PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Absko Akakpo (ranked 5699 p4p, 25507 weight class) and Ivan Rosch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ivan Rosch acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Akakpo
vs
Rosch

195 cm
18
287
0 - 1 - 0

200 cm
25
250
1 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Absko Akakpo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ivan Rosch!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Francis DeMontford and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rosch shoots in looking for a takedown. Akakpo tries to sprawl out of it but Rosch keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Akakpo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Akakpo swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Akakpo looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Rosch is trying hard to land a takedown here. Akakpo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A little feinted left hand from Akakpo on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Rosch looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A little feinted left hand from Akakpo on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Absko Akakpo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Rosch.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Akakpo enables Rosch to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Akakpo manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rosch stops Akakpo from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akakpo is wriggling around but Rosch manages to pass to half guard.
Rosch trying to control the pace.
Akakpo is trying to stand back up but Rosch is controlling him
Rosch content to control rather than advance.
Akakpo tries to kick Rosch off but Rosch keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Rosch is taking a breather. Akakpo says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rosch shoots in for a double leg but Akakpo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A little feinted left hand from Akakpo on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Rosch looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Akakpo is fending him off so far but Rosch persists. Nope, Akakpo circles away and we're back to standing.
Rosch looks winded!

Rosch instigates a clinch.
Akakpo misses with some punches.
The referee calls for Rosch to work.
Akakpo throws a head punch that misses.
Akakpo misses with a short punch on the inside.

Rosch escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rosch misses with a takedown attempt
and Akakpo counters with a series of strikes. Rosch will be more careful next time no doubt.
Akakpo keeps the fight on the outside.
It looked like Akakpo wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rosch.
Rosch fails with a takedown attempt.
It looked like Akakpo was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Akakpo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rosch.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rosch or perhaps it was just good defense by Akakpo, which made it look bad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rosch throws a sloppy head kick and Akakpo moves out of range easily.
Rosch tries to clinch but Akakpo moves out of range.
It looked like Akakpo was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Rosch misses with a kick to the body.
Rosch tries to clinch but Akakpo is having none of it.
It looked like Akakpo wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rosch.
Rosch misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
An attempted straight right counter from Akakpo misses the target.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rosch is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Akakpo is looking to counter punch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rosch tries to clinch there but Akakpo circles away.
It looked like Akakpo was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Akakpo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Akakpo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rosch.
Akakpo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Akakpo wants it to stay on the feet.
Akakpo is looking to counter punch.
Rosch pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Akakpo stuffs the takedown attempt from Rosch. Rosch gets slowly back to his feet.
Absko Akakpo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Rosch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rosch doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Akakpo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Ivan Rosch has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rosch fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Akakpo avoids it really well and circles away.
Rosch is breathing heavily.
Rosch shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rosch tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Akakpo swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Ivan Rosch is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Akakpo slips a straight right by Rosch.
Akakpo was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Rosch shoots in for a double leg but Akakpo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Akakpo went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Rosch tries to clinch but Akakpo moves out of range.
Rosch shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Akakpo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rosch throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Akakpo could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Rosch misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rosch with a poor takedown
and Akakpo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rosch shoots in for a takedown but Akakpo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rosch or perhaps it was just good defense by Akakpo, which made it look bad.
An attempted straight right counter from Akakpo misses the target.
Rosch tries to clinch
letting Akakpo counter with a right hand.
Rosch shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Akakpo as he avoids it easily.
It looked like Akakpo wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rosch tries to close the distance and clinch but Akakpo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Akakpo was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Rosch throws a head kick that misses.
A little feinted left hand from Akakpo on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Rosch throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Akakpo's waist but Akakpo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rosch off to one side.
Akakpo is looking to counter punch.
Rosch with a lazy takedown attempt
and Akakpo counters with a nice uppercut.
Absko Akakpo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rosch will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rosch tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Akakpo seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rosch is defended easily by Akakpo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akakpo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rosch.
Akakpo went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Absko Akakpo is winning the standup battle so far.
Rosch shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Akakpo defends it nicely.
Rosch fails with the takedown
and Akakpo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rosch has his takedown stuffed

and Akakpo counters with a crisp one two that drops Rosch! Akakpo thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Rosch to his feet! Rosch is in big trouble!

Rosch is rocked!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Absko Akakpo dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ivan Rosch's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Akakpo keeps the fight on the outside.
Akakpo appears to be looking for a big counter.

Rosch darts in and clinches Akakpo up against the cage.
Rosch is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Akakpo is defending well.
Akakpo looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Akakpo misses with a short punch on the inside.

Rosch breaks the clinch.
Rosch tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Akakpo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Akakpo swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rosch shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Akakpo counters with a stiff right hand.
Ivan Rosch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rosch takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rosch shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Akakpo defends it nicely.
Absko Akakpo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Rosch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rosch with a poor takedown

and Akakpo counters with a crisp one two that drops Rosch! Akakpo thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Rosch to his feet! Rosch is in big trouble!
The fight stays on the outside here - Rosch looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rosch fails with the takedown
and Akakpo counters with a big left hand that crumples Rosch! He was out before he hit the floor! Brutal knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:46 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Absko Akakpo!
Absko Akakpo seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.