|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Masakazu Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manus Grant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aoki comes to the cage accompanied by Sandstorm by Darude. Grant has chosen Thunderstruck - AC/DC as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
 |
|
 |
| 155 cm
49
147 lbs
46 - 34 - 3 |
|
170 cm
32
140 lbs
13 - 13 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Big right hand |
|
Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed |
|
| |
|
Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
46 - 34 - 3, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Masakazu Aoki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
13 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Manus Grant!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Paulo Santos and Alexandre Firmino.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aoki will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A low kick from Grant misses
and Aoki counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Aoki sizes up Grant with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
A cross from Aoki lands.
Aoki stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Grant.
Grant tries a head kick but it misses.
Aoki looks to land a right hand but Grant moved out of range.
Nice uppercut lands for Aoki. That snapped Grant's head back.
Grant steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Aoki.
Grant steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Grant swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Grant throws a head kick that Aoki semi-blocks.
Grant closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Aoki tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Grant's elbow.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Grant.
It looks like Masakazu Aoki has been cut.
Grant trying to land knees to the body.
Aoki lands a body punch.
Grant's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Grant can't find room to land a body shot as Aoki controls the action.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Grant trying to land knees to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Grant throws an elbow but misses.
Aoki has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Aoki tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Grant avoids it.
A right hook to the body lands for Aoki.
Aoki breaks from the clinch.
Grant tries to move into range but Aoki moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Grant tries to clinch there but Aoki circles away.
Aoki decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Grant avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Aoki.
Aoki seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Grant does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Aoki looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Grant moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Grant is on top in guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grant won't allow Aoki to sweep him here.
Aoki bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Grant's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Aoki stopping the sweep attempt from Grant.
Grant is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Grant pulls Aoki in close to prevent any damage.
Aoki trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Grant wants to stand up but Aoki is controlling him.
Aoki tries to free his leg and advance position but Grant is retaining full guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Grant is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Aoki missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Grant lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
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.
Grant is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Aoki is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Aoki wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Grant is now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grant tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Aoki.
Grant is looking to advance position but Aoki won't allow it.
Grant takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Grant trying to control from half guard but Aoki is working away.
Aoki tries to roll over but Grant keeps him under control.
Aoki is concentrating on defense, preventing Grant from advancing position.
Grant looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Aoki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
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 Masakazu Aoki will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Masakazu Aoki's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Grant lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Aoki jabs Grant right on the nose. Grant blinks but takes it well.
Grant takes one to the chin there.
Aoki tries to clinch up but Grant circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice defenses there by Grant.
Aoki throws a hook but Grant avoids it easily.
Aoki swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Grant misses with a body kick.
Grant doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Grant scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Aoki takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Grant pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Grant connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Aoki tries to bum rush Grant with a series of wild strikes but Grant uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Grant tries to clinch up.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Grant, as that shot connected.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Aoki takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Manus Grant seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aoki keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Grant throws a nice head kick!
That's one minute gone in the round.
Grant lands a nice looking body shot.
Aoki lands a head shot.
Grant misses with a wild body shot.
Aoki throws a nice outside leg kick.
Grant thows a leg kick but Aoki checks it
and Aoki counters with a nice body shot.
Aoki works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Grant looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Aoki connects with a single shot there.
Aoki is looking to clinch but Grant is avoiding it.
Aoki walks into a stiff left hand from Grant.
Aoki uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Grant.
Grant scores with a sloppy right hand. Aoki should have avoided that one.
A good leg kick by Grant.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aoki takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Grant swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Grant fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Aoki manages to avoid it.
Grant throws a good cross that connects.
A big left from Aoki misses.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grant just misses with a punch to the body.
Aoki keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Grant avoids the head kick by Aoki.
Grant was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Aoki looks to throw the jab but Grant is out of range.
Aoki throws a poor cross that misses
and Grant counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Aoki misses with a leg kick.
Grant is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Grant tries to clinch but Aoki moves out of range.
A big right from Aoki misses.
Aoki checks a leg kick nicely.
Grant throws a body punch but Aoki moves out of range.
Grant is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Aoki rather than just go for the knockout.
Aoki throws a big shot that misses.
Grant throws a body kick that misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Aoki is defended easily by Grant.
Aoki misses with a jab to the body
and Grant counters with a lovely shot to the body.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body kick from Grant.
Aoki fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Grant to the ground. Aoki is now in Grant's guard.
The fighters are working up against the cage. Grant manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Grant tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Aoki's elbow.
Grant stalls.
Grant will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Aoki up against the cage.
Aoki is looking for a takedown.
Aoki escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Grant lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Aoki throws a leg kick but Grant checks it.
Grant doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A big left from Grant misses.
Grant bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoki misses with a low kick.
Aoki takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Grant misses with a body shot
and Aoki counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Aoki throws a lazy right hand but Grant sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Aoki takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Grant changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Grant connects with a body shot.
Grant has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Grant misses with a body shot.
Grant misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Aoki.
Grant works Aoki's body with a nice hook.
Grant throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
That kick from Grant tenderised Aoki's leg. Aoki is trying to keep his angry face on.
Grant throws a head kick but Aoki moves out of range.
It looked like Aoki was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Grant.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aoki tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Grant paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Grant has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Aoki pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A nice side step and Grant releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Grant ducks under a wild hook from Aoki.
Grant ducks under a wild hook from Aoki.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Manus Grant showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Masakazu Aoki's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! 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.
Grant cracks Aoki with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Aoki lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Aoki missing with a left hand there. Grant was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Grant lands a head kick. Aoki smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Grant moves out of range as Aoki strikes.
Grant counters with a body kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Aoki.
Grant delivers a nice body kick.
Nice jab there from Aoki.
Aoki turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Aoki moves into the clinch.
Grant breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Aoki shoots in and bounces Grant off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Aoki wants to control from the top but Grant keeps moving.
Aoki controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Aoki trying to control the position from guard on top but Grant is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aoki makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Grant wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are working up against the cage. Grant manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Grant gets through Aoki's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Aoki keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Grant's efforts to push away.
The referee is keeping an eye on Aoki - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grant avoiding damage as Aoki throws knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Grant just misses with a elbow thrown towards Aoki's brow.
Grant looking to slow down the pace here.
Grant is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Grant struggles to land a body shot inside as Aoki controls his hands.
Grant misses with a knee strike.
Aoki misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Grant taking a breather.
Grant escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grant fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Aoki manages to avoid it.
Aoki closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Grant to the mat! Grant manages to get full guard.
Aoki in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Aoki trying to control the position from guard on top but Grant is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aoki looking to sit in guard and control but Grant gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Grant content to stall in guard here.
Grant looking to pass the guard.
Aoki is working an open guard so Grant takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoki gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Grant lands a right hand.
Grant tries to break the clinch but Aoki is controlling the position.
Aoki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Aoki lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Grant throws a leg kick which misses Aoki's front leg but catches the back leg as Aoki tries to avoid it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Grant scores with a shot to the body.
Grant uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Aoki.
Grant throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Aoki pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Manus Grant seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Aoki ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Grant moves away.
Aoki dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Grant. That did some damage!
Grant lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Grant tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Aoki swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Grant throws a head kick but Aoki moves out of range.
Aoki cracks Grant with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Manus Grant.
Well Grant 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by split decision... Manus Grant!
A very excited looking Manus Grant 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
62% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
