PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bradly Grimes (ranked 4334 p4p, 4796 weight class) and Kyoji Akawi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Grimes
vs
Akawi

200 cm
18
167
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
165
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bradly Grimes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kyoji Akawi!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Bart Greer and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Akawi with that takedown attempt.
Grimes just misses with a punch to the body.
Grimes catches Akawi with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Akawi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Grimes circles away quickly and effectively.
Grimes drops down looking for a counter takedown but Akawi sprawls and moves away.
Grimes throws a shot from downtown. Akawi moves away and avoids it.
A big left from Grimes misses.
Grimes sets himself, and Akawi steps forward looking for the clinch! Grimes avoids it this time.
Akawi tries to close the distance and clinch but Grimes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Akawi staying out of range there.

Akawi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Grimes advances position into side control!
Akawi manages to get back to half guard.
Grimes drops an elbow to the side of Akawi's head.
Akawi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Grimes is working away from the top position though.
Grimes knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Akawi on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grimes is pressing down on Akawi's thigh, looking to free his foot. Akawi is holding on for now.

Grimes is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Akawi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Akawi is staying active underneath Grimes, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Akawi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Grimes is working away from the top position though.
Grimes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Grimes really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Grimes is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Grimes is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Grimes looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Akawi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Grimes trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Akawi manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Grimes keeping moving, preventing Akawi from controlling successfully.
Grimes looking for a sweep. Not yet Grimes, not yet.

Grimes looking for a guillotine here but Akawi defends easily.
Akawi tries to free his leg and advance position but Grimes is retaining full guard.
Grimes will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Akawi works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grimes slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Grimes is trying to keep Akawi in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grimes looking for a sweep. Not yet Grimes, not yet.
Akawi trying to control but Grimes is working from the bottom.
Akawi won't allow Grimes to sweep him here.
Grimes is working hard here to advance position.

Grimes looking for a guillotine here but Akawi defends easily.

Akawi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Grimes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Grimes keeping moving, preventing Akawi from controlling successfully.
Akawi advances to half guard.
Grimes is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Grimes is looking to get back to full guard here but Akawi has managed to pass to side control instead.
Grimes is trying to work for a sweep but Akawi has mounted him!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Grimes is trying to escape the mount.

Akawi has hold of Grimes's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Grimes manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bradly Grimes dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

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 hook but Akawi blocks it.

Grimes clinches with his opponent.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Grimes.
Grimes working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Grimes has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Akawi clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Akawi covers up after that shot from Grimes.
I would not like to be Akawi right now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Grimes looking for the RNC.
Akawi rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Akawi is trying to maintain the position but Grimes is very close to passing his half guard.
Grimes drops an elbow to the side of Akawi's head.

Grimes is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grimes is looking to advance position but Akawi won't allow it.
Grimes wants to take a breather but Akawi is having none of it.
Grimes wants to pass the guard but Akawi is defending well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Grimes looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Akawi wants to improve his position but Grimes is controlling well.
Grimes moves into full mount! Akawi won't be happy about that!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grimes lands with some strikes.
Grimes putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Grimes is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Akawi has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Akawi wants to control but Grimes is having none of it.
Grimes lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Grimes moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Akawi has worked his arm free - good work by Akawi!
Akawi tries to improve position but can't.
Grimes trying to control the position but Akawi is working away.

Grimes goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Akawi rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Grimes's guard! Nice work there by Akawi!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Akawi decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Grimes throws a hook but Akawi blocks it.
Grimes jabs Akawi right on the nose. Akawi blinks but takes it well.
Grimes jabbing away but nothing is landing.
The fighters circling - Grimes throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Grimes missing with a left hand there. Akawi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Akawi throws a series of punches but Grimes moves out of range.
Grimes misses with a looping right.
Bradly Grimes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Grimes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Akawi has his takedown stuffed

and Grimes counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Akawi is breathing heavily.
Akawi blocking some punches.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Grimes.
Grimes lands with a light punch inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akawi's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Grimes creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Grimes lands a nice uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A head punch on the inside from Grimes fails to land.
Grimes misses with a punch on the inside.

Akawi is fighting off a takedown attempt but Grimes is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Akawi to the mat. Akawi regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Grimes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Akawi trying to keep a closed guard but Grimes is proving a slippery customer.
Grimes trying to control the position from guard on top but Akawi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Akawi controls Grimes momentarily but Grimes frees himself.
Akawi keeping full guard, as Grimes tries to pass.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bradly Grimes dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Grimes rushes Akawi and presses him up against the cage.
Grimes lands a left hand that snaps the head of Akawi backwards.
A short right from Grimes.
Akawi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Grimes blocks an elbow strike from Akawi.
Grimes gets through Akawi's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Grimes has a couple of punches blocked by Akawi.
Grimes misses with some punches.
Akawi blocking some punches.

Grimes gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Grimes trying to mount his opponent but Akawi defends it.
Grimes is thwarting Akawi's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Grimes is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Akawi has managed to free his arm - good work.
Akawi tries to get to full guard but Grimes has control of the leg.
Akawi won't allow Grimes to pass to mount.
Akawi is looking to control Grimes's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Akawi avoid being mounted?
Akawi might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Grimes haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Grimes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Akawi can do to turn this around?

Grimes is looking for a kimura here.
Grimes wants to pass to mount but Akawi is defending the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Grimes not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Grimes is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Grimes is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Akawi sees it coming and defends easily.

Grimes trying to work for an americana but Akawi has managed to regain full guard.
Akawi keeping full guard, as Grimes tries to pass.
Akawi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Grimes tries to free his leg and advance position but Akawi is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akawi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Akawi controls Grimes momentarily but Grimes frees himself.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Akawi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Akawi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Grimes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Grimes misses with a right hand
and Akawi counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Akawi ducks under a wild hook from Grimes.
Kyoji Akawi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Grimes swings for the body but Akawi moves out of range.
Akawi throws a fast counter high kick but Grimes manages to duck under it in time.
Akawi takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Grimes shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Akawi's guard.
Grimes wants to pass the guard but Akawi is keeping the position.

Akawi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Akawi wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grimes pushes down on Akawi's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Grimes wants to free his trapped foot but Akawi is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Grimes seems to be looking for submissions.
Grimes seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Akawi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Grimes content to control rather than advance.
Akawi wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Grimes is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Akawi has managed to free his arm - good work.
Grimes wants to pass the guard but Akawi is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bradly Grimes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Grimes 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bradly Grimes!
Bradly Grimes thanked the fans post fight for their support.