PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zeke Akintan (ranked 8031 p4p, 0 weight class) and Khalid Ismail (ranked 6902 p4p, 0 weight class). Ismail has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. 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.

Akintan
vs
Ismail

185 cm
21
185 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

186 cm
25
183 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Zeke Akintan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Khalid Ismail!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Santiago Holmes and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ismail looks for a takedown but Akintan sprawls well.
Akintan lands with a thumping leg kick.
A head kick misses from Akintan.
Akintan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ismail moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Akintan misses with a head kick.
Ismail looks for a takedown but Akintan sprawls well.
Akintan throws a sloppy head kick and Ismail moves out of range easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ismail finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
A good leg kick by Akintan.
Akintan keeps the fight on the outside.
Ismail misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akintan displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Ismail steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Akintan. That one must have hurt.
Ismail avoids the head kick by Akintan.
Akintan lands with a kick to the temple. Ismail shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Ismail tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Akintan throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Ismail.
Ismail tries to close the distance and clinch but Akintan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Akintan half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Akintan throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Akintan scores with a spinning back kick!
Ismail misses with a body kick.
Akintan throwing a counter right hand but Ismail manages to avoid it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Akintan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Akintan plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Akintan scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ismail takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Akintan throws a lazy head kick
letting Ismail counter with a right hand.
Ismail chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Akintan can pounce on him.
Akintan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Akintan is breathing heavily.
Akintan misses with a head kick.
Akintan with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Akintan thumps Ismail with a low kick.
Ismail takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Akintan thumps Ismail with a low kick.
Ismail scores with a jab to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Akintan.
Ismail wants to clinch up but Akintan keeps it at a distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ismail is defended easily by Akintan.
Zeke Akintan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Khalid Ismail.
Akintan throws a head kick that misses.
Ismail pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Ismail's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Ismail tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Akintan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Akintan appears to be looking for a big counter.
Akintan throws a head kick but Ismail moves out of range.
Ismail misses with an attempted mid kick.
Akintan scores with a head kick.
Ismail shoots and misses

and Akintan holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Akintan breaks from the clinch.
Zeke Akintan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Akintan throws a head kick that half lands.
Ismail 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.
Ismail blocks a head kick by Akintan.
Ismail tries to counter by closing the distance.
Akintan with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Akintan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ismail has a takedown stuffed.
Akintan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ismail blocks a head kick by Akintan.
Ismail looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Akintan is fending him off so far but Ismail persists. Nope, Akintan circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zeke Akintan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Khalid Ismail's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Akintan tries a head kick but it misses.
Ismail dives in for a single leg takedown but Akintan sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Akintan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Akintan lands a head kick!
Ismail takes a jab right on the kisser.
Akintan throws a head kick that misses.
Ismail wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ismail walks into a jab.
Ismail is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ismail looks for a takedown but Akintan sprawls well.
Akintan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Akintan throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Akintan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ismail.
Zeke Akintan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Khalid Ismail.
Ismail blocks a head kick by Akintan.
Akintan keeps Ismail at a distance using the push kick.
Sloppy strikes from Akintan. Those never looked like landing.
Ismail looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Akintan is fending him off so far but Ismail persists. Nope, Akintan circles away and we're back to standing.
As Ismail backs away, Akintan returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Akintan connects with an inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akintan lands a head kick!
Akintan throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Ismail.
Akintan lands a leg kick that knocks Ismail off balance momentarily.
Ismail is looking to clinch but Akintan is avoiding it.
Akintan throws a sloppy head kick and Ismail moves out of range easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Akintan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ismail blocks a head kick by Akintan.
Ismail on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Akintan. Akintan obviously looking to wear him down.
Ismail throws a one two combo.
Akintan lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Akintan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ismail throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Akintan tries a head kick but it misses.
Akintan throws a nice looking combination but Ismail bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ismail shoots in and drives through. Akintan sprawls well.
Akintan lands a high kick!
Akintan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ismail can do to turn this around?
A slapping body kick lands there for Ismail.
Akintan misses with a head kick.
Ismail slips a jab and a cross from Akintan.
Ismail misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ismail is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akintan fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Ismail has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Ismail darts in looking for a takedown but Akintan gets double underhooks and turns Ismail into the cage.
Akintan throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Ismail.
Akintan lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Ismail backs up against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Akintan throws a sloppy head kick and Ismail moves out of range easily.
Ismail tries to clinch there but Akintan circles away.
Akintan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ismail has a takedown stuffed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zeke Akintan dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Khalid Ismail's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Ismail tries to clinch up but Akintan circles away and keeps his distance.
Akintan lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Ismail is trying desperately to land a takedown but Akintan is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Ismail.
No joy there for Akintan, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Akintan scores with a nice body kick.
Akintan dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Ismail. That did some damage!
Akintan misses with a head kick.
Ismail tries to clinch but Akintan is having none of it.
Akintan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Akintan tries a head kick but it misses.
Ismail tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Ismail throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ismail.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akintan throws a nice head kick!
Ismail connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Akintan's hands.
Ismail misses with a jab to the body
and Akintan counters with a head kick. That will keep Ismail thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Akintan scoring well with a low kick there.
A slapping leg kick lands for Akintan.
Akintan dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Ismail. That did some damage!
Akintan misses with an attempted mid kick.
Akintan throws a head kick that Ismail semi-blocks.
Akintan avoids a kick to the body.
Ismail looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akintan goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Akintan throws a head kick but Ismail moves out of range.
Akintan buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Horrible takedown attempt by Ismail or perhaps it was just good defense by Akintan, which made it look bad.
Zeke Akintan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Khalid Ismail.
A head kick misses from Akintan.
Ismail misses with a head kick.
Akintan throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akintan lets loose with a powerful body kick. Ismail will feel that in the morning.
Ismail shoots for a double leg takedown but Akintan sprawls well. He's pushed Ismail's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A chopping leg kick lands by Akintan.
Akintan lands a head kick. Ismail smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Ismail avoids the head kick by Akintan.
Ismail fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Akintan.
Akintan tries to bum rush Ismail with a series of wild strikes but Ismail uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ismail tries to clinch up but Akintan circles away and keeps his distance.
Akintan throws a head kick that Ismail semi-blocks.
Akintan throws a head kick that misses.
Ismail moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Ismail has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Akintan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akintan scores with a head kick. Ismail tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
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!
Akintan wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Ismail with a hook.
Akintan fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Zeke Akintan is winning the standup battle so far.
Akintan throws a leg kick which misses Ismail's front leg but catches the back leg as Ismail tries to avoid it.
Ismail will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ismail misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Akintan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zeke Akintan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Akintan has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 30:26
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zeke Akintan!