PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Greg Mitchel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mitchel
vs
Aoki

168 cm
24
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
22
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Greg Mitchel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Steven Aoki!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Jorge Garcia and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mitchel moves into the clinch.
Aoki goes for a takedown attempt but Mitchel pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Some bone on bone action there as Mitchel checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Aoki shoots and misses

and Mitchel counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Mitchel would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Aoki controls Mitchel momentarily but Mitchel frees himself.
Mitchel content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki is trying to control the position from the bottom.

We're going to have a standup here because Greg Mitchel wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Aoki misses with a takedown

and Mitchel counters with a nice double leg into side control. Aoki won't be happy with that.
Greg Mitchel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steven Aoki.
A control attempt from Aoki but he's now mounted!
Mitchel landing strikes, looking to finish!
Aoki is wriggling around trying to escape.

Mitchel looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mitchel putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mitchel lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Aoki hang on?
Mitchel content just to control the position here.
Mitchel tries to control but Aoki wriggling away.
Mitchel working the ground and pound effectively.
Aoki is squirming around, avoiding Mitchel's attempts to control the action.
Aoki can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mitchel controlling the pace for now.
Mitchel trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Aoki tries to reverse the position but Mitchel maintains control.
Mitchel can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Aoki is looking to escape.
Aoki tries to hold on but Mitchel pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoki is in a horrible position here. Mitchel smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Mitchel is working for a guillotine from mount but Aoki frees his head quite easily.
Mitchel knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Aoki on the ground.

Mitchel working for a guillotine from mount but Aoki is in no mood to give up.
Mitchel scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Aoki?
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mitchel content just to control the position here.
Aoki is just holding on here. Mitchel manages to take his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Greg Mitchel dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Aoki thows a body shot but no joy.
Aoki fails with the takedown

and Mitchel counters by clinching up.
Aoki fails to pull guard.

Mitchel pulls guard effortlessly.
Aoki has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mitchel is proving hard to escape from.

Aoki gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Mitchel closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Aoki's guard.
Aoki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mitchel is one step ahead there.

Aoki is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mitchel is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mitchel is in close to Aoki's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Aoki is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Aoki is breathing heavily.
Mitchel with a nice head shot there.
Mitchel 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.
Mitchel wanted to stand there but Aoki had control of the position.
Aoki looking to control.

Aoki is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mitchel defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mitchel lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Aoki being controlled here, momentarily.

Aoki is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Aoki is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Mitchel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Aoki swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mitchel has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Mitchel wants to control from the top but Aoki keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki keeping full guard, as Mitchel tries to pass.

Aoki looking for a guillotine here but Mitchel defends easily.
Mitchel sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Mitchel trying to stand up but can't free himself from Aoki's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Mitchel's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Greg Mitchel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Aoki keeping moving, preventing Mitchel from controlling successfully.
Mitchel tries to stand but Aoki is controlling from the bottom.
Aoki thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mitchel wants to pass the guard but Aoki is keeping the position.
Aoki is controlling Mitchel's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Greg Mitchel dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Mitchel moves out of range of the body kick.
Mitchel leaves Aoki with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Aoki shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mitchel pinned against the cage. Mitchel gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mitchel turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Aoki doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Mitchel counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Greg Mitchel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steven Aoki.
Mitchel frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Aoki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mitchel prevents Aoki from getting the reversal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mitchel landing punches.
A nice elbow there by Mitchel.
Aoki is bucking up trying to escape but Mitchel cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Aoki wants to hold on but Mitchel pushes him away.
Aoki takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Mitchel takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Mitchel in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Aoki is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mitchel dominating with strikes here.
Aoki is still in real trouble! Can Mitchel finish him?
Mitchel in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Mitchel wants to take Aoki's back here but Aoki is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Mitchel sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Aoki seems to have recovered his senses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mitchel is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Aoki can do to turn this around?
Mitchel's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Greg Mitchel.
Aoki tries for a takedown but Mitchel circles away easily

so Mitchel counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Aoki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mitchel wants to pass the guard but Aoki is keeping the position.
Mitchel stays in close to Aoki's body and controls the position.
Mitchel tries to free his leg and advance position but Aoki is retaining full guard.
Mitchel sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Greg Mitchel has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Mitchel!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Aoki looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Mitchel gets a takedown into half guard.
Aoki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mitchel content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Steven Aoki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Greg Mitchel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

And that's the end of the fight!
Greg Mitchel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mitchel has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Greg Mitchel!