"In the opening seconds of the fight, Akimoto stuffed a takedown attempt from Mix, and the fighters traded jabs until Akimoto stunned Mix for the first time with a crisp combination that backed him to the corner. Mix recovered, but Akimoto attacked his body with more punches and then dropped him with a salvo to the face."
"Seconds into the second stanza, Akimoto dropped Mix with two left hooks flush on the temple. Mix scrambled to his knees, only for Akimoto to punt his heavily favored foe with a pair of brutal soccer kicks to the face. Referee Naoya Uematsu had no choice but to wave things off at that point, rescuing a bloodied and battered Mix from his own toughness at the 37-second mark of the second round."
"Since suffering a deflating decision loss at the end of 2024, Akimoto has racked up five straight victories including four consecutive stoppages. He became the first man to ever finish Mix inside the distance, placing himself in prime position for a potential featherweight title shot."
Kyoma Akimoto, just one day before his 20th birthday, achieved the biggest victory of his MMA career by defeating former Bellator champion Patrick Mix at Rizin Fighting Federation 52 in Tokyo. Akimoto dominated the fight from the opening seconds, stuffing Mix's takedown attempt and landing a crisp combination that stunned Mix early. Throughout the first round, Akimoto dropped Mix multiple times with punches and knees, with Mix barely surviving to the bell. In the second round, Akimoto quickly dropped Mix with two left hooks to the temple, followed by brutal soccer kicks to the face. Referee Naoya Uematsu stopped the fight at 37 seconds of round two. This victory marks Akimoto's fifth consecutive win and fourth consecutive stoppage since a decision loss in late 2024, positioning him for a potential featherweight title opportunity.
Read at Sherdog
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