PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kenjiro Akiyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Iari Weiss Pascal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Iari Weiss Pascal is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Akiyama
vs
Weiss Pascal

200 cm
23
197 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
28
190 lbs
2 - 4 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite 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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenjiro Akiyama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Iari Weiss Pascal!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Sosuke Kotani and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akiyama misses with a hook.
Akiyama tries to clinch up.
Akiyama defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Weiss Pascal.
Akiyama slips a jab from Weiss Pascal.

Akiyama pushes Weiss Pascal up against the ropes in a clinch.
Akiyama really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Akiyama prevents the takedown attempt.
Weiss Pascal has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Akiyama is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Kenjiro Akiyama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Iari Weiss Pascal.
Akiyama goes for a takedown attempt but Weiss Pascal pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Weiss Pascal throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Akiyama sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Weiss Pascal fails with a takedown attempt.
Akiyama tries to close the distance and clinch but Weiss Pascal swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Akiyama moves in looking to clinch but Weiss Pascal pushes him off.

Weiss Pascal shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Akiyama manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Akiyama uses the ropes to get back to his feet.
Iari Weiss Pascal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Akiyama is defended easily by Weiss Pascal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akiyama leaves Weiss Pascal with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Weiss Pascal fails with the takedown.
Akiyama slaps away a takedown attempt from Weiss Pascal, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Weiss Pascal is defended easily by Akiyama.
Akiyama tries to clinch there but Weiss Pascal circles away.
Akiyama stuffs the takedown attempt from Weiss Pascal. Weiss Pascal gets slowly back to his feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Akiyama.
Akiyama looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Weiss Pascal is fending him off so far but Akiyama persists. Nope, Weiss Pascal circles away and we're back to standing.

Akiyama shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Weiss Pascal is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Akiyama will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Akiyama advances to half guard.
Akiyama prevents Weiss Pascal from improving his position.
Akiyama thows a huge punch but Weiss Pascal dodges it nicely.
Weiss Pascal gets full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Weiss Pascal throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Akiyama stands and throws Weiss Pascal's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Akiyama throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Weiss Pascal is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weiss Pascal manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Weiss Pascal is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Weiss Pascal is looking for submissions but instead, Akiyama has regained full guard.
Weiss Pascal trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Weiss Pascal lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Weiss Pascal postures up in Akiyama's guard and throws a big left but Akiyama blocks it.
Weiss Pascal with a nice head shot there.
Weiss Pascal loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Weiss Pascal chips away with some ground and pound.
Weiss Pascal landing with the ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Akiyama tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Weiss Pascal lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Akiyama avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Weiss Pascal accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Weiss Pascal landing some decent shots from guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Weiss Pascal stands up over Akiyama, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Akiyama preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iari Weiss Pascal dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Weiss Pascal fails with a takedown attempt.
Weiss Pascal misses with a takedown attempt - Akiyama sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Weiss Pascal fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kenjiro Akiyama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Iari Weiss Pascal.
Weiss Pascal shoots in for a double leg but Akiyama sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Akiyama closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Weiss Pascal quickly recovers to half guard.
Weiss Pascal is looking to improve his position.
Akiyama tries to pass the half guard into mount. Weiss Pascal knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Weiss Pascal is staying active underneath Akiyama, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Akiyama passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Weiss Pascal!
Weiss Pascal wants to hold on but Akiyama pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weiss Pascal is trying to stand.
Weiss Pascal tries to lock up and control but Akiyama gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Akiyama thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Weiss Pascal is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Iari Weiss Pascal has got the better of the ground game so far.
Weiss Pascal is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Weiss Pascal defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Akiyama.
Akiyama with good strikes from the mount here!
Weiss Pascal tries to lock up and control but Akiyama gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Weiss Pascal wants to hold on but Akiyama pushes him away.
Akiyama trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Weiss Pascal is desperately trying to improve his position but Akiyama has a good base and remains in mount.
Akiyama wants to control the pace but Weiss Pascal is squirming around nicely.
Weiss Pascal blocking the ground and pound.
Akiyama unloads with some shots from mount but Weiss Pascal bucks and avoids them well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Weiss Pascal is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Akiyama is working for a guillotine from mount but Weiss Pascal frees his head quite easily.
Akiyama punching from mount but Weiss Pascal doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Akiyama throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Weiss Pascal because Akiyama loaded up on that one.
Akiyama has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Weiss Pascal regains half guard.
Weiss Pascal wants to control but Akiyama is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Weiss Pascal tries to roll over but Akiyama keeps him under control.
Akiyama wants to lay and pray for a moment but Weiss Pascal keeps working.
Weiss Pascal tries to get to full guard but Akiyama has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weiss Pascal regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Akiyama.

Weiss Pascal looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Akiyama trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Akiyama preventing the sweep.
Akiyama stops Weiss Pascal from standing up.
Weiss Pascal really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Akiyama. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Weiss Pascal escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Akiyama gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Weiss Pascal looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kenjiro Akiyama will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Weiss Pascal stuffs the takedown attempt from Akiyama. Akiyama gets slowly back to his feet.
Weiss Pascal shoots for a double leg takedown but Akiyama sprawls well. He's pushed Weiss Pascal's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Weiss Pascal shoots in but Akiyama avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Weiss Pascal uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Akiyama scores a takedown into full mount!
Weiss Pascal working to try and regain half guard.
Akiyama controlling from mount.
Weiss Pascal is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weiss Pascal wants to control but Akiyama is having none of it.
Weiss Pascal working to try and regain half guard.
Akiyama lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Akiyama thowing shots but they're missing.
Weiss Pascal wants to control but Akiyama is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You get the feeling that Weiss Pascal really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Weiss Pascal is trying to escape the mount.
Weiss Pascal blocking the ground and pound.
Weiss Pascal is looking to improve his position but Akiyama isn't that keen on the idea.
Akiyama thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Akiyama working for a guillotine from mount but Weiss Pascal is in no mood to give up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weiss Pascal is trying to escape the mount.
Akiyama throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Weiss Pascal tries to hold on but Akiyama postures up.
Weiss Pascal is looking to get to half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Weiss Pascal can do anything to dispel that myth.
Akiyama tries to control but Weiss Pascal wriggling away.
Weiss Pascal keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weiss Pascal wants to hold on but Akiyama pushes him away.
Weiss Pascal is desperately trying to improve his position but Akiyama has a good base and remains in mount.

Akiyama is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Weiss Pascal is surviving well by controlling Akiyama's body position as best he can.
Weiss Pascal is desperately trying to improve his position but Akiyama has a good base and remains in mount.
Akiyama unloading with bombs!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Weiss Pascal is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Akiyama landing punches.
Akiyama lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Iari Weiss Pascal.
I think Weiss Pascal 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Iari Weiss Pascal!