PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mako Akumba (ranked 1852 p4p, 283 weight class) and Steve Stricker (ranked 1793 p4p, 275 weight class). Stricker is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by 21 Savage feat. Future - X. 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.

Akumba
vs
Stricker

199 cm
25
206 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

199 cm
39
219 lbs
19 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Riner Clothing and Laundry (85%)

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mako Akumba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve Stricker!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Alan Glass and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akumba takes a swing at Stricker's ribcage but misses.
Akumba has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Stricker.
Stricker has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Akumba is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Stricker throws a front kick aimed at Akumba's knee but Akumba avoids it well.
Akumba throws a right hand that misses
and Stricker counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Akumba thinking.
A big left from Akumba misses.
We've been told by Akumba's head coaches at The Wild Beasts Zoo that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Stricker fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Akumba.
Stricker throws a body shot but no joy.
Stricker tries to score with a low kick but Akumba moves his leg out of the way.
Stricker blocks a jab.
Stricker wants to counter the offense by Akumba and move into the clinch position.
Stricker looks to clinch
and Akumba counters with a straight right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stricker cracks Akumba with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A looping hook to the body misses from Stricker. Akumba does a little dance to reset his feet.
Stricker slips under a jab.
Akumba takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A cross from Stricker lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stricker misses with a low kick.
Stricker scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Stricker tries to clinch there but Akumba circles away.
That kick from Stricker tenderised Akumba's leg. Akumba is trying to keep his angry face on.
Stricker moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Stricker scores with a crisp jab that stopped Akumba in his tracks.
Steve Stricker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch lands to the side of Akumba 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Akumba throws a leg kick
and Stricker counters with a nice uppercut.
Stricker avoids the head kick by Akumba.
Akumba throws a looping overhand right but Stricker ducks down to avoid it.
Stricker throws a leg kick that is checked
and Akumba makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Stricker lands a jab to the head.
Stricker walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

It looks like Steve Stricker has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Stricker has Akumba up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akumba misses with some punches.
Nice body punch from Akumba.
Akumba swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Stricker misses with some punches.
Akumba tries to work over Stricker's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Akumba lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Stricker cracks Akumba with a nice body shot.
Akumba lands with a left to the head.
Akumba swings wildly with an uppercut but Stricker uses good head movement to avoid it.
Akumba lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Stricker lands with a light punch inside.
Stricker pushes Akumba back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Stricker throws a head punch that misses.
Akumba lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Stricker tries a body shot but Akumba blocks it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Akumba.
Akumba blocks a body shot from Stricker.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akumba misses with a hook to the ribs.
Stricker goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Akumba lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Stricker misses with a punch to the body.
Stricker blocks a body shot from Akumba.
Stricker is trying to maintain a safe position but Akumba gets an underhook and turns Stricker into the cage.
Akumba lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Stricker or not.
Stricker goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Stricker makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Stricker tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Akumba tries to circle away but Stricker has him pinned against the cage.
Stricker blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Stricker blocking some punches.
Stricker blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Stricker misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Stricker working aggressively here.
Stricker takes a shot to the head.
Akumba tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Stricker fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Stricker fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stricker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Stricker stalling the fight.
Stricker scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Akumba misses with a body punch.
Akumba blocks an uppercut.
Stricker fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Stricker working aggressively here.
Stricker will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Akumba up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Akumba misses with a punch to the body.
Stricker swings wildly with an uppercut but Akumba uses good head movement to avoid it.
Akumba lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Akumba lands a body shot.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Stricker blocks an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Akumba.
Stricker tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Stricker dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Steve Stricker's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Stricker fails to land with a series of punches.
Akumba throwing a counter right hand but Stricker manages to avoid it.
Stricker scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Stricker lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Akumba missing with a left hand there. Stricker was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Stricker slips a straight right by Akumba.
Stricker dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Akumba. That did some damage!
Stricker misses with a low kick.
Akumba ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stricker moves away.
Stricker follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Stricker takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Stricker throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Akumba counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stricker throws a low kick but it's checked well by Akumba.
Akumba swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Stricker scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Stricker connects with a high kick.
A slow jab from Akumba misses its intended target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stricker misses with an uppercut. Akumba saw that one coming.
Stricker misses with a wild body shot.
Akumba takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
An inside leg kick from Stricker misses.
Stricker throws an off balance right hand
and Akumba counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Stricker misses with a lunging right hand
and Akumba counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Akumba is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Akumba throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Stricker stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Stricker fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Akumba on the side of the head.
Akumba is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Stricker.
Akumba misses with a looping left.
Akumba connects with an inside leg kick.
Akumba uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stricker.
Akumba misses with an uppercut. Stricker saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akumba throws a looping overhand right but Stricker ducks down to avoid it.
Stricker doesn't manage to clinch there - Akumba circles away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stricker tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Stricker throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
An attempted straight right counter from Akumba misses the target.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Stricker scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Stricker throws a nice head kick!

