PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eloy Galloway (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshihiro Akiyama (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.

Galloway
vs
Akiyama

185 cm
20
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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, Eloy Galloway!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Yoshihiro Akiyama!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Edson Gomes and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akiyama stuffs the takedown attempt from Galloway. Galloway gets slowly back to his feet.
Galloway fails to land the takedown.

Akiyama scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Galloway is trying to work for a sweep but Akiyama has mounted him!
Akiyama content just to control the position here.
Galloway keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Galloway takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Galloway is working to get back to half guard.
Akiyama controlling from the full mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Galloway really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Galloway is working hard here to advance position.
Galloway tries to hold on but Akiyama postures up.
Galloway wants to try and get back to his feet.

Akiyama is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Galloway has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Galloway!
Akiyama is pulling down on Galloway's head. It's preventing any offense from Galloway, at least for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Galloway is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Galloway tries to stand but Akiyama is controlling from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Akiyama can do anything to dispel that myth.
Galloway looking to sit in guard and control but Akiyama gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Akiyama stands up and waves to Galloway to follow him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Akiyama changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Galloway looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Galloway struggling a bit here.
Galloway is breathing heavily.
Akiyama connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Galloway some visible discomfort.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Akiyama decides to stand back up. Akiyama steps back and let's Galloway get back to his feet.
Akiyama misses with a body shot.
Galloway shoots and misses

and Akiyama counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Akiyama.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eloy Galloway. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Akiyama looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Galloway has momentary wrist control but Akiyama slips an elbow through the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama passes Galloway's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Akiyama seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Galloway is trying to stand up here but Akiyama is controlling him well.
Galloway has hold of Akiyama's hands but Akiyama slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Akiyama decides to stand and escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshihiro Akiyama dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Galloway showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Akiyama.
Eloy Galloway is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Galloway shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Akiyama counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Akiyama moves into the clinch.
Galloway is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Akiyama is defending well for now.

Galloway's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Akiyama looks to land a combination but Galloway avoids it well.
Eloy Galloway seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Akiyama bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The referee asks Akiyama politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Akiyama prefers to stall for the moment though.
Akiyama cracks Galloway with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Galloway takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

Akiyama stands up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Akiyama scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akiyama seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Galloway is trying to stand.
Akiyama stalling.

Akiyama stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Galloway to get to his feet.

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.
Galloway wants to clinch

and Akiyama counters by moving into the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Akiyama as Galloway tries to tie him up.
Akiyama lands a shoulder strike.

Akiyama gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Galloway trying to control here.

Akiyama decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Akiyama scores with a takedown into Galloway's guard.

Galloway has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Akiyama is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Galloway.
Galloway bucks up and tries to throw Akiyama off but instead Akiyama has got his back!
Galloway trying to control the action but Akiyama just sinks the hooks in.
Akiyama is punishing Galloway with strikes - can he finish him?!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama lands a shot to the body.
Akiyama lands shots from the back.
Galloway trying to control the position but Akiyama manages to sink in the hooks.

Akiyama is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Galloway has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Galloway has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
What can Galloway do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshihiro Akiyama showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Galloway clinches but Akiyama breaks the clinch
and Akiyama counters with a body kick.
Galloway darts in trying to clinch
letting Akiyama counter with a right hand.
Galloway throws a body kick that misses.

Akiyama shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Akiyama was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Galloway wants to hold on but Akiyama pushes him away.
Akiyama is landing with some decent strikes but Galloway is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Galloway is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akiyama takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Akiyama's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Galloway is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A nice elbow there by Akiyama.
Galloway is trying to escape the mount.

Akiyama looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Akiyama controlling from mount.
Akiyama wants to control the pace but Galloway is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Galloway's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Galloway swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Galloway trying desperately to get to his feet.
Galloway keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Akiyama looking to control and managing it successfully.
Galloway is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Galloway throwing hammer fists to the chest of Akiyama. What's that going to do exactly?
Akiyama controlling the position easily from mount.
Galloway throwing hammer fists to the chest of Akiyama. What's that going to do exactly?
Eloy Galloway has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yoshihiro Akiyama is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Akiyama tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yoshihiro Akiyama comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Akiyama 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 26:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 26:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yoshihiro Akiyama!