PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Stem Cell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eugeniy Akulenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Akulenko is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Cowboys From Hell. 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.

Cell
vs
Akulenko

170 cm
39
141 lbs
39 - 17 - 1

170 cm
32
160 lbs
28 - 19 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition
Sin City Allstars

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 39 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Stem Cell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eugeniy Akulenko!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Tiny Johnson and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cell rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Akulenko moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Akulenko looks to land a right hand but Cell moved out of range.
Cell looks to score with a jab to the body but Akulenko is just out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Akulenko.
Cell bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
As Akulenko backs away, Cell returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Akulenko tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Cell is able to avoid easily.
Akulenko looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Akulenko throws a shot from downtown. Cell moves away and avoids it.
Akulenko lands a nice hook to Cell's body. Cell takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Akulenko throws a big shot that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jab by Akulenko.
Akulenko jabs at Cell's body.
Akulenko uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cell.
Cell misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Akulenko darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Akulenko misses with an uppercut. Cell saw that one coming.
Akulenko moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Cell tries to clinch up.
Cell throws a jab but it's blocked by Akulenko.
A little jabbing left from Akulenko on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Akulenko on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Akulenko gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Akulenko is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cell.
Akulenko looks to land a left hand but Cell moved out of range nicely.
Akulenko scores with a hook.
Cell is looking to land body kicks.
Akulenko throws a body punch but Cell moves out of range.
Cell throws a jab when Akulenko was well out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akulenko looks to land a left hand but Cell moved out of range nicely.
Akulenko misses with a hook
and Cell counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Akulenko tries to clinch but Cell moves out of range.
Cell swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Akulenko fails in his attempt to clinch.
A swing and a miss from Akulenko.

Akulenko closes the distance and clinches.
Akulenko missing with knees to the body.
Cell throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Akulenkos head.
Akulenko tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cell avoids it.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Cell on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cell is pushing Akulenko up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Cell lands a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cell takes an elbow to the forehead.
Cell wants a takedown but no success here.
Cell is leaning against Akulenko and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Cell can't find room to land a body shot as Akulenko controls the action.
A head punch on the inside from Cell fails to land.
Akulenko makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Akulenko tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cell avoids it.
Akulenko with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A short left from Cell.
Cell swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Akulenko landing knees to the body.
Cell doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cell misses with a body punch.
Akulenko using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Akulenko tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cell slowing the pace effectively.
A short left from Akulenko.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Akulenko scores a nice knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akulenko throws a knee to the head but misses.
Akulenko landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Akulenko lands a nice knee to the body.
Akulenko tries a knee to the head but Cell blocks it.
Akulenko tries to land knees in the clinch but Cell avoids the damage to the body.
Cell misses with a hook to the ribs.
A short body shot lands from Akulenko as the two fighters clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Cell.
A shot in the inside from Cell.
Akulenko misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cell.
Cell lands a nice uppercut.
Akulenko misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cell misses with some punches.
Cell takes an elbow to the forehead.
Akulenko lands a right hand that snaps the head of Cell backwards.
Cell is trying to drag Akulenko to the mat but Akulenko just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Akulenko tries to work over Cell's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eugeniy Akulenko dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cell throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cell digs a good body shot into Akulenko's ribs.
Akulenko misses with a body shot
and Akulenko takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cell misses with a head kick.
Akulenko digs a good body shot into Cell's ribs.
Akulenko sizes up Cell with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Cell dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cell fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Akulenko has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cell ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Akulenko moves away.
Akulenko with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Cell misses with a two punch combination.
Cell is looking to slow Akulenko down with leg kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akulenko tries to clinch
and Cell counters with a nice uppercut.
Akulenko lands a jab to the head.
Akulenko digs a good hook to Cell's body.

