PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Masato Akiyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Samoa Joe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Akiyama comes to the cage accompanied by Fallen Army - GRV Music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Akiyama
vs
Joe

175 cm
23
190 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

179 cm
27
195 lbs
9 - 11 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
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 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Masato Akiyama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Samoa Joe!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Gregory Folan and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akiyama tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Joe decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Akiyama's guard.
Joe postures up in Akiyama's guard and throws a big left but Akiyama blocks it.
Joe throwing strikes but missing.
Akiyama wants to stand and escape but Joe is having none of it.
Joe throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Akiyama works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Akiyama avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Joe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Joe postures up and lands a big shot to Akiyama's brow.
Joe postures up in Akiyama's guard and throws a big left but Akiyama blocks it.
Joe postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Joe wants to pass the guard but Akiyama is keeping the position.
Joe trying to control but Akiyama is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joe sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Akiyama's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Joe is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Akiyama has managed to free his arm - good work.
Joe sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Akiyama defending well though.
Joe thows a huge punch but Akiyama dodges it nicely.

Joe is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Akiyama is just riding it out for now. Joe eventually gives up the hold.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Joe lands a nice short elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Joe is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Akiyama defends it well.
Joe looks to land a strike but Akiyama avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Akiyama keeping full guard, as Joe tries to pass.
Akiyama working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Joe.
Joe pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Akiyama is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Joe.
Joe throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Akiyama works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Joe is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Joe accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Joe drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Joe jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Joe postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Joe loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Joe pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Akiyama is keeping the position for now.
Joe postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Joe has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four 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.
Joe is working Akiyama over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Joe chips away with some ground and pound.
Joe prevents Akiyama from getting back to his feet.

Joe thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Joe throwing strikes from guard but Akiyama blocks nicely.
Akiyama is looking to stand up but Joe isn't so interested in that idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samoa Joe dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Akiyama stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Akiyama wants it to stay on the feet.

Joe closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Joe lands in his opponent's guard.

Akiyama has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Joe off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Akiyama tries to clinch

and Joe counters with a single leg into guard. Akiyama didn't expect that.
Joe tries to free his leg and advance position but Akiyama is retaining full guard.
Joe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Akiyama wants to get back to his feet but Joe is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Akiyama avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joe working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Akiyama's head.
Joe looking to pass the guard.
Akiyama is looking to stand up but Joe isn't so interested in that idea.
Joe wants to control from the top but Akiyama keeps moving.
Joe chips away with some ground and pound.

Joe is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Akiyama is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Akiyama has escaped and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama landing with the ground and pound.
Joe keeping full guard, as Akiyama tries to pass.

Joe working for a triangle but Akiyama defends it easily.
Joe manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Joe trying to control but Akiyama is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Joe with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe throwing strikes here but Akiyama is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
A nice elbow there by Joe.
Akiyama knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Joe on the ground.
Joe with the ground and pound from mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Joe cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Joe has control of Akiyama's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Akiyama regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Joe working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Joe has hold of Akiyama's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Akiyama manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Joe with shots to the head and body - Akiyama looks very uncomfortable down there.
Joe is landing with some decent strikes but Akiyama is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A nice elbow there by Joe.
Joe throws some wild stikes that Akiyama manages to avoid easily.
Joe trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samoa Joe 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 tries to clinch but Joe moves away

and Joe counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Joe working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Joe trying to control the position from guard on top but Akiyama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Akiyama wants to stand and escape but Joe is having none of it.
Akiyama preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Akiyama working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Joe.
Joe throwing strikes but missing.
Akiyama preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Akiyama keeping moving, preventing Joe from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joe with a flurry of punches that miss.
Joe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Akiyama wants to stand up but Joe is controlling him.
Akiyama on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Akiyama tries to get out of the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Joe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Joe is looking to work some ground and pound but Akiyama has wrist control.
Samoa Joe has got the better of the ground game so far.
Joe throwing strikes but missing.
Joe lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Joe distracts Akiyama with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Masato Akiyama has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Samoa Joe is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Joe controls the pace.
Joe missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Joe sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Samoa Joe has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Akiyama tries to clinch

and Joe counters with a shoot takedown. Akiyama fights it but they end up in guard.
Joe wants to control from the top but Akiyama keeps moving.
Joe's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Joe has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Joe wants to control from the top but Akiyama keeps moving.

Samoa Joe has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Akiyama misses with a takedown

and Joe counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Joe.
Joe stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Akiyama swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Joe controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama keeping moving, preventing Joe from controlling successfully.
Joe controls from within his opponent's guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Samoa Joe.
Nice takedown defense from Akiyama. No joy for Joe on that attempt.
Akiyama wants to clinch but Joe slips to the side

and Joe counters with a shoot takedown. Akiyama fights it but they end up in guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Akiyama is working an open guard so Joe takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Akiyama misses with a hook

and Joe counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Joe.
Joe sitting in guard, not really doing much.

And that's the end of the fight!
Samoa Joe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Joe winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 26:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 26:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Samoa Joe!