PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Donald Kerabatsos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Masakazu Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aoki has chosen Sandstorm by Darude as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kerabatsos
vs
Aoki

170 cm
29
147 lbs
18 - 9 - 2

155 cm
37
147 lbs
29 - 14 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 18 - 9 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Donald Kerabatsos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Masakazu Aoki!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Daniel Cesar and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kerabatsos blocks a jab.
Kerabatsos misses with a head kick.
Kerabatsos steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Aoki.
Aoki throws a sloppy body shot
and Kerabatsos counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Aoki swats away the attempt to clinch by Kerabatsos.
Kerabatsos throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Aoki throws a push kick but Kerabatsos slaps the foot to one side.
Aoki thows a body shot but no joy.
Aoki uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Kerabatsos has time to react.
Aoki throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Aoki misses with a hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Aoki. Kerabatsos does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kerabatsos ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Aoki misses with an uppercut.
Kerabatsos clobbers Aoki with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Kerabatsos misses with a looping right.
Aoki fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kerabatsos checks it well.
Aoki moves into range and connects with a jab.
Kerabatsos misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Aoki cracks Kerabatsos with an open hand slap.
Kerabatsos tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Both fighters circling a little - Kerabatsos finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Kerabatsos fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kerabatsos tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kerabatsos pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Aoki misses with an uppercut. Kerabatsos saw that one coming.
Kerabatsos thuds his right hand into Aoki's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
A right-left combo lands from Kerabatsos.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kerabatsos.
Aoki looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A head kick misses from Kerabatsos.
Aoki throws a looping overhand right but Kerabatsos ducks down to avoid it.
Kerabatsos scores with a nice head shot.
Aoki throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kerabatsos jabs Aoki right on the nose. Aoki blinks but takes it well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aoki tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kerabatsos swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Aoki tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Aoki throws out a loose jab but Kerabatsos uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kerabatsos paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Aoki connects with a jab.
Aoki misses the shot to the body.
Kerabatsos lands a nice shot to the body.
Aoki misses the jab.
Aoki misses with a two punch combination.
Kerabatsos takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Aoki throws a hook but Kerabatsos avoids it easily.
Kerabatsos fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A head kick from Kerabatsos lands but Aoki takes it in his stride.
Kerabatsos throws a head kick that misses
letting Aoki counter with a right hand.
Kerabatsos blocks a head kick by Aoki.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kerabatsos throws a right hand that Aoki ducks under and follows up with a left that Aoki also avoids with ease.
Kerabatsos gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Aoki misses with a hook
and Kerabatsos counters with a nice low kick that buckles Aoki's knee momentarily.
Kerabatsos throws a head kick that misses.
Aoki moves away from the strike by Kerabatsos.
Aoki uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kerabatsos.
Kerabatsos keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Kerabatsos ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kerabatsos lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Donald Kerabatsos is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kerabatsos steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Aoki.
Kerabatsos throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Aoki loads up on a big right hand but Kerabatsos slips the punch.
Aoki lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Kerabatsos throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kerabatsos tests Aoki's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kerabatsos tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kerabatsos misses the jab.
Aoki shoots in for a double leg but Kerabatsos sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Aoki lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Aoki throws a lazy uppercut
and Kerabatsos counters with a thumping low kick.
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!
Aoki misses with a head kick.
Kerabatsos throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kerabatsos tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Aoki tries to clinch there but Kerabatsos circles away.
Kerabatsos throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Nice shot lands for Aoki.
Aoki tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kerabatsos swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kerabatsos pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kerabatsos fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Aoki is out of range.
Kerabatsos pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kerabatsos avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kerabatsos takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Masakazu Aoki will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kerabatsos ducks under a wild hook from Aoki.
Kerabatsos on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Aoki fails with a takedown attempt.
Kerabatsos throws a wild body kick that Aoki sees coming a mile off.
A jab from Kerabatsos finds it's way through Aoki's defenses.
Kerabatsos moves away from the strike by Aoki.
Aoki lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Aoki throws a hook but Kerabatsos avoids it easily.
Kerabatsos throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Aoki throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kerabatsos sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kerabatsos is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Kerabatsos tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Aoki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Aoki missing with a left hand there. Kerabatsos was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Aoki misses with a head kick.
Aoki misses with a body kick.
Aoki just misses with a punch to the body.
Aoki throws a body punch but Kerabatsos moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kerabatsos ducks under a wild hook from Aoki.
Aoki throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kerabatsos gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Masakazu Aoki seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Aoki misses with a hook.