Cell gets tackled into the cage by Akulenko. Akulenko maintains the clinch.
Akulenko has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cell on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cell tries a body shot but Akulenko blocks it.
Cell has Akulenko pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Akulenko manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Cell avoiding damage as Akulenko throws knees to the body.
Cell lands a shot to the body.
Cell just leaning against Akulenko, taking a breather.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Akulenko as Cell tries to tie him up.
Akulenko goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Akulenko misses with a punch on the inside.
Cell throws a head punch that misses.
Akulenko misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akulenko misses with an elbow strike.
Akulenko crunches a lovely knee into Cell's ribcage.
Cell avoiding damage as Akulenko throws knees to the body.
Cell looking to slow down the pace here.
Cell tries to work over Akulenko's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Eugeniy Akulenko seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Cell is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Akulenko unloads a knee to the mid-section. Cell lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cell.
Akulenko blocks a body shot from Cell.
Akulenko is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cell is defending well for now.
Akulenko lands a shot to the body.
Akulenko lands a nice uppercut.
Cell misses with a body punch.
Cell throws a head punch that misses.
Akulenko lands a knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cell working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Akulenko lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Akulenko lands with a left to the head.
Akulenko blocking some punches.
Akulenko is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cell is defending well for now.
Cell tries to work over Akulenko's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Akulenko lands a body punch in the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Akulenko.
Cell lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Cell managing to block the knees to the body from Akulenko.
Cell tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Akulenko's elbow.
Cell throws a punch but it's blocked by Akulenko.
Akulenko has a couple of punches blocked by Cell.
Cell misses with a punch on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Akulenko.
Cell misses with the head strike.
Cell managing to block the knees to the body from Akulenko.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Cell.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cell avoiding damage as Akulenko throws knees to the body.
Cell tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Akulenko misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cell.
Akulenko misses with a punch to the body.
Akulenko tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Cell cracks Akulenko with a nice body shot.
Cell lands an uppercut.
Good body shot from Akulenko.
Akulenko using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Cell tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Akulenko's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Akulenko.

Cell breaks from the clinch.
Cell keeps the fight on the outside.
Cell was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Cell bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Eugeniy Akulenko will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Akulenko swings for the body but Cell moves out of range.
A swing and a miss from Akulenko.
Eugeniy Akulenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cell takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Akulenko throws a body shot but no joy.
Akulenko throws a lazy body kick
and Akulenko takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Akulenko staying out of range there.
Akulenko scores with a shot to the body.
Cell misses with a takedown
and Akulenko counters with a lovely straight right hand!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Akulenko thuds his right hand into Cell's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Eugeniy Akulenko seems to be getting the better of the standup.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cell.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akulenko will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cell fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Akulenko manages to avoid it.
Akulenko is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
The fighters circling - Cell throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cell tries to clinch
and Akulenko counters with a good low kick that Cell was not able to check.
Cell goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Akulenko throws a half hearted mid kick.
A jab from Akulenko misses.
An inside leg kick lands from Akulenko.
Cell misses with a wild body shot.
Akulenko lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Stem Cell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cell misses with a shot to the body
and Akulenko counters with a nice uppercut.
Cell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cell throwing a counter right hand but Akulenko manages to avoid it.
Akulenko avoids the body shot from Cell.
Akulenko connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Cell momentarily.
Cell takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Akulenko is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Akulenko closes the distance and pushes Cell back into the cage.
Cell working aggressively here.
Cell works on Akulenko's body with a couple of short punches.

Cell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cell connects with a body shot.
Cell misses with a looping left.
Akulenko does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akulenko works the jab nicely.
Cell just misses with a punch to the body.
Akulenko scores with a jab to the head.
Cell jabs Akulenko right on the nose. Akulenko blinks but takes it well.
Akulenko will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Akulenko throws a series of punches but Cell moves out of range.
Cell tries to land a body kick
and Akulenko cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cell lunges at Akulenko with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Akulenko's hand.
Cell on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Cell misses the shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Cell as he connects with a hook.
Cell tries to clinch but Akulenko moves out of range.
Cell takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Eugeniy Akulenko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cell goes for a double leg but Akulenko avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Akulenko continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stem Cell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cell wants to clinch.
Akulenko connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Cell throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Akulenko now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eugeniy Akulenko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Akulenko 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eugeniy Akulenko!
Eugeniy Akulenko decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.
Stem Cell was interviewed post fight and said 'Looks like its time for apoptosis.'.