PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Clay Mercer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akira Akiyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Mercer
vs
Akiyama

189 cm
41
220 lbs
24 - 16 - 0

198 cm
41
206 lbs
14 - 25 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ White Belt
World class MT
Granite chin

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 24 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Clay Mercer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 25 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Akira Akiyama!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Hirohito Nitta and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mercer looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Mercer throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mercer checks a low kick from Akiyama.
Akiyama is looking to clinch but Mercer is avoiding it.
Mercer circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mercer attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Mercer avoids a punch combination nicely.
Akiyama scores with a jab to the head.

It looks like Clay Mercer has been cut.
A big right from Akiyama misses.
Mercer lands with a cross.
Akiyama is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Akiyama ducks under a wild hook from Mercer.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Akiyama! But no joy.
Mercer looks to throw the jab but Akiyama is out of range.
Mercer lands with a straight right. Akiyama didn't see that one coming.

Mercer scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Mercer in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... Akiyama is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:18 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Clay Mercer!
A determined Clay Mercer didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!