PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Henry Akinwande (ranked 303 p4p, 778 weight class) and Haise Sasaki (ranked 46 p4p, 98 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Akinwande
vs
Sasaki

197 cm
27
250
14 - 7 - 0

195 cm
27
265
14 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Hardcore Alchemy
Conviction

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Henry Akinwande!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Haise Sasaki !
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sasaki tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Akinwande manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
It looked like Akinwande was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Sasaki .
Sasaki wants to clinch.
Sasaki fails in his attempt to clinch.
Akinwande slips a jab from Sasaki .
Nice jab there from Akinwande.
Akinwande works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Sasaki takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Sasaki has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Akinwande is looking to land body kicks.
A slow jab from Sasaki misses its intended target.
Sasaki takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sasaki misses with a leg kick.
Sasaki checks the leg kick.

Sasaki moves into the clinch successfully.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Akinwande lands a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akinwande misses with a short punch on the inside.
Akinwande throws an elbow that misses.
Akinwande pushes off an throws an elbow but Sasaki leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Sasaki lands a nice shot to the body.
Sasaki misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sasaki misses with a punch on the inside.
Akinwande doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short uppercut from Akinwande.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sasaki creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Sasaki lands a left hand that snaps the head of Akinwande backwards.
Akinwande misses with an elbow strike.
Akinwande blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A short body shot lands from Sasaki as the two fighters clinch.
Sasaki lands an elbow that stopped Akinwande in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Henry Akinwande has been cut.
Akinwande is breathing heavily.
Akinwande misses with a short punch on the inside.
Akinwande tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sasaki 's elbow.
Sasaki pushes Akinwande back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Akinwande takes a shot to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sasaki lands a nice elbow.
Sasaki working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Henry Akinwande's cut is getting worse.
Sasaki lands a left hand.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sasaki creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sasaki creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Akinwande's defenses.
Sasaki pushes off an throws an elbow but Akinwande leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Akinwande blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
With the fighters up against the cage, Akinwande throws an elbow but misses.
Akinwande pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Akinwande misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sasaki scores with a shoulder strike.
Sasaki prevents a body shot from Akinwande.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Sasaki .
Akinwande is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Sasaki scores with a shoulder strike.
Akinwande scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Akinwande tries to stall but Sasaki uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Nice elbow from Sasaki .
A shot in the inside from Sasaki .
Sasaki tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Akinwande avoids it.
Sasaki digs a right hand underneath Akinwande's ribcage. Akinwande let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Sasaki lands a nice elbow.
Akinwande trying to control the position but instead, Sasaki has worked for underhooks and has pushed Akinwande into the cage.
Sasaki lands an elbow just above Akinwande 's eye.

Henry Akinwande's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Sasaki .
A nice left hand lands by Sasaki .
Sasaki lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Our sources have told us that Akinwande has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Sasaki lands an elbow just above Akinwande 's eye.

Jeez, Henry Akinwande's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Akinwande takes an elbow to the forehead.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Henry Akinwande's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:25 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Haise Sasaki !
An out of breath and clearly excited Haise Sasaki thanked Brooklyn Apothecary for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).