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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kenji Akiyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and King Dela Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Akiyama kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Akiyama Theme Song (This Is My Life - Edward Maya). 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.
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| 185 cm
22
220 lbs
8 - 4 - 0 |
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194 cm
24
215 lbs
14 - 7 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine |
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Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful |
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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
8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenji Akiyama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, King Dela Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shigeki Sano.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dela Cruz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Akiyama sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Dela Cruz takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Dela Cruz crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Akiyama - the referee stops the clock and Dela Cruz gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Akiyama. Dela Cruz manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Akiyama looks to throw a body kick
and Dela Cruz counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Dela Cruz trying to control but Akiyama is working from the bottom.
Dela Cruz stopping the sweep attempt from Akiyama.
Dela Cruz stays in close to Akiyama's body and controls the position.
Dela Cruz is looking to work some ground and pound but Akiyama has wrist control.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Dela Cruz throws a strike but Akiyama rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Dela Cruz wants to sweep but no luck.
We're going to have a standup here because Kenji Akiyama wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Akiyama keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Akiyama lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama throws the kick towards the body but Dela Cruz avoids it.
Kenji Akiyama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Akiyama tried to score with a low kick but Dela Cruz checks it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Dela Cruz. Akiyama does a little dance to reset his feet.
Dela Cruz connects with a nice looking jab.
Good work by Dela Cruz as he checks the leg kick.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Akiyama.
Dela Cruz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Akiyama defends it nicely.
Kenji Akiyama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of King Dela Cruz.
A shot to the liver by Dela Cruz. Beautiful body shot.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A slapping body kick lands there for Akiyama.
Akiyama lands a nice looking body kick.
Dela Cruz closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Akiyama quickly recovers to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dela Cruz looks gassed!
Dela Cruz performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
It looks like Dela Cruz might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dela Cruz is working away from the top position though.
Dela Cruz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Akiyama does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Akiyama is trying to control but can't.
It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Akiyama throws a push kick but Dela Cruz slaps the foot to one side.
Akiyama explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama feints and then cracks Dela Cruz's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Dela Cruz down.
Dela Cruz sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Dela Cruz.
Kenji Akiyama is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Akiyama looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Akiyama throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Dela Cruz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Akiyama fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Dela Cruz has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Akiyama throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Akiyama moves in looking to clinch but Dela Cruz pushes him off.
Dela Cruz avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Akiyama turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Akiyama stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Akiyama wants it to stay on the feet.
Akiyama throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Dela Cruz shoots for a takedown but Akiyama saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Dela Cruz has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Akiyama.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Akiyama.
Akiyama throws a front kick aimed at Dela Cruz's knee but Dela Cruz avoids it well.
Akiyama tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A telegraphed right hand from Akiyama misses the target.
Akiyama fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Dela Cruz looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Dela Cruz's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Akiyama connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Dela Cruz scrambles back to his feet.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Akiyama.
Akiyama is looking to land body kicks.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Akiyama misses with a leg kick.
Akiyama pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dela Cruz closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Akiyama quickly recovers to half guard.
Akiyama wants to improve his position but Dela Cruz is controlling well.
Dela Cruz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Akiyama does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Dela Cruz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Dela Cruz trying to mount his opponent but Akiyama defends it.
Akiyama wants to control but Dela Cruz is keeping busy.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama is staying active underneath Dela Cruz, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Dela Cruz lands with a punch from half guard.
Dela Cruz trying to control the action but Akiyama is working from the bottom.
Dela Cruz not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Dela Cruz trying to control from half guard but Akiyama is working away.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Kenji Akiyama dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.
Dela Cruz chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Akiyama can pounce on him.
Dela Cruz ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Akiyama avoids the body shot from Dela Cruz.
Akiyama pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Akiyama tries to clinch up.
Akiyama plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Akiyama misses with a low kick.
Akiyama punishes Dela Cruz's body with a nice straight punch.
Akiyama throws a leg kick
and Dela Cruz counters with a nice double leg into guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Akiyama is trying to hold Dela Cruz in close to prevent damage but Dela Cruz has managed to pass into half guard.
Dela Cruz drops an elbow to the side of Akiyama's head.
Akiyama is looking for a sweep. Dela Cruz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Dela Cruz trying to control the action but Akiyama is working from the bottom.
Akiyama wants to control but Dela Cruz is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Dela Cruz thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Akiyama to regain full guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dela Cruz stopping the sweep attempt from Akiyama.
Dela Cruz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Dela Cruz thows a big elbow that misses.
Akiyama working a defensive guard here.
Dela Cruz 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 being controlled here momentarily.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kenji Akiyama has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Dela Cruz checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Akiyama tries to clinch but Dela Cruz moves out of range.
Dela Cruz displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Akiyama throws out the jab.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Akiyama doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Akiyama lands a nice leg kick that just misses Dela Cruz's sensitive parts.
Dela Cruz throws an overhand right that lands on Akiyama's shoulder, as Akiyama tries to avoid the shot.
Akiyama throws a head kick that misses.
