PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kado Akiyama (ranked 2021 p4p, 2623 weight class) and Matthew Murray (ranked 198 p4p, 244 weight class). Kado Akiyama had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Akiyama
vs
Murray

165 cm
22
155
3 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
155
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Conviction
© Trap House

Heavy Metal Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kado Akiyama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Matthew Murray!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, George Francis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murray is looking to land body kicks.
Akiyama looks to score with a jab to the body but Murray is just out of range.
Murray pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Murray misses with a looping right.
Akiyama rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Murray counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Murray with a nice calf kick.
Akiyama looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Murray darts in and clinches Akiyama up against the cage.
Akiyama tries to pull guard but Murray won't allow it.
Akiyama throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Still in the clinch, Murray scores with a nice short uppercut.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Akiyama just misses with a elbow thrown towards Murray's brow.

Murray's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Murray connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Akiyama momentarily.
Murray throws a low kick but Akiyama avoids it.
Akiyama throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A nice side step and Murray releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Akiyama tries to land a leg kick but Murray saw it coming and moves away.
Akiyama misses with a hook. Murray ducked under it nicely.
Murray only half commits to the counter leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Akiyama closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Akiyama fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Murray manages to avoid it.
Akiyama moves out of range as Murray strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akiyama tests Murray's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Akiyama throws a jab but it's blocked by Murray.
Murray avoids the body shot from Akiyama.
Murray moves out of range of the leg kick from Akiyama.
Murray throws a head kick that misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Murray. Akiyama does a little dance to reset his feet.

Murray clinches up with Akiyama and pushes him back against the cage.
Akiyama blocks a body shot from Murray.

Murray breaks from the clinch.
Murray throws a right hand that misses
and Akiyama counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Akiyama throws a leg kick
letting Murray counter with a right hand.
Murray smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
A combination from Akiyama does no damage.

Murray clinches up with Akiyama and pushes him back against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Murray blocks an elbow strike from Akiyama.
Akiyama with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Murray pushes Akiyama back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Akiyama throws an elbow but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama tries to pull guard but Murray won't allow it.
Murray has a couple of punches blocked by Akiyama.
Akiyama misses with an elbow strike.

Murray breaks from the clinch.
Akiyama throws a half hearted mid kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Murray. Akiyama does a little dance to reset his feet.
A good leg kick by Murray.
Murray misses with a straight right.
It looked like Akiyama wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Murray slips under a jab from Akiyama.
Akiyama lands a front kick.
Murray lands a nice looking body kick.
Akiyama loads up on a big right hand but Murray slips the punch.
Akiyama throws a lazy uppercut
and Murray counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Akiyama takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A lazy body kick from Akiyama
and Murray counters with a stiff right hand.
Akiyama is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Murray's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
An inside leg kick from Murray misses.
Murray has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Akiyama keeps Murray at a distance using the push kick.
Akiyama avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murray lands an overhand right.
Akiyama rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Murray counters with a straight right hand.
Nice defenses there by Murray.
Akiyama on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Akiyama uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Akiyama takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Akiyama getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Murray is rocked!
Akiyama misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Murray.
Murray is still on wobbly legs! Can Akiyama finish him?
Murray has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Murray thumps Akiyama with a low kick.
Murray seems to have recovered his senses.
Murray ducks under a wild hook from Akiyama.
Murray bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Akiyama's head backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Murray keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Akiyama blocks the body kick.
Akiyama throws a low kick, looking for Murray's leg but Murray calmly moves out of range.
A jab from Akiyama misses.
Murray lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Akiyama circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murray bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Matthew Murray seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Akiyama slips a jab from Murray.
Murray is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Akiyama had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Akiyama throws a big shot that misses.
Akiyama throws a lazy right hand but Murray sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Murray swings widly with a right hand
and Akiyama connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Akiyama throws a jab but it's blocked by Murray.
Murray tries a quick counter leg kick but Akiyama is wise to it.
Akiyama throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Murray sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Murray - that will leave a mark!
A decent looking cross lands there for Murray.
Murray lands with an overhand left.
Murray throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Akiyama counters with a nice low kick that buckles Murray's knee momentarily.
Akiyama stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Murray.
Murray is looking to slow Akiyama down with leg kicks.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Murray lands with a kick to the temple. Akiyama shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like Kado Akiyama has been cut.
Akiyama cracks a nice hook into Murray's ribs.
Akiyama misses with a hook. Murray ducked under it nicely.
Murray misses with a body shot.
Akiyama swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Murray dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kado Akiyama's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Akiyama blocks a low kick nicely.
Akiyama lands a really nice looking cross but Murray seems unphased.
Akiyama loads up on a big right hand but Murray slips the punch.
Murray steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Akiyama goes for a small jab and connects. Now Akiyama goes in closer pressing the issue. Left hook, right straight! Murray stumbles back but Akiyama runs in with a huge uppercut knocking Murray to the ground! What a finish! You have to wonder if Murray will ever be the same after a knockout like that.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:16 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Kado Akiyama!
After winning the bout, Kado Akiyama thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.