PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zach Pye (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshihiro Akiyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yoshihiro Akiyama has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Pye
vs
Akiyama

190 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zach Pye!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Yoshihiro Akiyama!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Matheus Silva and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Pye does no damage.
Pye fails to land the takedown.
Pye misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Akiyama clinches.
Pye is trying to break the clinch but Akiyama is controlling him.

Akiyama manages to pull guard.

Akiyama is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Pye jumps guard but Akiyama stands there with Pye around his waist. Pye gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zach Pye. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Akiyama breaks from the clinch.
Pye lunges at Akiyama with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Akiyama's hand.
Akiyama lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Akiyama forces Pye back against the cage and clinches.

Akiyama pulls guard effortlessly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akiyama bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Pye's guard.
Pye has a closed guard, preventing Akiyama from standing up.
Akiyama seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Pye is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Akiyama slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Pye trying to strike off his back.
Pye wants to sweep here but Akiyama controlling him for the moment.
Pye wants to stand but Akiyama is controlling the position.
Pye looking for a sweep. Not yet Pye, not yet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Pye tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Akiyama slips under a jab from Pye.

Akiyama scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Akiyama has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Pye wants to clinch but Akiyama slips to the side

and Akiyama counters by clinching up.
Pye wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Akiyama stalling.
Akiyama tries to land knees in the clinch but Pye avoids the damage to the body.
Akiyama is working Pye over against the cage.
Pye can't get the takedown.
Akiyama fails to pull guard.
Pye tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Akiyama just stands there and leans against the cage.
Pye fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Akiyama pulls guard successfully.

Akiyama working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pye doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Akiyama is tightening it up a little... Pye has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Pye reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Pye taps out! nice BJJ there by Akiyama!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:01 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Yoshihiro Akiyama!