PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Masakazu Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bobby Blimm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aoki comes to the cage accompanied by Sandstorm by Darude. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Aoki
vs
Blimm

155 cm
38
147 lbs
30 - 16 - 1

150 cm
30
145 lbs
15 - 14 - 2

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
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 30 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Masakazu Aoki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 14 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bobby Blimm!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Paulo Santos and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aoki works the jab nicely.
Aoki with a hook.
Blimm tries to bum rush Aoki with a series of wild strikes but Aoki uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A punch combination from Aoki misses.

Aoki scores with a takedown into Blimm's guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Blimm wants to stand but Aoki is controlling the position.
Aoki seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Blimm is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Blimm is looking to take a break and control but Aoki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Blimm seems to be looking for submissions.
Blimm is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Aoki!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blimm is working for a guillotine from mount but Aoki frees his head quite easily.

Blimm is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Aoki has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Aoki!
Aoki 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.
Aoki being controlled here momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blimm keeping moving, preventing Aoki from controlling successfully.
Aoki is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Aoki is pushing down on Blimm's leg trying to pass to half guard. Blimm is fighting to maintain full guard but Aoki has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Blimm!
Aoki controlling his opponent.
Blimm is in a horrible position here. Aoki smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Blimm tries to hold on but Aoki pushes him away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Aoki lands a nice shot to the head.
Blimm is working to get back to half guard.
Aoki controlling from the full mount.
Blimm is desperately trying to improve his position but Aoki has a good base and remains in mount.
Blimm is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Aoki raining down hammerfists from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki raining down hammerfists from mount.
Blimm is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aoki tries to control but Blimm wriggling away.
Aoki sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Blimm in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Aoki looking to control and managing it successfully.
Blimm wants to hold on but Aoki pushes him away.
Aoki postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Blimm looks a forlorn figure.

Blimm is rocked!
Blimm is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blimm gets back to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aoki is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Blimm is trying to stand up here but Aoki is controlling him well.
Aoki sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Aoki is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Blimm!
Blimm is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Aoki controlling from mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Blimm tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Masakazu Aoki dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Blimm tries to land a front kick but Aoki steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A big left from Aoki misses.
Aoki throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Blimm.
Blimm throws a nice looking combination but Aoki bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Blimm misses with a two punch combination.

Aoki closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Blimm did well to prevent Aoki getting side control.
Blimm is not content to let Aoki control the position.
Aoki performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Blimm trying to control but Aoki postures up.
Aoki is keen to just control but Blimm is a slippery customer.
Aoki trying to control the pace.

Masakazu Aoki has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Aoki avoids the head kick by Blimm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good work by Aoki as he checks the leg kick.

Blimm 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.
Aoki is trying to keep Blimm in close.
Aoki keeping full guard, as Blimm tries to pass.
Blimm is looking to pass into half guard but Aoki pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Aoki is in guard.
Aoki controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Aoki trying to control the position from guard on top but Blimm is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aoki postures up.
Blimm looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Aoki postures up.
Aoki won't allow Blimm to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Bobby Blimm was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Blimm pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Blimm tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Blimm swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Aoki counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aoki showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Blimm.
Blimm is breathing heavily.
Aoki takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
No luck for Aoki with that takedown attempt.
Aoki keeps Blimm at a distance using the push kick.
Aoki moves out of range of the leg kick from Blimm.
Bobby Blimm is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Aoki pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Aoki throws a leg kick which misses Blimm's front leg but catches the back leg as Blimm tries to avoid it.

Aoki gets a takedown into half guard.
Aoki prevents Blimm from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki trying to control the action but Blimm is working from the bottom.
Aoki trying to mount his opponent but Blimm defends it.
Aoki prevents Blimm from improving his position.
Aoki sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Blimm defending well though.
Aoki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Blimm keeps working.
Blimm is looking for a sweep. Aoki is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Aoki seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Blimm tries to roll over but Aoki keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blimm is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
No joy there for Blimm, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Blimm throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Blimm moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Aoki throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A head kick misses from Aoki.
Aoki throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Blimm stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Aoki scores with a nice right hand.
Aoki cracks Blimm with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aoki fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Blimm avoids it really well and circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aoki fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Masakazu Aoki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blimm takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Masakazu Aoki dominated that second round.
That's time! Aoki's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Blimm looks to land a combination but Aoki avoids it well.
Aoki connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Blimm misses with a few strikes there.
Blimm moves forwards but Aoki connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Blimm shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Masakazu Aoki is winning the standup battle so far.
Blimm throws a leg kick
and Aoki counters with a slapping leg kick.
Aoki throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Blimm's head.
Aoki connects with a crisp jab.
Blimm looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Blimm throws a half hearted mid kick.
Aoki fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Blimm has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Aoki moves out of range of the body kick from Blimm.
Aoki misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Aoki catches Blimm with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Aoki thows a body kick. Blimm tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Aoki misses with a takedown attempt - Blimm sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aoki drives through and clinches with Blimm against the cage.
Blimm tries to land knees in the clinch but Aoki avoids the damage to the body.
Blimm tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Blimm can't break the clinch.
Aoki is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Masakazu Aoki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blimm creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Aoki's defenses.

It looks like Masakazu Aoki has been cut.
Blimm missing with knees to the body.
Aoki using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Blimm has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Aoki breaks from the clinch.
Aoki lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
A lazy left from Aoki finds it's target.
Aoki throws a big shot that misses.
Blimm misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blimm throws a right and a left that Aoki avoids nicely.
Aoki moves out of range as Blimm throws a body kick.
Aoki connects with a body shot.
A solid body kick from Blimm.

Aoki drives through with a takedown into Blimm's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
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!
Blimm looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Masakazu Aoki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Blimm takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Aoki is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Aoki passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Aoki is looking to take a break and control but Blimm is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Aoki lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Blimm down.
Blimm is trying to control Aoki's posture but Aoki avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blimm is pushing Aoki's head away, looking to escape. Aoki manages to hold on to the position though.
Blimm controls the position for a moment.
Aoki landing strikes.
Blimm is looking to regain half guard here but Aoki keeps moving and retains side control.
Aoki is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Aoki landing strikes.
Bobby Blimm has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blimm dodges the ground and pound from Aoki.
Aoki is looking to take a break and control but Blimm is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Aoki lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Blimm down.
Aoki scoring with punches and elbows.
Aoki trying to control the action but Blimm is working from the bottom.
Blimm tries to bench press Aoki off him but Aoki keeps the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aoki staying calm.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

And that's the end of the fight!
Masakazu Aoki showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Aoki, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Masakazu Aoki!
During a confident post fight interview, Masakazu Aoki thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.