PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yoshiro Akiyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sancho Zola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Akiyama comes to the cage accompanied by Time To Say Goodbye. Zola comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Black Crow On A Tombstone by Satyricon kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Sancho Zola has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Akiyama
vs
Zola

178 cm
26
190 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

185 cm
27
197 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoshiro Akiyama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sancho Zola!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Taro Takaoka and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akiyama pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Zola moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

It looks like Yoshiro Akiyama has been cut.
Some bone on bone action there as Zola checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Zola slips under a jab.
Zola scores with a jab to the head.
Zola dodges the punch combination from Akiyama.
Zola dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
No luck for Zola with that takedown attempt.
Akiyama waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zola.

Akiyama drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zola keeping moving, preventing Akiyama from controlling successfully.
Zola pulls Akiyama in close to his closed guard and prevents Akiyama from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Akiyama has gone for a leg lock! Zola slips out almost immediately though and dives into Akiyama's guard.
Zola with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Zola trying to control but Akiyama is working from the bottom.

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.
Zola throws and elbow that misses. Akiyama uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zola's guard. Nice move by Akiyama!
Akiyama trying to control but Zola is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Akiyama throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama pushing down on Zola's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Zola is not content to let Akiyama control the position.
Akiyama controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Akiyama wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zola keeps working.
Zola tries to roll over but Akiyama keeps him under control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Yoshiro Akiyama.
Zola ducks under a wild hook from Akiyama.
Zola throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Akiyama on the side of the head.
Zola walks into a straight right hand from Akiyama.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Zola swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Akiyama with a poor takedown

and Zola counters with a takedown into side control.
Zola in side control, throwing shots but Akiyama defends.
Zola in side control, throwing shots but Akiyama defends.
Akiyama wants to get back to his feet but Zola drags him back down.
Sloppy strikes there by Zola.
Zola misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Zola working the ground and pound from side control.
Zola working the ground and pound.
Akiyama is pushing Zola's head away, looking to escape. Zola manages to hold on to the position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zola connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Akiyama some visible discomfort.

Zola goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Akiyama rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Zola's guard! Nice work there by Akiyama!
Zola keeping moving, preventing Akiyama from controlling successfully.
Zola pulls Akiyama in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama content to stall in guard here.
Zola has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zola keeping full guard, as Akiyama tries to pass.
Zola controls Akiyama momentarily but Akiyama frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Yoshiro Akiyama just wasn't active enough.
Zola takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Zola scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Akiyama ducks under a wild hook from Zola.
Akiyama jabs Zola right on the nose. Zola blinks but takes it well.

It looks like Sancho Zola has been cut.
Zola fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Akiyama with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Zola to score with a decent uppercut.
Yoshiro Akiyama is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Akiyama looks for the body kick but Zola saw that one coming.
Akiyama stuns Zola with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Zola shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Akiyama defends it nicely.
Akiyama ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zola takes one to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Akiyama looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A chopping leg kick lands by Akiyama.
Akiyama lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Yoshiro Akiyama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zola takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Akiyama throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Akiyama shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Zola but Zola pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Akiyama thows a left - swing and a miss!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zola ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Zola lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sancho Zola showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Danga de danga de dang - Akiyama scores with a four punch combination!
Akiyama fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Zola defending well as Akiyama loads up on a big left hand.
Akiyama lands with a good body shot.
Akiyama throws a combination that misses
and Zola counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Zola slips a jab from Akiyama.
Akiyama ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Akiyama doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Zola counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A jab from Zola misses.
Zola tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Akiyama is able to avoid easily.
Zola cracks Akiyama with a right hand to the side of the head.
Zola takes a swing at Akiyama's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Akiyama feints and as Zola raises his hands in defense, Akiyama changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Akiyama drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Zola dives on top into guard.
Zola wants to pass the guard but Akiyama is keeping the position.
Zola postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Zola trying to control but Akiyama is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zola won't allow Akiyama to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zola in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zola pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Akiyama is keeping the position for now.
Zola lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Akiyama scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Zola throws a body punch but Akiyama moves out of range.
A jab from Zola misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zola shoots in for a double leg but Akiyama sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Akiyama looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Zola changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Akiyama tries to avoid it but Zola manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Akiyama to the ground. Akiyama escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Zola takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zola displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Akiyama throws out the jab.
Akiyama throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zola lands a nice looking body shot.
Akiyama swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Zola walks into a left hand.
Akiyama keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Akiyama slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Akiyama swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zola sprawls well. Zola wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Akiyama gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoshiro Akiyama. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zola lands with a cross.

Yoshiro Akiyama's cut is getting worse.
Sancho Zola seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A looping hook to the body misses from Akiyama. Zola does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zola attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Zola shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Akiyama trying desperately to get to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zola throwing strikes here but Akiyama is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Zola is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Akiyama can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sancho Zola comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zola 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sancho Zola!