PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Taiki Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Larusso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Larusso is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Glory of love. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Daniel Larusso enters the cage!

Aoki
vs
Larusso

170 cm
27
155 lbs
17 - 8 - 0

170 cm
23
140 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)
KAISER Nutrition (160!/220$)

GREEN!160
SP Ultimate Nutrition

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 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Taiki Aoki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Daniel Larusso!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Larusso looks to land a left hand but Aoki moved out of range nicely.
Aoki connects with a body shot.
Aoki throws a body shot but no joy.
Larusso throws a chopping leg kick but Aoki manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Larusso misses with a low kick.
Larusso buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Larusso scores with a jab to the body.
Larusso takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Larusso connects with an inside leg kick.

Larusso gets caught napping as Aoki dives in and scores a takedown. Larusso manages to retain guard.
Larusso wants to sweep here but Aoki controlling him for the moment.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Larusso keeping moving, preventing Aoki from controlling successfully.
Larusso wants to get back to his feet but Aoki is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki wants to control from the top but Larusso keeps moving.
Aoki postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Aoki makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Aoki throws a big right hand that misses.
Aoki with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Aoki is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Aoki with a nice head shot there.
Aoki postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Aoki with a flurry of punches that miss.
Larusso preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Larusso holds on and takes a little breather.
Aoki throws a big right hand that misses.
Aoki postures up and lands a big shot to Larusso's brow.

Aoki drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Larusso manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Aoki has Larusso in his guard.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Aoki looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Larusso stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Larusso pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Larusso. Aoki does a little dance to reset his feet.
Larusso sizes up Aoki with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Aoki avoids the head kick by Larusso.
Larusso chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Daniel Larusso is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Aoki takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Aoki closes this distance looking for a takedown but Larusso circles away.
Larusso swings for the body but Aoki moves out of range.
Larusso pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Larusso.
Larusso goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Aoki checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Larusso takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Aoki takes a swing at Larusso's ribcage but misses.
Aoki misses with a body shot.
Aoki doesn't manage to clinch there - Larusso circles away.
A shot to the liver by Larusso. Beautiful body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Larusso motions for Aoki to come forward. Larusso throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Larusso misses with a hook. Aoki ducked under it nicely.
Larusso misses with an uppercut. Aoki saw that one coming.
Larusso tries to work over Aoki's front leg with a kick but Aoki checks it.
Larusso on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Daniel Larusso will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Larusso looks for the body kick but Aoki saw that one coming.
Aoki shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Larusso but Larusso pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Larusso uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Aoki.
Larusso misses the jab.
Aoki appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Larusso scores with a spinning back kick!
Aoki fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Larusso manages to avoid it.
Aoki bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Larusso's head.
Aoki darts in looking for a takedown but Larusso gets double underhooks and turns Aoki into the cage.
Larusso is trying to counter with his kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larusso misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Larusso looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Daniel Larusso seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Larusso, right into the meat.
A chopping leg kick lands by Larusso.
Aoki checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Aoki attempts a counter takedown but Larusso avoids it well and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larusso circles away from the clinch attempt.
Larusso stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Larusso wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Taiki Aoki. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Larusso sets himself and throws a head kick that knocks Aoki to the ground! Larusso dives into full mount looking to finish!

Aoki is rocked!
Larusso trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Oh Aoki is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aoki seems to have got his legs back now.
Aoki can't escape the position.
Aoki manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Larusso tries to stand and escape but Aoki actually recovers to full guard.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Larusso tries to stand but Aoki is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Aoki is looking for a triangle but Larusso pushes his legs off easily.
Larusso trying to control but Aoki is working from the bottom.
Aoki wants to sweep but no luck.
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 throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Aoki slips a nice elbow through Larusso's hands, connecting with Larusso's forehead.
Aoki looks to land a strike but Larusso avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki throws a big elbow that misses.

Larusso pushes Aoki off and scrambles back to his feet.
Aoki throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Larusso misses with a body shot.
Aoki fails in his attempt to clinch.
Larusso throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Aoki tries to counter with a takedown but Larusso is quick to defend against it.
Larusso tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Aoki attempts a counter takedown but Larusso avoids it well and moves away.
Larusso thows a leg kick but Aoki checks it

and Aoki counters with a nice double leg into side control. Larusso won't be happy with that.
Aoki misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Larusso is trying to improve his position.
Larusso felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Aoki tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Aoki has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Aoki has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Aoki thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Aoki creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Larusso sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Aoki misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Aoki throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Larusso is not content to let Aoki control the position.
Aoki scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Larusso to see if he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Aoki slips under a jab from Larusso.
Aoki drops down looking for a counter takedown but Larusso sprawls and moves away.
Larusso cracks Aoki with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Daniel Larusso seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aoki closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Larusso listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Larusso lands a leg kick that knocks Aoki off balance momentarily.
A combination from Larusso does no damage.
Larusso looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Larusso - that will leave a mark!
Aoki moves out of range of the body kick.
A big left from Larusso misses.
Nice straight punches there by Larusso. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Larusso.
Aoki lunges at Larusso with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Larusso's hand.
Aoki is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Larusso thows a leg kick but Aoki checks it

and Aoki counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki won't allow Larusso to sweep him here.
Aoki working some strikes from top position.
Larusso trying to control the position.
Aoki postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Aoki throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Larusso works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Aoki throws a big elbow that misses.
Aoki throws an elbow that misses. Larusso uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Aoki's guard. Nice move by Larusso!

Taiki Aoki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Larusso trying to control the position from guard on top but Aoki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aoki manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Larusso manages to get himself to full guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki landing some decent shots from guard.
Larusso wants to get back to his feet but Aoki is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Larusso is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Aoki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Larusso is keeping the position for now.
Taiki Aoki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aoki throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Larusso works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Larusso wants to get back to his feet but Aoki is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Larusso works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Aoki throws a big elbow that misses.
Aoki preventing the sweep.
Larusso keeping full guard, as Aoki tries to pass.
Larusso can't keep his opponent in guard - Aoki advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aoki thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Aoki throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Larusso blocking the ground and pound attempt from Aoki.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Good standup being displayed there by Larusso as he connects with a hook.
Aoki moves out of range as Larusso throws a body kick.
Aoki on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Aoki throws a right and a left that both miss.
Larusso bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Larusso misses with a looping left.
Aoki shoots in for a takedown but Larusso shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Larusso does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Aoki feinted with a counter takedown.
Daniel Larusso is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Aoki is looking to wear down Larusso with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Aoki throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Larusso is looking to land body kicks.
Larusso lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel Larusso comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Larusso winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Larusso!
Daniel Larusso very nearly forgot to thank VIRAL COMBAT amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.