PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Igor Yakovchenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aoki Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yakovchenko comes to the cage accompanied by Kenny Loggins - Danger Zone. Aoki has chosen Calm Like A Bomb by Rage Against The Machine! as his entrance music. Aoki Aoki has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Yakovchenko
vs
Aoki

177 cm
22
160 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

180 cm
23
170 lbs
15 - 0 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Hardcore Nutrition
Perkele!

Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Igor Yakovchenko!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Aoki Aoki!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Marco Blurström and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sloppy strikes from Yakovchenko. Those never looked like landing.
Aoki with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Yakovchenko to score with a decent uppercut.
Aoki throws a leg kick that misses.
Yakovchenko ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Aoki moves away.
Yakovchenko looks to land a left hand but Aoki moved out of range nicely.
Yakovchenko misses with a wild body shot.
Aoki takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Yakovchenko throws a looping overhand right but Aoki ducks down to avoid it.
Yakovchenko throws a front kick aimed at Aoki's knee but Aoki avoids it well.
Aoki looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Aoki shoots in looking for a takedown. Yakovchenko tries to sprawl out of it but Aoki keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Yakovchenko manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Yakovchenko lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Aoki circles away quickly and effectively.
Aoki throws a leg kick
and Yakovchenko counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Igor Yakovchenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Aoki shoots in and gets a takedown into Yakovchenko's guard.
Aoki postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
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!
Yakovchenko is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki throws a big right hand that misses.

Aoki drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Yakovchenko dives on top into guard.
Aoki working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Yakovchenko.
Aoki is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Aoki drops an elbow to the side of Yakovchenko's head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Aoki lands a nice short elbow.

Aoki is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Yakovchenko still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Yakovchenko has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Aoki is looking to reverse the position.
Aoki has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aoki avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Yakovchenko.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki parries the strikes from Yakovchenko easily there. Yakovchenko is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Aoki to escape.
Aoki seems a little lost for a moment, as Yakovchenko dominates the positioning.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Aoki is looking for a sweep.
Aoki is trying to control Yakovchenko's posture but Yakovchenko avoids it.
Yakovchenko in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Aoki tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Yakovchenko wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Aoki manages to work his way to half guard, despite Yakovchenko's best efforts.
Aoki wants to get back to full guard.
Aoki is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Yakovchenko seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Aoki does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Aoki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Aoki manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aoki keeping full guard, as Yakovchenko tries to pass.
Yakovchenko with a flurry of punches that miss.

Yakovchenko got a little sloppy there for a moment and Aoki has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Yakovchenko has managed to get both his arms back between Aoki's legs - danger averted.
Aoki keeping full guard, as Yakovchenko tries to pass.
Aoki is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Aoki is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Yakovchenko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yakovchenko wants to stand but Aoki is controlling his posture from full guard.

Aoki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Aoki tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Aoki trying to keep a closed guard but Yakovchenko is proving a slippery customer.
Aoki manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Yakovchenko manages to get himself to full guard.
Yakovchenko bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Aoki's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yakovchenko wants to control from the top but Aoki keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Aoki Aoki will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Aoki pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Yakovchenko is looking to land body kicks.
Aoki doesn't manage to clinch there - Yakovchenko circles away.
Yakovchenko connects with a single shot there.
Yakovchenko throws a series of punches but Aoki moves out of range.
Aoki slips a straight right by Yakovchenko.
Yakovchenko tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Aoki was well out of range. Poor timing from Yakovchenko.
Yakovchenko scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Yakovchenko scores with a decent looking hook.
Yakovchenko lands a really nice looking cross but Aoki seems unphased.
Aoki takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Aoki blocks a jab.

Aoki feints and as Yakovchenko raises his hands in defense, Aoki changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Aoki connects with a couple of short punches.
Aoki keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Yakovchenko's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yakovchenko avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Yakovchenko is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Aoki throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Yakovchenko looking to control.
Yakovchenko wants to improve his position but instead Aoki has moved into half guard.
Aoki is keen to just control but Yakovchenko is a slippery customer.
Aoki landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Yakovchenko wants to get back to full guard.
Aoki drops an elbow to the side of Yakovchenko's head.
Yakovchenko tries to get to full guard but Aoki has control of the leg.
Aoki lands with a punch from half guard.
Aoki throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Aoki throwing shots but Yakovchenko is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yakovchenko trying to control here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Yakovchenko looking for submissions off his back.
Aoki trying to mount his opponent but Yakovchenko defends it.
Aoki sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Yakovchenko defending well though.

Aoki is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Yakovchenko sees it coming and defends easily.

Yakovchenko looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Yakovchenko is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Aoki thows a huge punch but Yakovchenko dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yakovchenko desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Yakovchenko looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Aoki is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Aoki lands with some strikes.

It looks like Igor Yakovchenko has been cut.
Aoki scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Yakovchenko is rocked!
Aoki lands with some strikes.
Oh Yakovchenko is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yakovchenko takes a big shot to the dome and his eyes have rolled back in his head! Aoki's killer instinct has kicked in as he finishes the fight with more strikes. Impressive finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Aoki Aoki!
Aoki Aoki is the new lightweight champion!
Aoki Aoki decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.