Stricker closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Stricker blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Stricker scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Stricker tries a body shot but Akumba blocks it.
Stricker prevents a body shot from Akumba.
Akumba lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Stricker lands a body shot.
Stricker lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Still in the clinch, Stricker scores with a nice short uppercut.
Nice body punch from Stricker.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stricker has a couple of punches blocked by Akumba.
Stricker working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Stricker.
Stricker lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Akumba backwards.
A short uppercut from Akumba.
Stricker has a couple of punches blocked by Akumba.
Akumba lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Stricker backwards.
Steve Stricker seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Stricker prevents a body shot from Akumba.
Akumba tries to throw a body punch but Stricker avoids it by throwing Akumba back against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Akumba just misses with a elbow thrown towards Stricker's brow.
Akumba lands a left hand that snaps the head of Stricker backwards.

Stricker pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stricker takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Akumba throws an off balance right hand
and Stricker counters with a thumping low kick.
Akumba lands with a good body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stricker connects with a looping right hand.
Akumba takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stricker swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Akumba misses the shot to the body.
Akumba uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stricker.
An attempted straight right counter from Akumba misses the target.
Akumba just misses with a punch to the body.
Stricker misses with a shot to the body
and Akumba counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Jab from Akumba.
Stricker throws a lazy head kick
letting Akumba counter with a right hand.
Stricker on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A nice inside leg kick there by Stricker. That's going to slow Akumba down.
Akumba misses with a two punch combination.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Akumba avoids the head kick by Stricker.
Akumba swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Stricker throws a head kick that misses
and Akumba cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Stricker tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Steve Stricker will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Steve Stricker's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Akumba lands with a nice body punch.
Stricker moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Stricker throws the left hand but Akumba avoids the punch easily.
Akumba misses with an uppercut.
Stricker ducks under a wild hook from Akumba.
Stricker connects with a nice looking jab.
Akumba uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Stricker.
Akumba ducks under a wild hook from Stricker.
Stricker connects with a solid leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stricker scores with a jab to the head.
Stricker misses with a left hand
and Akumba counters with a left to the body.
A head kick misses from Stricker.
Nice defenses there by Akumba.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akumba checks a low kick from Stricker.

Stricker rushes Akumba and presses him up against the cage.
Akumba tries a body shot but Stricker blocks it.
Stricker lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Akumba or not.
Stricker works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Akumba lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Stricker backwards.
Akumba lands an elbow just above Stricker 's eye.
Stricker blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Stricker.
Akumba doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A right hand to the body from Stricker.
Stricker swings wildly with an uppercut but Akumba uses good head movement to avoid it.
Akumba misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch on the inside from Akumba fails to land.
Akumba throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Akumba lands a body shot in the clinch.
Akumba tries to work over Stricker's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Mako Akumba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Stricker on the inside.
Akumba tries to throw a body punch but Stricker avoids it by throwing Akumba back against the cage.
Akumba misses with a hook to the ribs.

Akumba escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stricker moves away from the strike by Akumba.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stricker lands a nice hook to Akumba's body. Akumba takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Akumba slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Stricker lunges at Akumba with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Akumba's hand.
Akumba looks to land a left hand but Stricker moved out of range nicely.
Akumba takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Stricker connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Akumba is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
A jab from Akumba misses.
Akumba throws a hook but Stricker avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akumba throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Stricker. Akumba does a little dance to reset his feet.
Stricker lands a nice shot that snaps Akumba's head back.
Stricker slips under a jab from Akumba.
Akumba scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Akumba walks into a stiff left hand from Stricker.
Akumba misses with a hook.
Akumba takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Akumba looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Akumba throws an off balance right hand
and Stricker counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Stricker misses with a low kick.
It looked like Akumba was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Stricker.
Stricker throws a poor cross that misses
and Akumba counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Stricker uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Akumba.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Stricker misses.
Stricker getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Akumba just misses with a punch to the body.
Akumba connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Stricker momentarily.

That has opened up Steve Stricker's cut even more.
Akumba throws a looping overhand right but Stricker ducks down to avoid it.
Stricker looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Stricker avoids the body shot from Akumba.
Stricker lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Stricker lands a head shot.
Stricker lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Stricker is looking to chop away at Akumba's legs.
Stricker misses with a low kick.
Akumba misses with an uppercut. Stricker saw that one coming.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Stricker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Stricker 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Stricker!
After the fight, Steve Stricker 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.