PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leo Khvan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cortez Akal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cortez Akal will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Khvan
vs
Akal

184 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

196 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Leo Khvan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cortez Akal!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Damien Edna and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khvan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Khvan looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Khvan wants to clinch.
Akal moves in looking to clinch but Khvan pushes him off.
Cortez Akal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Khvan fails to land with a series of punches.
Akal looks for a takedown but Khvan sprawls well.
Khvan misses with a head kick.
Akal connects with a looping right hand.
Akal swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Khvan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Akal misses with a takedown
and Khvan counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Akal misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Khvan misses with a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akal tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Khvan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Khvan walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Akal checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Left hook, right uppercut from Akal.

It looks like Leo Khvan has been cut.

Akal fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Khvan, pushing him back against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Khvan as Akal tries to tie him up.
Akal drops down looking for an ankle pick but Khvan pulls his leg out and moves away.
Leo Khvan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cortez Akal.
Akal misses with a takedown attempt
and Khvan counters with a left to the body.
Akal is looking to clinch but Khvan is avoiding it.
Akal looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Khvan is fending him off so far but Akal persists. Nope, Khvan circles away and we're back to standing.
Akal shoots in for a takedown but Khvan shows good takedown defense.
Nice sprawl there from Khvan as Akal shoots in.
Khvan looks to land a combination but Akal avoids it well.
Akal fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Khvan avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akal fails with an attempt to clinch.
Khvan leaves Akal with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Akal throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Khvan's waist but Khvan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Akal off to one side.
Akal misses with a takedown attempt - Khvan sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Akal shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Khvan as he jumps to the side.
Khvan leaves Akal with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Leo Khvan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Khvan stuffs the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akal shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Khvan pinned against the cage. Khvan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Akal's corner calls for a 1-2. Akal obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Khvan as Akal shoots in.
Left hook, right uppercut from Akal.
A right-left combo lands from Akal.
Akal throws a low kick but Khvan avoids it.
Khvan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Akal misses with a takedown attempt
and Khvan counters with a left and a right that stings Akal.
Akal is trying hard to land a takedown here. Khvan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khvan blocks a low kick nicely.
Khvan moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Akal wants to clinch.
Akal shoots in but no luck this time.
Akal fails to land the takedown.
Akal catches Khvan with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Akal tries to clinch there but Khvan circles away.
Akal throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Khvan's waist but Khvan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Akal off to one side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cortez Akal dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Leo Khvan's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Khvan defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Akal.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Akal.
Good shot there by Akal.
Akal misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Leo Khvan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cortez Akal.
Akal tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Akal is looking to chop away at Khvan's legs.
Akal looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Khvan is fending him off so far but Akal persists. Nope, Khvan circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Akal tries for a takedown but Khvan sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Akal fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Khvan avoids it really well and circles away.
Akal fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Akal.
Akal avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Leo Khvan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Khvan throws a left and a right that both miss
and Akal counters with a nice body kick.
Akal shoots for a takedown but Khvan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Akal tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Akal fails with an attempt to clinch.
Akal shoots for a double leg takedown but Khvan sprawls well. He's pushed Akal's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Akal tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Khvan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Akal shoots in looking for a takedown. Khvan tries to sprawl out of it but Akal keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Khvan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Akal misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akal scores with a body shot.

Akal pushes Khvan up against the cage in a clinch.
Khvan stops a takedown attempt from Akal.

Akal successfully pulls guard.
Akal trying to keep a closed guard but Khvan is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akal keeping moving, preventing Khvan from controlling successfully.
Khvan wants to get up but he can't break Akal's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Khvan won't allow Akal to sweep him here.
Akal is trying to control the position but Khvan postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Akal shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Khvan but Khvan pushes him off and we're back to square one.

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.
Akal tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Khvan swivels and escapes.
Akal with a poor takedown
and Khvan counters with a one-two to the body.
Cortez Akal seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Khvan keeps the fight on the outside.
Akal closes the distance and clinches up with Khvan, looking for a takedown. Akal pushes Khvan against the cage but Khvan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Khvan stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Khvan wants it to stay on the feet.
Akal looks for a takedown but Khvan sprawls well.
Akal closes the distance and clinches up with Khvan, looking for a takedown. Akal pushes Khvan against the cage but Khvan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Khvan misses with a few strikes there.
Khvan swats away the attempt to clinch by Akal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Cortez Akal will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Leo Khvan's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Akal throws a head kick that Khvan semi-blocks.
Akal tries to clinch up but Khvan circles away and keeps his distance.
No joy there for Akal, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Akal tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Khvan throws a combination that misses
and Akal connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Akal doesn't manage to clinch there - Khvan circles away.
Akal fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Akal looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Akal lands with a nice combination. Khvan backs away looking to recover.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Horrible takedown by Akal or perhaps it was just good defense by Khvan which made him look bad.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khvan leaves Akal with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Leo Khvan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cortez Akal.
Akal shoots in but no luck this time.
Akal tries to land a front kick but Khvan steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Khvan.
Akal throws a right and a left that both miss.
Akal shoots in for a takedown but Khvan shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Khvan loads up on a big right hand but Akal slips the punch.
Akal is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Akal fails in his attempt to clinch.
Akal tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two 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.
Khvan misses with a double jab
and Akal counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Akal throws the kick towards the body but Khvan avoids it.
Akal tries to clinch but Khvan moves out of range.

Akal takes the fight into the clinch.
Akal is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Khvan pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Akal wants to get back to striking at distance but Khvan won't allow it.
Khvan prevents the takedown attempt.
Akal jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Khvan walks away with a smile on his face. Akal gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Khvan slaps away a takedown attempt from Akal, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Akal shoots in for a takedown but Khvan shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akal bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Khvan's head.
Akal has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Khvan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Akal shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Khvan as he avoids it easily.
Khvan avoids a punch combination nicely.
Khvan dodges the punch combination from Akal.

Akal has closed the distance and engaged Khvan in a clinch.
Akal has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Akal is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Akal is looking to break free of the clinch but Khvan has double underhooks.
Akal trying to stall but Khvan improves his position.
Akal tries to pull guard but Khvan won't allow it.
Akal is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Khvan looking to slow down the pace here.
Akal looking for a takedown.
Akal tries to pull guard but Khvan holds him up against the cage and eventually Akal drops back down to his feet.
Akal is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Khvan stops a takedown attempt from Akal.
Leo Khvan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cortez Akal is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Khvan is pressed up against the cage. Akal has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Khvan down to the mat. Khvan avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Cortez Akal.
Well Akal 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cortez Akal!