Aoki fails with an attempt to clinch.
Aoki looks to score with a jab to the body but Kerabatsos is just out of range.
Aoki pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Aoki checks a low kick from Kerabatsos.
Aoki shoots in for a takedown but Kerabatsos shows good takedown defense.
Aoki pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kerabatsos lands a glancing blow to the side of Aoki's head.
Kerabatsos scores with a nice strike.
Aoki avoids the head kick by Kerabatsos.
A head kick from Kerabatsos lands but Aoki takes it in his stride.
Kerabatsos tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Aoki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kerabatsos lands with a thumping leg kick.
Aoki looks to throw the jab but Kerabatsos is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kerabatsos throws a head kick but Aoki moves out of range.
Kerabatsos stuffs the takedown attempt from Aoki. Aoki gets slowly back to his feet.
Donald Kerabatsos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Masakazu Aoki.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aoki changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Kerabatsos tries a head kick but it misses.
Left hook, right uppercut from Aoki.
Aoki takes one to the side of the head.
A head kick misses from Kerabatsos.
Kerabatsos gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Aoki.
The fighters circling - Aoki throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kerabatsos throws a head kick but Aoki moves out of range.
Aoki throws a hook but Kerabatsos blocks it.
Kerabatsos ducks under a wild hook from Aoki.
Kerabatsos avoids the head kick by Aoki.
A slow jab from Aoki misses its intended target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki throws the left hand but Kerabatsos avoids the punch easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Aoki scores with a jab to the body.
Kerabatsos misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Aoki feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Aoki trying to control the position from guard on top but Kerabatsos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kerabatsos not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Aoki in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kerabatsos is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Aoki trying to control but Kerabatsos is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Aoki accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Aoki landing with the ground and pound.
Aoki loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Aoki wants to control from the top but Kerabatsos keeps moving.
Aoki preventing the sweep.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kerabatsos keeping moving, preventing Aoki from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Masakazu Aoki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Kerabatsos's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Kerabatsos doesn't manage to clinch there - Aoki circles away.
Aoki misses with a straight left.
Aoki stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Aoki throws a leg kick which misses Kerabatsos's front leg but catches the back leg as Kerabatsos tries to avoid it.
Aoki tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Aoki tries a head kick but it misses.
Kerabatsos's corner calls for a 1-2. Kerabatsos obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Aoki tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kerabatsos sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Aoki somewhat.
Kerabatsos smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Kerabatsos scores with a nice body kick.
Aoki throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Aoki misses with an attempted mid kick.
Aoki blocks a leg kick.
Nice uppercut there from Kerabatsos.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kerabatsos moves out of range of the strikes.
Kerabatsos paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
A head kick misses from Kerabatsos.
Aoki is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kerabatsos.
Kerabatsos scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kerabatsos keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Aoki wants to clinch.
Aoki connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Aoki drives through and clinches with Kerabatsos against the cage.
Aoki is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Aoki breaks from the clinch.
Aoki tries a head kick but it misses.
Aoki ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Donald Kerabatsos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kerabatsos takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A clash of legs there as Aoki blocks the low kick.
Kerabatsos throws a nice looking combination but Aoki bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kerabatsos moves out of range of the strikes.
Aoki avoids the head kick by Kerabatsos.
Kerabatsos takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Kerabatsos staying out of range there.
Masakazu Aoki is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd cheers as Aoki lands an impressive looking overhand right. Kerabatsos doesn't seem phased though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kerabatsos throws a head kick but Aoki moves out of range.
Aoki connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kerabatsos momentarily.
Aoki missing with a left hand there. Kerabatsos was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kerabatsos lands with a slapping head kick.
Aoki misses with a looping left.
Aoki throws a looping overhand right but Kerabatsos ducks down to avoid it.
Aoki slips a jab and a cross from Kerabatsos.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki thows a left - swing and a miss!
A nice inside leg kick there by Aoki. That's going to slow Kerabatsos down.
Aoki throws a lazy uppercut
and Kerabatsos counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Aoki thinking.
Kerabatsos moves out of range of the body kick from Aoki.
Aoki misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Aoki punishes Kerabatsos's body with a nice straight punch.

Aoki shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kerabatsos's guard.
Aoki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kerabatsos looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Aoki throws a big elbow that misses.
Kerabatsos will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Aoki trying to control the position from guard on top but Kerabatsos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aoki looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoki working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Aoki postures up in Kerabatsos's guard and throws a big left but Kerabatsos blocks it.
Aoki trying to control the position from guard on top but Kerabatsos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aoki not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Masakazu Aoki.
Aoki lands a nice hook to Kerabatsos's body. Kerabatsos takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aoki jabs Kerabatsos to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Aoki pulls out of a head kick attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Masakazu Aoki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Aoki has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Masakazu Aoki!
A relieved looking Masakazu Aoki thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.