he's on top!

Boitsov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Boitsov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gray has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Boitsov is proving hard to escape from.
Gray must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gray avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
We've been hearing good reports from Boitsov's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Gray wanted to stand there but Boitsov had control of the position.

Boitsov is working an open guard so Gray takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Gray takes a swing at Boitsov's ribcage but misses.
Boitsov tries to counter with a takedown but Gray is quick to defend against it.
Gray scores with a decent looking hook.
A telegraphed right hand from Gray misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gray throws a push kick but Boitsov slaps the foot to one side.
A lazy left from Gray finds it's target.
A big left from Boitsov misses.
Gray lands a jab to Boitsov's midsection.
Gray keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Boitsov.
Gray attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Gray connects with a looping right hand.
Boitsov on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Gray slips under a jab.
Gray paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Boitsov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A nice side step and Gray releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

Boitsov scores with a takedown into Gray's guard.

Gray pushes Boitsov off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gray looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Boitsov misses with a takedown attempt
and Gray counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gray throws a series of punches but Boitsov moves out of range.
Gray missing with a left hand there. Boitsov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Akoni Gray is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gray looks to land a left hand but Boitsov moved out of range nicely.
Boitsov tries to counter with a takedown but Gray is quick to defend against it.
Gray misses with an attempted mid kick.
Gray scores with a jab to the head.
Gray throws a jab but it's blocked by Boitsov.
A big right from Gray misses.
Boitsov clobbers Gray with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boitsov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gray as he avoids it easily.
Nice uppercut lands for Gray. That snapped Boitsov's head back.
Gray throws a lazy uppercut
and Boitsov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gray scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Gray looks to land a combination but Boitsov avoids it well.
Gray lands a nice shot that snaps Boitsov's head back.
Gray throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Boitsov takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Gray stuffs the takedown attempt from Boitsov. Boitsov gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dmitry Boitsov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A chopping leg kick lands by Gray.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akoni Gray dominated that 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.

Nice shot by Gray.
Gray connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
The fighters circle momentarily. Gray darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Gray lands with a thumping leg kick.
Gray connects with a jab.
Boitsov looks to throw the jab but Gray is out of range.
Gray jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Boitsov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gray sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Boitsov somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boitsov slips under a jab from Gray.
The fighters circling - Boitsov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gray lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Boitsov has time to react.
Boitsov throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Gray connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Boitsov throws an overhand right that lands on Gray's shoulder, as Gray tries to avoid the shot.
Gray is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Gray scores with a nice head shot.
Gray throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Nice shot lands for Gray.
Gray stuffs the takedown attempt from Boitsov. Boitsov gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Gray as Boitsov shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dmitry Boitsov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boitsov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Boitsov has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Gray.
Boitsov gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boitsov misses with an uppercut.
Gray has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gray tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Boitsov was well out of range. Poor timing from Gray.
Gray takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Boitsov moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Gray lands a head shot.
Gray jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Gray connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Gray has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gray ducks under a wild hook from Boitsov.
Gray moves out of range of the strikes.
Gray scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Gray scoring well with a low kick there.
Gray connects with a body shot that sends Boitsov's belly button to the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boitsov with a lazy takedown attempt
and Gray counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gray buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Boitsov misses with a straight right.
Gray throws a nice looking combination but Boitsov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The fighters circling - Boitsov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gray connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Akoni Gray seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Boitsov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Boitsov shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Gray wants to improve his position but Boitsov is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boitsov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Gray manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Boitsov keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gray taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Gray scores with a shoulder strike.
Boitsov is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Gray lands a right hand.
Gray softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Gray lands a right hand that snaps the head of Boitsov backwards.

Gray manages to break the clinch.
Gray walks into a jab.
Boitsov takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Gray throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Boitsov.
Gray misses with a looping left.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akoni Gray showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Boitsov slips a jab from Gray.
Gray slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Boitsov gets a double leg takedown into Gray's guard.

Gray manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Boitsov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gray.
Boitsov appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Gray uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Boitsov.
Boitsov moves away from the strike by Gray.
Boitsov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gray sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gray swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A big right from Boitsov misses.
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!
Boitsov has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Boitsov there as he acknowledges the shot.
Boitsov takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Gray finds it's way through Boitsov's defenses.
Boitsov looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Gray pushes Boitsov away with a front kick.
Boitsov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gray.
Akoni Gray seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gray connects with a single shot there.
Boitsov looks to land a left hand but Gray moved out of range nicely.
Gray throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Gray.
Boitsov on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gray cracks Boitsov with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Gray swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Boitsov.
Gray connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Akoni Gray is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gray lands a lovely overhand right.
Gray tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Boitsov was well out of range. Poor timing from Gray.
Boitsov feinted with a counter takedown.
Boitsov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gray counters with a body kick.
Boitsov throws a shot from downtown. Gray moves away and avoids it.
Gray displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Boitsov throws out the jab.
Gray scores with a jab to the jaw.
Gray lands an overhand right.
Boitsov misses with a hook.
Gray is looking to slow Boitsov down with leg kicks.
Gray scores with a spinning back kick!
Boitsov throws a jab but it's blocked by Gray.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gray chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Boitsov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gray defends it nicely.
Dmitry Boitsov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boitsov throws a hook but Gray blocks it.
Gray thumps Boitsov with a low kick.
Boitsov is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Gray ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Gray connects with a leg kick. Boitsov looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Boitsov misses with an uppercut
and Gray counters with a nice body shot.
Gray connects with a single shot there.
Gray connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Gray there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A right-left combo lands from Gray.
Boitsov on the wrong end of a nice jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gray dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Boitsov. That did some damage!
Gray slips under a jab from Boitsov.
A swing and a miss from Boitsov.
Nice uppercut lands for Gray. That snapped Boitsov's head back.
Gray scores with a nice right hand.
Good standup being displayed there by Gray as he connects with a hook.
Gray slips under a jab.
Gray throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akoni Gray comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gray 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akoni Gray!
After the fight, Akoni Gray was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.