PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Phoenix Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taiki Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aoki has chosen Gangnam Style as his entrance music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Richards
vs
Aoki

150 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Phoenix Richards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Taiki Aoki!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Shirou Masuda and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richards cracks a nice hook into Aoki's ribs.
Richards tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Aoki swivels and escapes.
Aoki fails with a takedown attempt.
Aoki stuffs the takedown.
Richards dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Aoki looks winded!
Richards fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Phoenix Richards. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Richards drives through and clinches with Aoki against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Richards misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Aoki.
Richards is working for takedown but Aoki is calmly controlling the position for now.

Richards pulls guard effortlessly.
Richards is controlling Aoki's posture.
Aoki preventing the sweep.
Richards lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Aoki!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards controlling his opponent.

Richards swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Aoki is now in Richards's guard. A big mistake from Richards there, giving up the dominant position!
Richards pulls Aoki in close to his closed guard and prevents Aoki from doing any damage or advancing position.
Richards knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Aoki on the ground.
Aoki passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards keeps Aoki under control for a moment.
Aoki is looking to take a break and control but Richards is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Richards is trying to improve his position.
Aoki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Richards keeps working.
Aoki in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aoki thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Aoki working away.
Richards tries to buck Aoki off but Aoki is having none of it.
Aoki wants to control but Richards is keeping him busy.
Richards is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Aoki working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Richards tries to buck Aoki off but Aoki is having none of it.

Aoki tries for a kimura but Richards is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Aoki is trying to get an arm triangle but Richards is defending well.
Richards wants to get back to his feet.
Sloppy strikes there by Aoki.

Aoki swings around for an armbar but Richards sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Aoki's guard.

Aoki working for a triangle but Richards defends it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Richards 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phoenix Richards dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Aoki tries to keep at a distance but Richards has taken the fight into the clinch.
Richards's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Richards breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Richards closes the distance and clinches.

Richards pulls guard successfully.
Richards is pulling down on Aoki's head. It's preventing any offense from Aoki, at least for the moment.
Aokiis looking to pass into half guard but Richards pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Richards is in guard.
Aoki is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Richards has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aoki has his foot on Richards's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Richards works his way back into a safe position though.
Richards is looking to stand up but Aoki won't let him.
Taiki Aoki has got the better of the ground game so far.
Richards controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Aoki has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Richards should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Aoki has tightened it up now! Richards should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:49 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Taiki Aoki!
Taiki Aoki looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'Domo Arigato!'.