PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Loki Aoki (ranked 1523 p4p, 178 weight class) and Goban Declan (ranked 1549 p4p, 181 weight class). Aoki comes to the cage accompanied by KAANCEPTS. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Aoki
vs
Declan

182 cm
27
195 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

187 cm
33
190 lbs
19 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Sin City Allstars

Arcticus University: London

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Loki Aoki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Goban Declan!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Steve Smith and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Declan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Aoki blocks the body kick.
Aoki throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Aoki's corner calls for a 1-2. Aoki obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Aoki misses with a straight right.
Declan flicks out a counter leg kick but Aoki steps away.
Declan lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Aoki lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Declan circles away quickly and effectively.
Aoki swinging wildly here.
Declan swings for the body but Aoki moves out of range.
Declan throws a leg kick but Aoki moved away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aoki missing with a left hand there. Declan was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Declan walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Aoki jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Declan throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Declan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Aoki swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki tries to move into range but Declan moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Aoki looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Declan throws a sloppy body shot
and Aoki counters with a stiff right hand.
Declan throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Declan with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A head kick by Aoki misses
and Declan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Declan lands a right hook to the body.
Aoki throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Aoki throws a right and a left that Declan avoids nicely.
Aoki throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Declan connects with a body shot that sends Aoki's belly button to the back.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Aoki avoids a kick to the body.
Aoki swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Declan throws a looping overhand right but Aoki ducks down to avoid it.
Declan feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Aokis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Aoki checks the leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki slips under a jab.
A counter left hand to the body from Aoki misses its target.
Declan throws a hook but Aoki avoids it easily.
Declan lands a nice leg kick that just misses Aoki's sensitive parts.
Aoki takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Declan dodges the punch combination from Aoki.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Declan! But no joy.
Aoki steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Declan.
Declan connects with a body shot.
Declan moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Declan scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Aoki looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Aoki moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Aoki, as that shot connected.
Nice shot by Aoki.
Aoki gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Aoki looks to land a right hand but Declan moved out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Declan works the jab nicely.
Aoki misses with the body kick
and Declan counters with a series of strikes. Aoki will be more careful next time no doubt.
Declan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Aoki misses with a wild body shot.
Declan tries to move into range but Aoki moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Aoki steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Declan.
Declan looks to throw the jab but Aoki is out of range.
Aoki is looking for a counter combo.
A slapping leg kick lands for Declan.
Aoki throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Declan misses with a low kick.
Aoki throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Aoki misses with a low kick.
A little jabbing left from Declan on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Declan scores with a leg kick.
Declan misses with a left hand
and Aoki counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Declan scoring well with a low kick there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoki throws a sloppy head kick and Declan moves out of range easily.
Declan misses with a straight left.
Declan throws an overhand right that lands on Aoki's shoulder, as Aoki tries to avoid the shot.
Declan shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Declan lands a nice looking body kick.
Aoki throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Declan jabs Aoki to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Aoki misses with a kick to the body
and Declan counters with a good low kick that Aoki was not able to check.
Declan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Declan waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Aoki.
Aoki ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Declan throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Aoki on the side of the head.
Declan goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Declan looks to land a right hand but Aoki moved out of range.
It looked like Aoki was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Declan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Goban Declan dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Aoki misses the jab.
Declan feints a counter leg kick.
Aoki slips a straight right by Declan.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Aoki might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Aoki throws a sloppy head kick and Declan moves out of range easily.
Aoki throws an overhand right that lands on Declan's shoulder, as Declan tries to avoid the shot.
A lazy left from Declan finds it's target.
Declan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Aoki was well out of range. Poor timing from Declan.
Declan misses with a right hand
and Aoki counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Declan throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Good shot there by Declan.
Declan goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick misses from Aoki.
Declan moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Declan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Aoki moves away.
Jab from Declan.
Declan throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Aoki counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Aoki.
Declan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Declan throws a nice head kick!
A telegraphed right hand from Aoki misses the target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Declan. Aoki does a little dance to reset his feet.
A jab from Declan finds it's way through Aoki's defenses.
Declan takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Declan moves away from the strike by Aoki.
Declan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Aoki was well out of range. Poor timing from Declan.
Declan connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Aoki momentarily.
Aoki looks for the body kick but Declan saw that one coming.
Declan moves out of range of the strikes.
An inside leg kick lands from Declan.
