Jake Shields breaks losing streak by beating Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 144 – UFC news
In the welterweight division brawl between Jake Shields and Yoshihiro Akiyama, the American sensation successfully broke his losing streak by collecting a unanimous win over the Japanese Akiyama, who collected his fourth consecutive loss at UFC 144.
The three-round bout was televised from Saitama Super Arena situated in Saitama, Japan on February 25, 2012. The epic pay-per-view was headlined by the championship brawl between Frankie Edgar and Ben Henderson in the lightweight division.
The duo put up an impressive show of agility, resilience, strength, and submission tactics and gathered well deserved applause from the Japanese fans. Jake who faced a real tough 2011, was in dire need of making a comeback.
Last year Shields’ faced not only the death of his father but later on collected two important defeats against Jake Ellenberger and George St. Pierre as well, one of them being the UFC welterweight title bout.
Jake overshadowed Akiyama by his experience. The America 33-year-old had won 26 of his total 33 encounters. He has collected just three of his wins by knockout, a huge 10 by making the opponents submit and 13 by decision.
Akiyama, widely known as the ‘Sexyama’, had been in a total 19 brawls and came out triumphant in just 13. He has collected five of his wins by knock out and the same by submission.
From the very beginning of the first round, both men pounded each other heavily and exchanged powerful punches and kicks. Throughout the brawl, Jake, the submission specialist, strived hard to grab Akiyama in any of his vicious manoeuvres but the Japanese
sensation did not allow him to do so.
In the last few seconds of the third round, Jake got the chance and grabbed Akiyama in his double-legged grip but as soon as he was about to apply his move, the bell rang and the bout ended. All the three judges unanimously gave the fight to Jake by awarding
30-27 on all the three cards.
The bout’s results are somewhat being considered as controversial since Akiyama was the one who delivered the most punches and kicks to the appropriate positions but it seems that Jake’s last gesture played a pivotal role in helping him win the brawl.
Jake, after the convincing win, now has 27 wins, six losses and just one draw in his account. Akiyama, on the other hand, has collected his fourth consecutive lose and now stands at 13 wins, five losses, and two no contests.
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