PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jun Akiyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Beginner Winner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Beginner Winner was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Akiyama
vs
Winner

180 cm
28
170 lbs
12 - 20 - 0

225 cm
25
178 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jun Akiyama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Beginner Winner!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Winner gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Akiyama to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Akiyama has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Winner is proving hard to escape from.

Winner has his feet on Akiyama's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Winner.
Akiyama shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Winner pinned against the cage. Winner gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Akiyama changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Winner looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akiyama trying to control the position but Winner is working away.
Winner wants to get back to his feet but Akiyama drags him back down.
Akiyama trying to control the action but Winner is working from the bottom.
Akiyama is putting a hurting on Winner here, landing some big shots from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama is trying to ground and pound but Winner uses the momentary lack of control by Akiyama to regain half guard.
Akiyama seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Winner does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Winner avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Akiyama.
Akiyama looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Winner wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Akiyama stops Winner from getting back to his feet.
Akiyama throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Winner avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Akiyama.
Winner pushes Akiyama off looking to stand but Akiyama dives back in and keeps control.
Akiyama thows a huge punch but Winner dodges it nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Akiyama trying to pass the guard but Winner defending well.

Akiyama is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Winner has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama content to control rather than advance.
Akiyama is looking to stall here but Winner recovers full guard.
Akiyama loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jun 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.

Winner shoots for a double leg takedown but Akiyama sprawls well. He's pushed Winner's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Akiyama displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Winner.

Akiyama is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Winner's half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Winner is trying to stand.

Winner kicks Akiyama off and gets back to his feet.
Akiyama fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Akiyama stuffs the takedown attempt from Winner. Winner gets slowly back to his feet.
Jun Akiyama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Beginner Winner.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Akiyama is defended easily by Winner.
Winner keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Akiyama.
Winner is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Winner enables Akiyama to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Winner manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Winner keeping moving, preventing Akiyama from controlling successfully.
Akiyama has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Akiyama wants to stand but Winner has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Akiyama won't allow Winner to get back to his feet.
Winner utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Winner utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Winner is looking to stand up but Akiyama isn't so interested in that idea.
Akiyama wants to control from the top but Winner keeps moving.
Jun Akiyama overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Jun Akiyama.

Akiyama shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Akiyama lands a nice short elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Winner manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Akiyama drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Winner regains half guard there - taking advantage of Akiyama's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Akiyama thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Winner wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jun Akiyama dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Winner swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Winner shoots in looking for a takedown but Akiyama manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Winner's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Winner tries for a takedown but Akiyama circles away easily

and Akiyama counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Winner has one foot on Akiyama's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Akiyama tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Winner is able to avoid easily.
Winner misses with a takedown attempt - Akiyama sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Jun Akiyama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Beginner Winner.
Winner will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Akiyama shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Akiyama trying to mount his opponent but Winner defends it.
Winner wants to get back to his feet.
Winner regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Akiyama.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama works over Winner with some ground and pound from guard.
Akiyama in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Akiyama looking to sit in guard and control but Winner gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Winner gets to his feet - Akiyama follows without any prompting.
Winner displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Akiyama.
Akiyama fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Winner as Akiyama shoots in.
Winner misses with a double jab.
Winner slaps away a takedown attempt from Akiyama, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Akiyama has his takedown stuffed

and Winner counters with a shoot takedown. Akiyama fights it but they end up in guard.

Winner drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Winner seems to have locked his on tight now - Akiyama screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Winner, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Beginner Winner!
In his post fight interview, Beginner Winner started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.