PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Crazy Dog (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Masakazu Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dog comes to the cage accompanied by Zombie. Aoki is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Sandstorm by Darude. Masakazu Aoki acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Dog
vs
Aoki

180 cm
34
149 lbs
26 - 16 - 2

155 cm
40
147 lbs
33 - 19 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

HGH Nutrients Q160-Q158
Merciless Gladiators

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 26 - 16 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Crazy Dog!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Masakazu Aoki!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Thiago Cunha and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dog lands with a straight right. Aoki didn't see that one coming.

Dog closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Aoki to the mat! Aoki manages to get full guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Dog content to stall in guard here.
Dog trying to control the position from guard on top but Aoki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dog pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Aoki is keeping the position for now.
Dog wants to control from the top but Aoki keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Crazy Dog.

Aoki fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Dog to the ground. Aoki is now in Dog's guard.
Aoki trying to control but Dog is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dog manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Aoki manages to get himself to full guard.
Dog stopping the sweep attempt from Aoki.
Aoki thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dog wants to control from the top but Aoki keeps moving.
Aoki looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Dog puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Aoki tries to get to full guard but Dog has control of the leg.
Aoki blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dog.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dog is nestled in close to Aoki, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Dog trying to pass the guard but Aoki defending well.
Aoki is trying to get back to full guard.
Aoki misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Aoki tries to roll over but Dog keeps him under control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
The fighters are battling for position here. Aoki manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Aoki looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dog stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Aoki swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Aoki is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Aoki wants to improve his position but instead Dog has moved into half guard.

Dog is trying to work for a kimura but Aoki is defending well.
Aoki wants to control but Dog is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dog is keen to just control but Aoki is a slippery customer.
Dog with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Aoki looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Dog is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aoki trying to control from the bottom.
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 Crazy Dog will probably get the nod.
That's time! Dog's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Dog avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Aoki lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Dog scores with a crisp jab that stopped Aoki in his tracks.
Dog slips a straight right by Aoki.
Dog swings for the body but Aoki moves out of range.
Aoki tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Aoki is looking to score with low kicks.
Dog lands with a good body shot.
Aoki walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

It looks like Masakazu Aoki has been cut.
Aoki thows a body shot but no joy.
A big right from Aoki misses.
A head kick misses from Aoki.

Dog looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dog trying to control the position from guard on top but Aoki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dog looking to pass the guard.
Aoki has his hands on Dog's head, controlling the position.
Dog wants to control from the top but Aoki keeps moving.
Aoki is controlling Dog's posture.
Dog will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Aoki misses with a left hand
and Dog counters with a stiff right hand.
Dog swats away the attempt to clinch by Aoki.
Dog looks for a takedown but Aoki sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Dog checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Dog changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Aoki tries to avoid it but Dog manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Aoki to the ground. Aoki escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Dog moves away from the strike by Aoki.
A shot to the liver by Dog. Beautiful body shot.

Aoki drives through with a takedown into Dog's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Dog seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Dog keeping moving, preventing Aoki from controlling successfully.
Aoki is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aoki is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Aoki postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dog tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dog is working hard here to advance position.
Aoki trying to control but Dog is working from the bottom.

Dog throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Aoki missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Aoki trying to control the position from guard on top but Dog is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Dog looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Aoki trying to control but Dog is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Masakazu Aoki.
Aoki throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dog ducks under a wild hook from Aoki.
Dog shoots in looking for a takedown but Aoki manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Dog's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Crazy Dog. That's going to take a lot out of him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aoki tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dog was well out of range. Poor timing from Aoki.
Aoki is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Aoki connects with a single shot there.
Aoki shoots for a double leg takedown but Dog sprawls well. He's pushed Aoki's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Masakazu Aoki will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Masakazu Aoki's cut.
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. 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.

Dog misses with a double jab
and Aoki counters with an inside leg kick.
Dog displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Aoki throws out the jab.
Dog fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A shot to the body from Aoki misses
and Aoki takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Aoki misses with a looping left.

Aoki takes the fight into the clinch.
Dog trying to control the position but instead, Aoki has worked for underhooks and has pushed Dog into the cage.
Aoki utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Dog's elbow.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Aoki as Dog tries to tie him up.

Dog breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dog moves forwards but Aoki connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Aoki takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Aoki slips a jab from Dog.
Dog ducks right into an uppercut from Aoki.
Dog lands a two punch combo.
Aoki works Dog's body with a nice hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dog throws a hook but Aoki blocks it.
Dog connects with a looping right hand.
Aoki fails with the takedown.
Dog uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Aoki.
Aoki goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Aoki lands an overhand right.
Dog defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Aoki.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Aoki dives in and scores a takedown into Dog's guard.
Dog controls Aoki momentarily but Aoki frees himself.
Aoki tries to free his leg and advance position but Dog is retaining full guard.
Aoki is looking to work some ground and pound but Dog has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki controlling from the top position.
Aoki trying to control but Dog is working from the bottom.

Aoki got a little sloppy there for a moment and Dog has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Aoki has managed to get both his arms back between Dog's legs - danger averted.
My spies in Academia Ipanema inform me that Aoki has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Aoki trying to control the position from guard on top but Dog is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Aoki might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Dog haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Aoki postures up in Dog's guard and throws a big left but Dog blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoki advances position into side control!
Dog regains half guard there - taking advantage of Aoki's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Dog is refusing to be controlled, as Aoki sits in half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Aoki lands a nice short elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aoki looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Aoki takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Masakazu Aoki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Aoki 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Masakazu Aoki!
A very excited looking Masakazu Aoki made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
Crazy Dog spoke after the fight, saying 'I was robbed!'.