PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between SHINYA AOKI (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Kawakami (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). AOKI comes to the cage accompanied by Naruto - Blue Bird. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

AOKI
vs
Kawakami

187 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
196 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Demonic Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, SHINYA AOKI!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, David Kawakami!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Hirohito Nitta and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kawakami keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

AOKI scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

AOKI goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Kawakami rolls with the submission and now he's on top in AOKI's guard! Nice work there by Kawakami!

Kawakami avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

AOKI looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Kawakami has picked AOKI up and slammed him! AOKI can't keep hold of the triangle and Kawakami manages to pass to side control!
AOKI is not content to let Kawakami control the position.
AOKI manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Kawakami looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
AOKI slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
AOKI wants to sweep here but Kawakami controlling him for the moment.
Kawakami content to stall in guard here.
Kawakami pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. AOKI is keeping the position for now.

AOKI throws his legs up looking for a submission but Kawakami uses it to pass to side control.
You can see the frustration on AOKI's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
AOKI is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kawakami moves into full mount!
AOKI is trying to reverse the position but instead Kawakami has taken his back - oops!
AOKI rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Kawakami with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Kawakami trying to control the action but AOKI is working from the bottom.
AOKI is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
AOKI on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kawakami in particular looking to stall.
AOKI is trying to stand.
Kawakami sitting and controlling from the half guard.
AOKI is looking to improve his position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kawakami lands a nice short elbow.
Kawakami landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
AOKI is refusing to be controlled, as Kawakami sits in half guard.
Kawakami not doing much here.
Ground and pound from Kawakami.
Kawakami is keen to just control but AOKI is a slippery customer.

Kawakami is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so AOKI is just riding it out for now. Kawakami eventually gives up the hold.
AOKI gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Kawakami dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kawakami misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kawakami throws a head kick that misses.
Kawakami tries to clinch up but AOKI circles away and keeps his distance.
Kawakami doesn't succeed with the takedown

and AOKI counters with a single leg into guard. Kawakami didn't expect that.
AOKI postures up.
Kawakami is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The fighters are battling for position here. AOKI manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

AOKI working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Kawakami has passed into half guard!
AOKI wants to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
AOKI taking some punishment here, with Kawakami in his half guard.
Kawakami working the head and body with strikes.

AOKI actively working from the bottom here.

Kawakami is looking for a kimura here.
AOKI is looking for a sweep. Kawakami is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
AOKI works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's two 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.
AOKI manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

AOKI is working for a guillotine from mount but Kawakami frees his head quite easily.

AOKI stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

AOKI closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - AOKI lands in his opponent's guard.

AOKI drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and AOKI jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
AOKI has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kawakami is proving hard to escape from.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
AOKI preventing the sweep.
AOKI looking to sit in guard and control but Kawakami gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kawakami accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
AOKI looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kawakami is one step ahead there.
Kawakami sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed AOKI's guard.
Kawakami prevents AOKI from improving his position.

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.
Kawakami is keen to just control but AOKI is a slippery customer.
AOKI pushes Kawakami off looking to stand but Kawakami dives back in and keeps control.
Kawakami passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for AOKI!
AOKI tries to reverse the position but Kawakami maintains control.
AOKI is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
AOKI is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

SHINYA AOKI dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! 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.

AOKI shoots in and bounces Kawakami off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

AOKI drops back, looking for a kneebar! Kawakami looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Kawakami looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Kawakami!
Kawakami lands a few punches from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
You can see the frustration on AOKI's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
AOKI is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kawakami's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
AOKI wants to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kawakami tries to pass to full mount but AOKI defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
AOKI is trying to maintain the position but Kawakami is very close to passing his half guard.

Kawakami is trying to work for a kimura but AOKI is defending well.
AOKI looks like he's trying to stand up.
AOKI wants to improve his position but Kawakami is controlling well.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kawakami misses the jab.
Kawakami throws a combination but it was largely blocked by AOKI.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kawakami tries to clinch there but AOKI circles away.
AOKI gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Kawakami counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

AOKI looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kawakami passes into half guard.
AOKI trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
AOKI is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
AOKI tries to improve his position but instead Kawakami has taken his back!
AOKI is trying to stand back up.
Kawakami is trying to stick to AOKI's back but AOKI is turning into Kawakami. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Kawakami's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by AOKI.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
AOKI trying to control but Kawakami is working from the bottom.
AOKI wants to stand but Kawakami is controlling his posture from full guard.

Kawakami escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. AOKI gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

AOKI drops back looking for a leg! Kawakami is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kawakami manages to kick AOKI off! AOKI jumps back into Kawakami's guard.
AOKI trying to control the position from guard on top but Kawakami is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four 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 stands up out of Kawakami's guard for a moment - Kawakami manages to land a nice upkick.
Kawakami trying to control the position.
AOKI wants to get up but he can't break Kawakami's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
David Kawakami has got the better of the ground game so far.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kawakami misses the shot to the body.
Kawakami scores with a spinning back kick!

Kawakami looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Kawakami uses his free foot to push down on AOKI's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for AOKI.
AOKI is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Kawakami comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kawakami has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Kawakami!