PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nate Marquardt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshiro Akiyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Akiyama has chosen Time To Say Goodbye as his entrance music. 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.

Marquardt
vs
Akiyama

183 cm
23
193 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

178 cm
21
190 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great low kicks
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Powerful

T.K.O. The Killer Outfit
T.K.O. The Killer Outfit

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nate Marquardt!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoshiro Akiyama!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A decent looking body kick lands there for Marquardt.
Marquardt with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Akiyama gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Akiyama wants to sweep here but Marquardt controlling him for the moment.
Marquardt not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Marquardt preventing the sweep.
Akiyama will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Akiyama keeping moving, preventing Marquardt from controlling successfully.
Akiyama looking for a sweep. Not yet Akiyama, not yet.
Marquardt slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Marquardt happy to just control the position for now.
Akiyama struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akiyama manages to get back to half guard.
Akiyama wants to improve his position but Marquardt is controlling well.
Marquardt wants to stand up but Akiyama has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Akiyama tries to get to full guard but Marquardt has control of the leg.
Akiyama is not content to let Marquardt control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Akiyama drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akiyama working away.
Akiyama postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Akiyama wants to lay and pray for a moment but Marquardt keeps working.
Akiyama throws a strike aimed at the side of Marquardt's head but Marquardt avoids it well.
Marquardt is looking to reverse the position.

Akiyama looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Marquardt is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Akiyama wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Marquardt, who protects the arm well.
Akiyama looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Akiyama misses with a takedown attempt
and Marquardt counters with an outside leg kick.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Akiyama crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Marquardt - the referee stops the clock and Akiyama gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Marquardt. Akiyama manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
A chopping leg kick lands by Marquardt.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Marquardt - that will leave a mark!
Yoshiro Akiyama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
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!
Marquardt scores with a kick to the body.
Marquardt lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Yoshiro Akiyama has been cut.
Marquardt throws a nice head kick!
Marquardt thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Akiyama if he has to take too many more of those.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Marquardt, right into the meat.
Look low, kick high! Marquardt uses the oldest trick in the book to send Akiyama tumbling to the canvas, in a truly brutal knockout! Marquardt is absolutely delighted - when Akiyama wakes up, I doubt he'll be quite so happy!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:44 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Nate Marquardt!
Nate Marquardt retains his middleweight title!