PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Haise Aoki (ranked 4249 p4p, 4378 weight class) and Kass Drago (ranked 512 p4p, 518 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.

Aoki
vs
Drago

182 cm
18
170
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
178
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Haise Aoki!
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, Kass Drago!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drago shoots for a double leg takedown but Aoki sprawls well. He's pushed Drago's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Aoki looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Drago shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Aoki but Aoki pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Drago blocks a head kick by Aoki.

Drago decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Drago is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Aoki sees it coming and defends easily.
Drago is keen to just control but Aoki is a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aoki slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Drago trying to control but Aoki is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Drago is looking to advance position but Aoki has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Drago is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Drago is looking to escape.
Drago can't escape the position.
Drago tries to hold on but Aoki postures up.
Drago working to try and regain half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Drago can do anything to dispel that myth.
Drago is squirming around, avoiding Aoki's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drago can't escape the position.
Drago wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Drago is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Aoki off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Drago just trying to survive but Aoki is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Drago 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.

Drago is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drago wants to control his opponent's hands but Aoki gets his hands free.
Aoki is hanging on to Drago's back as he tries to escape.
Aoki trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Drago trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Haise Aoki dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Drago.

Drago gets a clinch.
Drago works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Drago blocks an elbow strike.

Drago breaks the clinch.
Drago scores with a nice right hand.

It looks like Haise Aoki has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drago misses with a takedown attempt - Aoki sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Drago throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Drago misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Aoki is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Drago can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.

Drago takes the fight into the clinch.
Drago tries to pull guard but Aoki forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Haise Aoki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kass Drago.
Drago is looking to take this one to the mat.

Aoki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Aoki stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Aoki wants it to stay on the feet.
Aoki with a poor takedown

and Drago counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Drago.

Drago's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Haise Aoki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Drago closes the distance and pushes Aoki back into the cage.
Drago drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Aoki gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Drago is looking for a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drago changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Aoki fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Drago darts in and clinches Aoki up against the cage.
Aoki has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Drago is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Drago is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Aoki is defending well.
The referee is keeping an eye on Drago - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Drago pulls guard successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drago is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Aoki trying to control the position from guard on top but Drago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Drago wants to sweep but no luck.
Drago keeping full guard, as Aoki tries to pass.
Aoki postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Aoki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Drago wants to stand up but Aoki is controlling him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Drago is trying hard to land a takedown here. Aoki sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Drago has a takedown stuffed.
Aoki misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Aoki tries to keep at a distance but Drago has taken the fight into the clinch.

Drago breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Drago fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Aoki, pushing him back against the cage.
Drago fails to pull the fight into his guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kass Drago showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Haise Aoki's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Drago fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Aoki shoots and misses
and Drago counters with a right hand to the body.

Drago clinches up against the cage.
Drago is looking for a takedown.

Drago successfully pulls guard.
Aoki tries to free his leg and advance position but Drago is retaining full guard.
Drago looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drago is trying to keep Aoki in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Aoki wants to control from the top but Drago keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Drago had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Aoki defends it easily.
Aoki throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Drago works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Drago has control of Aoki's left arm, preventing Aoki from doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A chopping leg kick lands by Drago.
Drago shoots for a double leg takedown but Aoki sprawls well. He's pushed Drago's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Haise Aoki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kass Drago.

That's two 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.
Drago looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Aoki shoots in and drives through. Drago sprawls well.
Aoki takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
As Drago tries to get set, Aoki tries to push him back and clinch up but Drago manages to avoid the attempt.
Drago plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Drago moves into the clinch.
Aoki has Drago pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Drago manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Drago breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Drago shoots in looking for a takedown. Aoki tries to sprawl out of it but Drago keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Aoki manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Drago instigates a clinch.

Aoki jumps into guard, dragging Drago to the mat.
Aoki has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Drago has passed into side control.
Drago tries to advance to mount but can't.
Aoki wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Drago tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Drago has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Drago is looking to take a break and control but Aoki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Aoki is looking to regain half guard here but Drago keeps moving and retains side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Drago throws a strike aimed at the side of Aoki's head but Aoki avoids it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kass Drago comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Drago has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kass Drago!