PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kyoji Akawi (ranked 2864 p4p, 4205 weight class) and Bradly Grimes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Akawi
vs
Grimes

180 cm
18
165
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
167
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kyoji Akawi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bradly Grimes!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Daniel Franklin and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grimes misses with an uppercut.
Akawi tries to counter with a takedown but Grimes is quick to defend against it.

Grimes tries to keep at a distance but Akawi has taken the fight into the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Grimes fails to land.
Grimes swings wildly with an uppercut but Akawi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Akawi blocking some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Akawi.

Akawi pulls Grimes into guard.
Grimes looking to pass the guard.
Grimes throws a big elbow that misses.
Akawi trying to keep a closed guard but Grimes is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Akawi throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Grimes slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
You can see the frustration on Akawi's face as Grimes controls the position.
Akawi wants to control but Grimes postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Grimes looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Akawi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
You can see the frustration on Akawi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Grimes throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Grimes wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Akawi, who protects the arm well.
Grimes tries to move to full mount but Akawi actually manages to regain half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grimes is thwarting Akawi's attempts to control the position.
Grimes is looking to advance position but Akawi won't allow it.
Akawi is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grimes tries to pass the half guard into mount. Akawi knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Grimes moves nicely into side control.
Akawi is trying to improve his position.
Grimes tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Grimes swings around for an armbar but Akawi sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Grimes's guard.
Grimes manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Akawi manages to get himself to full guard.

Grimes really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Akawi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Akawi working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Akawi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Grimes is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Akawi controls Grimes momentarily but Grimes frees himself.
Grimes throws a strike but Akawi rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Grimes can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Akawi controls the pace.
Akawi wants to control from the top but Grimes keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Grimes is on top in guard.

Grimes forces his way into half guard.
Akawi trying to control from the bottom.
Grimes tries to pass the half guard into mount. Akawi knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grimes working over Akawi with some ground and pound. Akawi looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Grimes has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Grimes can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Akawi is looking to escape.

Grimes looking for a guillotine from mount but Akawi is having none of it.
Akawi is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Grimes fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Grimes wants to take Akawi's back here but Akawi is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Grimes goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Akawi is on top in guard.
Akawi wants to stand but Grimes has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bradly Grimes dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Grimes drives through and clinches with Akawi against the cage.
Grimes swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Grimes working aggressively here.
Grimes prevents the takedown attempt.
Akawi blocks an uppercut.
Akawi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Grimes has him pressed against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Grimes creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Grimes misses with the head strike.
Grimes lands a left hand that snaps the head of Akawi backwards.
Grimes fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Grimes gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Kyoji Akawi has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grimes lands with a left to the head.
Grimes working aggressively here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Akawi.
With the fighters up against the cage, Grimes throws an elbow but misses.
Grimes lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grimes working aggressively here.
Akawi fails to pull guard.
Akawi blocks an uppercut.
Akawi is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kyoji Akawi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Grimes tries a body shot but Akawi blocks it.

Grimes has picked Akawi up - he's going for a ride! Grimes dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Grimes wants to pass the guard but Akawi is defending well.
Grimes is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Grimes is still trying to improve position.
Akawi is looking to escape.

Grimes is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Akawi has managed to free his arm - good work.
Grimes trying to mount his opponent but Akawi defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akawi is in trouble now - Grimes has advanced to mount!
Grimes looking to control and managing it successfully.
Akawi tries to hold on but Grimes postures up.
Grimes tries to take Akawi's back but instead Akawi uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Grimes wants to pass to mount but Akawi is defending the position.
Grimes is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akawi trying to control the position.
Grimes must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Grimes drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Akawi dives on top into guard.

We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Grimes can do anything to dispel that myth.
Akawi scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Akawi won't allow Grimes to sweep him here.

Grimes looking for a guillotine here but Akawi defends easily.
Bradly Grimes has got the better of the ground game so far.

Grimes looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Akawi has picked Grimes up and slammed him! Grimes can't keep hold of the triangle and Akawi manages to pass to side control!
Grimes is looking to reverse the position.
Akawi scoring with punches from side control.
Grimes is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akawi lands a decent elbow from side control.
Akawi scoring with punches and elbows.
Grimes tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Akawi in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Grimes manages to work his way to half guard, despite Akawi's best efforts.
Grimes wants to control the action here but instead Akawi manages to pass to full mount!

Akawi stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Grimes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Grimes throws a body punch but Akawi moves out of range.
A big right from Grimes misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Akawi tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Grimes defends well and Akawi ends up having to push Grimes into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Grimes throws a punch but it's blocked by Akawi.
Akawi jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Grimes walks away with a smile on his face. Akawi gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bradly Grimes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kyoji Akawi's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Grimes swings widly with a right hand
and Akawi counters with a slapping leg kick.

Grimes closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Akawi is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Grimes is defending well for now.
Grimes lands a hook that snaps the head of Akawi backwards.
Good body shot from Akawi.
Akawi tries to pull guard but Grimes won't allow it.
Akawi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Grimes swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Grimes pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Akawi is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A short right from Grimes on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grimes lands a body shot.
Grimes fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Grimes fails to land.
Grimes is leaning against Akawi and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A short right from Grimes on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grimes lands a hook to the side of the head.
Grimes misses with an elbow over the top.
Grimes lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Grimes is trying to trip Akawi. He has hold of a leg but Akawi is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Grimes persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Akawi keeping moving, preventing Grimes from controlling successfully.
Akawi wants to sweep here but Grimes controlling him for the moment.
Grimes passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Akawi regains half guard there - taking advantage of Grimes's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Akawi trying to control here.

Grimes is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Akawi defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grimes passes to full mount!
Grimes avoids the attempt from Akawi to control.
Grimes with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.

Grimes jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Akawi is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Akawi and Grimes has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Grimes thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Grimes working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akawi defending against the ground and pound.
Akawi is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Grimes's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Grimes looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Grimes passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Akawi!

Grimes goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Akawi is on top in guard.
Grimes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Akawi is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Grimes is looking for a triangle here but Akawi uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Grimes is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Akawi off and has taken his back!

Grimes tightening his grip on Akawi, looking for the choke.

Grimes seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under Akawi's chin but Akawi turns very nicely into Grimes's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by Akawi.
Grimes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Grimes wants to improve his position but instead Akawi has moved into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bradly Grimes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Grimes 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bradly Grimes!
Bradly Grimes seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.