A clash of legs there as Aoki blocks the low kick.
Aoki misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Declan ducks right into an uppercut from Aoki.
Declan throws a chopping leg kick but Aoki manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Aoki lands with a kick to the temple. Declan shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Declan - that will leave a mark!
Aoki misses with a right hand
and Declan counters with a body kick.
Loki Aoki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A nice inside leg kick there by Declan. That's going to slow Aoki down.
Declan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Aoki circles away quickly and effectively.
Aoki misses the shot to the body.
A nice side step and Declan releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Declan avoids a punch combination nicely.
Declan defending well as Aoki loads up on a big left hand.
Declan throws a body kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki lands a right hook to the body.
A shot to the body from Aoki misses
and Declan counters with a nice body shot.
Declan throws out a leg kick but Aoki moves out of range and Declan only half commits.
Declan doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Declan scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Aoki doesn't seem bothered though.
Goban Declan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aoki scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Declan blocks a head kick by Aoki.
Declan fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Aoki has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Aoki is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Declan scores with a hook to the body. Aoki takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Declan misses with a body kick.
Declan lands a jab to Aoki's midsection.
Declan paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Declan is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Declan darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Declan with a hook.
Declan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Aoki takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Goban Declan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Declan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Declan does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Declan smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Declan pivots, looking for a leg kick but Aoki is out of range and Declan settles back down.
A looping hook to the body misses from Aoki. Declan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Declan lands a slapping body shot.
Aoki throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Aoki checks a leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Declan.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Declan pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Goban Declan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Declan misses with a body shot.
A little feinted left hand from Aoki on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Declan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Declan misses with a body kick.
Aoki connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Declan showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Aoki.
A looping hook to the body misses from Declan. Aoki does a little dance to reset his feet.
Declan lands a nice hook to Aoki's body. Aoki takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Aoki is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Declan feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Aoki's calf.
Declan scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aoki on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Aoki checks a low kick from Declan.
Declan just misses with a punch to the body.
Declan cracks the inside of Aoki's front leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Declan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Aoki fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Declan manages to avoid it.
It seemed like Declan was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Declan misses with a low kick as Aoki jumps back.
Declan fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Aoki on the side of the head.
Declan lands with a shot to the body.
Aoki lands with a good body shot.
Aoki misses with the combination.
Aoki pivots, looking for a leg kick but Declan is out of range and Aoki settles back down.
Aoki moves out of range of the strikes.
It looked like Aoki wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A good leg kick by Declan.
Aoki ducks under a wild hook from Declan.
Aoki quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Aoki falls off balance throwing a combination
and Declan counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Declan avoids the head kick by Aoki.
Aoki looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Declan connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Declan lands with a straight right. Aoki didn't see that one coming.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A combination from Aoki does no damage.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Declan! But no joy.
Declan throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Aoki connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Declan misses with a looping left.
Declan tests Aoki's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Declan looks to score with a jab to the body but Aoki is just out of range.
Aoki appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Aoki fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Declan looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Declan ducks under a wild hook from Aoki.
Declan cracks a nice hook into Aoki's ribs.
Declan fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Aoki.
Declan lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Declan thuds a left hand into Aoki's body.
Declan explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Declan throws a head kick that half lands.
Declan throws out a loose jab but Aoki uses good head movement to avoid it.
A good leg kick by Declan.
Declan connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Goban Declan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Declan misses with a head kick.
Aoki on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Aoki throws a series of punches but Declan avoids them all with ease.
Declan misses with a wild body shot.
Aoki blocks the body kick.
Declan keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Aoki.
Aoki keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Declan connects with a body shot.
Declan lands with a straight right. Aoki didn't see that one coming.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Declan takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Aoki ducks under a wild hook from Declan.
Aoki misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Declan to counter with a crisp jab.
Declan misses with a jab to the body
and Aoki counters with a left and a right that stings Declan.
Declan is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Aoki.
Aoki uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Declan.
Aoki thinks about countering with a body kick.
Aoki takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Aoki ducks under a wild hook from Declan.
Declan goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Declan throws a nice inside leg kick.
Loki Aoki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Declan misses with an attempted mid kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Goban Declan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Declan 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Goban Declan!
In his post fight interview, Goban Declan started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.