PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Taiki Aoki (ranked 434 p4p, 50 weight class) and Bas Dekkers (ranked 596 p4p, 69 weight class). Dekkers has chosen Shells - Get your roll on as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Aoki
vs
Dekkers

170 cm
39
156 lbs
33 - 15 - 2

167 cm
34
155 lbs
25 - 16 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing
Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

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 33 - 15 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Taiki Aoki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Bas Dekkers!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dekkers misses with a leg kick

and Aoki counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Aoki.
Aoki passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Aoki is looking to take a break and control but Dekkers is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ground and pound from Aoki seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Aoki misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aoki throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Aoki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dekkers keeps working.
Dekkers sneaks back into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dekkers does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Aoki is taking a breather. Dekkers says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Dekkers is not content to let Aoki control the position.
Dekkers keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Aoki not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Aoki trying to advance position but Dekkers counters by regaining guard.
Dekkers utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dekkers pulls Aoki in to control the position.
Aoki is working Dekkers over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Aoki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dekkers swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dekkers seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Dekkers keeping moving, preventing Aoki from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Aoki looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dekkers is fending him off so far but Aoki persists. Nope, Dekkers circles away and we're back to standing.
Aoki throws a leg kick that is checked
and Dekkers counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Aoki takes one to the side of the head.
Dekkers moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki misses with a straight right.
Dekkers blocks a jab.
Dekkers appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Dekkers looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Aoki drops down looking for a counter takedown but Dekkers sprawls and moves away.
Bas Dekkers is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dekkers blocks a low kick nicely.
Dekkers connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Dekkers lands a jab to Aoki's midsection.
Dekkers scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Dekkers scores with a leg kick.
Aoki tries to score a power double leg takedown but Dekkers sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Aoki somewhat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dekkers checks a low kick from Aoki.
Dekkers misses with a leg kick

and Aoki counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Dekkers!
Dekkers tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
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!
You can see the frustration on Dekkers's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Dekkers is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Aoki patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Aoki gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Aoki trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Taiki Aoki will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Dekkers lands a leg kick that knocks Aoki off balance momentarily.
Dekkers looks to score with a jab to the body but Aoki is just out of range.
Dekkers chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Aoki blocks a low kick nicely.
Dekkers takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Aoki misses with a body shot.
Aoki swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aoki throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dekkers attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Dekkers scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dekkers throws a leg kick but Aoki moved away.
Dekkers avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Aoki.
Dekkers misses with a low kick.
Bas Dekkers seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Aoki misses with a takedown
and Dekkers counters with an inside leg kick.
Aoki looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Dekkers throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Aoki misses the shot to the body.
Dekkers throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dekkers misses with a leg kick

and Aoki counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Aoki.
Aoki throwing strikes from guard but Dekkers blocks nicely.
Dekkers is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Dekkers is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Dekkers might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Aoki haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Aoki slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Aoki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dekkers keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki cracks Dekkers with a big elbow.
Dekkers tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Aoki wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Aoki tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Aoki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dekkers keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Dekkers is looking for a sweep.
Dekkers parries the strikes from Aoki easily there. Aoki is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Dekkers to escape.
Dekkers is not content to let Aoki control the position.
A lull in the action here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dekkers looks to move to half guard but instead Aoki has passed into mount! Damn!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Taiki Aoki 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. And we move into the final round!

Aoki with a lazy takedown attempt
and Dekkers counters with a low kick, right behind Aoki 's knee.
Aoki lands a jab to Dekkers's midsection.
Nice sprawl there from Dekkers as Aoki shoots in.
Dekkers thinks about the counter body kick.
A solid body kick from Dekkers.
Dekkers throws a leg kick

and Aoki counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Aoki working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Dekkers pulls Aoki in close to prevent any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dekkers keeping moving, preventing Aoki from controlling successfully.
Aoki preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dekkers not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Aoki trying to control but Dekkers is working from the bottom.
Aoki is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Dekkers looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Dekkers takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Dekkers misses with a shot to the body

and Aoki counters with a nice double leg into 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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Aoki accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Aoki pushes down on Dekkers's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Dekkers regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Aoki.
Bas Dekkers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dekkers trying to control the position here.
Dekkers preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Aoki throws a strike but Dekkers rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
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.

Dekkers is trying to get back to full guard.
Aoki trying to control from half guard but Dekkers is working away.
Taiki Aoki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Aoki is controlling the pace.
Dekkers trying to control here.
Taiki Aoki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dekkers tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Aoki is trying to control the action in half guard but Dekkers is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Aoki with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Dekkers tries to roll over but Aoki keeps him under control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Aoki is taking a breather. Dekkers says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taiki 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taiki Aoki!
Taiki Aoki decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.