Kenji Akiyama is winning the standup battle so far.
Dela Cruz takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Akiyama throws a sloppy head kick and Dela Cruz moves out of range easily.
Akiyama tries a low kick but Dela Cruz avoids it.
Akiyama lands a head kick. Dela Cruz smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Akiyama is looking to land body kicks.
Akiyama finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Akiyama misses with a lunging right hand
and Dela Cruz counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Akiyama throws a leg kick that misses.
Dela Cruz keeps the fight on the outside.
Dela Cruz takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Akiyama fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Dela Cruz has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Akiyama looks for the body kick but Dela Cruz saw that one coming.
Akiyama throws a low kick but Dela Cruz moves out of range easily.
Akiyama throws a sloppy head kick and Dela Cruz moves out of range easily.
Dela Cruz tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Dela Cruz is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Akiyama rather than just go for the knockout.
Akiyama misses with a right hand
and Dela Cruz counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Dela Cruz chips away with some ground and pound.
Dela Cruz prevents Akiyama from getting back to his feet.
Akiyama keeping moving, preventing Dela Cruz from controlling successfully.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Akiyama working a defensive guard here.
Dela Cruz throwing strikes from guard but Akiyama blocks nicely.
Dela Cruz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Akiyama is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Dela Cruz thows a big elbow that misses.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Akiyama controls Dela Cruz momentarily but Dela Cruz frees himself.
King Dela Cruz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Akiyama has Dela Cruz pulled in close to control his posture.
The ref stands the fighters back up. Kenji Akiyama wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Dela Cruz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Dela Cruz blocks a leg kick.
Dela Cruz dives in and grabs Akiyama's left leg, looking for a takedown. Akiyama pushes down on Dela Cruz's head and hops out.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Akiyama connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Dela Cruz scrambles back to his feet.
Akiyama misses with a low kick.
Akiyama throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Akiyama tries a head kick but it misses.
Akiyama lands with a kick to the ribs.
Akiyama throws a poor cross that misses
and Dela Cruz counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Dela Cruz wants to control from the top but Akiyama keeps moving.
Dela Cruz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
King Dela Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!
Akiyama throws a low kick, looking for Dela Cruz's leg but Dela Cruz calmly moves out of range.
Akiyama misses with a body shot
and Dela Cruz counters with a left to the body.
Akiyama tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Dela Cruz counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Dela Cruz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Akiyama wants to sweep but no luck.
Dela Cruz is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Dela Cruz wants to control from the top but Akiyama keeps moving.
The ref stands the fighters back up. King Dela Cruz was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Akiyama throws a low kick but Dela Cruz moves out of range easily.
That's two 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.
Dela Cruz with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Akiyama to score with a decent uppercut.
Dela Cruz throws a hook but Akiyama avoids it easily.
Akiyama tries to land a front kick but Dela Cruz steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A momentary lapse in concentration from Akiyama enables Dela Cruz to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Akiyama manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Dela Cruz wants to control from the top but Akiyama keeps moving.
Dela Cruz wants to pass the guard but Akiyama is keeping the position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama is adopting a defensive guard.
Dela Cruz keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Akiyama's head.
Dela Cruz throwing strikes from guard but Akiyama blocks nicely.
Dela Cruz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
That's four 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.
Akiyama keeping moving, preventing Dela Cruz from controlling successfully.
Dela Cruz's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Akiyama scoring well with a low kick there.
Akiyama looks to land a body kick but Dela Cruz moved away.
Dela Cruz takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Akiyama ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Akiyama tries a low kick but Dela Cruz avoids it.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Dela Cruz checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Akiyama pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Akiyama lands a nice looking body kick.
Akiyama misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Dela Cruz blocks the leg kick.
Akiyama attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Dela Cruz's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Akiyama tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dela Cruz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Dela Cruz blocks the body kick.
Akiyama throws a lazy head kick
and Dela Cruz counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Akiyama has Dela Cruz pulled in close to control his posture.
Dela Cruz connects with a couple of short punches.
Dela Cruz trying to control but Akiyama is working from the bottom.
Akiyama looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dela Cruz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Akiyama swivels though and keeps the full guard.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dela Cruz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Dela Cruz wants to control from the top but Akiyama keeps moving.
Akiyama working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dela Cruz.
Dela Cruz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Dela Cruz wants to pass the guard but Akiyama is keeping the position.
That's eight 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.
Dela Cruz throwing strikes but missing.
Dela Cruz advances to half guard.
Akiyama trying to hold on to Dela Cruz's head to control him but Dela Cruz postures up.
Dela Cruz with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Akiyama is trying to maintain the position but Dela Cruz is very close to passing his half guard.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Dela Cruz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Akiyama keeps working.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dela Cruz is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Akiyama sees it coming and defends easily.
Dela Cruz sitting and controlling from the half guard.
And that's the end of the fight!
King Dela Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Dela Cruz has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight for King Dela Cruz!
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for King Dela Cruz!
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight for Kenji Akiyama!
King Dela Cruz wins by split decision!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
32% |
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