PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Takahiro Akiyoshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Draven Lucas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lucas is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Techno Viking . Takahiro Akiyoshi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Akiyoshi
vs
Lucas

185 cm
30
175 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

182 cm
23
185 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Affordable Quality

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 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takahiro Akiyoshi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Draven Lucas!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, John Roberts and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akiyoshi throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Lucas counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

Akiyoshi closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Lucas quickly recovers to half guard.
Lucas is staying active underneath Akiyoshi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Akiyoshi wants to free his trapped foot but Lucas is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Lucas tries to roll over but Akiyoshi keeps him under control.
The fighters are battling for position here. Lucas manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Lucas looking to control.
Akiyoshi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Akiyoshi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Lucas has his foot on Akiyoshi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Akiyoshi works his way back into a safe position though.
Lucas is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lucas managing to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akiyoshi trying to control but Lucas is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lucas is on top in guard.
Lucas showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Lucas won't allow Akiyoshi to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lucas is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Lucas slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Akiyoshi keeping full guard, as Lucas tries to pass.
Akiyoshi wants to get back to his feet but Lucas is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Akiyoshi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lucas is one step ahead there.
Lucas slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akiyoshi wants to improve his position but instead Lucas has moved into half guard.
Lucas is controlling the pace.
Akiyoshi pushes Lucas off but Lucas dives into side control.
Lucas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Akiyoshi keeps working.
Akiyoshi parries the strikes from Lucas easily there. Lucas is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Akiyoshi to escape.
Lucas trying to control the position but Akiyoshi is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akiyoshi is letting Lucas control him for a moment.
Let's hope that Lucas has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Lucas trying to control the action but Akiyoshi is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Lucas is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Akiyoshi has escaped the position, nice work there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Draven Lucas dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Akiyoshi staying out of range there.

Akiyoshi scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Lucas is trying is best to control the position here.
Akiyoshi wants to advance to full mount but Lucas doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Akiyoshi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Akiyoshi throwing strikes from guard but Lucas blocks nicely.
Lucas looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Lucas looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akiyoshi chips away with some ground and pound.

Lucas manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Akiyoshi works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Lucas keeping moving, preventing Akiyoshi from controlling successfully.
Lucas looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Akiyoshi puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Draven Lucas has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lucas is looking to improve his position.
Lucas works his way to full guard. Good work.
Akiyoshi postures up in Lucas's guard and throws a big left but Lucas blocks it.
Lucas is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Akiyoshi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lucas pulls Akiyoshi in close to prevent any damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lucas tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Akiyoshi is fighting to break Lucas's control of his arms but Lucas is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Draven Lucas wasn't active enough on the ground.
Lucas throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Akiyoshi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lucas was well out of range. Poor timing from Akiyoshi.
Akiyoshi looks to throw a body kick
and Lucas counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lucas shoots for a double leg takedown but Akiyoshi sprawls well. He's pushed Lucas's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Lucas wants to clinch up but Akiyoshi keeps it at a distance.
Lucas fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lucas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Akiyoshi.
Akiyoshi throws a left and a right that both miss

and Lucas holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A hook to the body from Lucas.

Akiyoshi works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Akiyoshi being controlled here momentarily.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Lucas manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lucas controlling from the full mount.
Lucas in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Akiyoshi is squirming around, avoiding Lucas's attempts to control the action.
Akiyoshi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lucas on the ground.
Lucas controlling from the full mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lucas tries to control but Akiyoshi wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Draven Lucas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Akiyoshi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Akiyoshi throws a right hand that Lucas ducks under and follows up with a left that Lucas also avoids with ease.
Lucas fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Akiyoshi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lucas dodges the punch combination from Akiyoshi.
Akiyoshi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Akiyoshi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Akiyoshi misses with a double jab

so Lucas counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Lucas slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Lucas working his ground and pound in the gym.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucas passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Lucas has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Akiyoshi!
Lucas looking to finish with strikes here!
Lucas controlling the pace for now.
Akiyoshi is squirming around, avoiding Lucas's attempts to control the action.
Akiyoshi sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Takahiro Akiyoshi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lucas prevents Akiyoshi from improving his position.
Lucas slows the pace down in half guard.
Akiyoshi is positioning himself well to prevent Lucas advancing to mount.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Lucas in particular looking to stall.
Lucas's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Akiyoshi is looking to control Lucas's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Akiyoshi avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Takahiro Akiyoshi wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Akiyoshi throws a head kick that misses
and Lucas counters with a body kick that stops Akiyoshi in his tracks momentarily.
Lucas lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Lucas shoots in for a double leg but Akiyoshi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Lucas clinches with his opponent.
Lucas taking a breather.

Akiyoshi has Lucas pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Akiyoshi pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Lucas tumbling to the mat - Akiyoshi dives into Lucas's guard.
Lucas has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akiyoshi throws a strike but Lucas rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Draven Lucas is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lucas controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lucas wants to control from the top but Akiyoshi keeps moving.

Draven Lucas has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Lucas plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

And that's the end of the fight!
Draven Lucas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lucas 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Draven Lucas!