PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jax Aoqe (ranked 4414 p4p, 4959 weight class) and Cannon Hinnant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Aoqe
vs
Hinnant

178 cm
21
160
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
155
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jax Aoqe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cannon Hinnant!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Wesley Smith and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hinnant tries to score a power double leg takedown but Aoqe sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hinnant somewhat.
Aoqe stuffs the takedown attempt from Hinnant. Hinnant gets slowly back to his feet.
Hinnant punishes Aoqe's body with a nice straight punch.
Hinnant avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hinnant shoots in and drives through. Aoqe sprawls well.
Jax Aoqe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cannon Hinnant.
Hinnant fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Aoqe has closed the distance and engaged Hinnant in a clinch.
Aoqe effectively controlling the action here.
Hinnant prevents Aoqe from breaking the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hinnant is trying to drag Aoqe to the mat but Aoqe just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Hinnant has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Aoqe avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hinnant drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Aoqe ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Aoqe no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Aoqe manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Aoqe manages to pull guard.
Hinnant won't allow Aoqe to sweep him here.
Aoqe has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Aoqe manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Hinnant is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Aoqe gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Aoqe is trying to break free.

Aoqe pulls guard.

Aoqe working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hinnant doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hinnant manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hinnant accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hinnant postures up in Aoqe's guard and throws a big left but Aoqe blocks it.
Hinnant throws a big elbow that misses.
My spies in Cozad MMA Las Vegas inform me that Hinnant has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Hinnant throws a big elbow that misses.
Hinnant throws an elbow that misses. Aoqe uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hinnant's guard. Nice move by Aoqe!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoqe content to stall in guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hinnant looking for a guillotine here but Aoqe defends easily.
Hinnant looks winded!
Aoqe pushes down on Hinnant's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Aoqe moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Hinnant.

Aoqe is trying to get an arm triangle but Hinnant is defending well.
Aoqe gets to mount! Hinnant was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoqe looking to finish with strikes here!
Hinnant is trying to escape the mount.
Aoqe looking to control and managing it successfully.
Hinnant is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Aoqe wants to finish this one by submission but Hinnant is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Aoqe.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aoqe controlling his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jax Aoqe dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hinnant shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Aoqe but Aoqe pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Aoqe tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Hinnant manages to circle out of the way.
A clash of legs there as Hinnant blocks the low kick.

Aoqe rushes Hinnant and presses him up against the cage.
Aoqe is trying to push Hinnant away but Hinnant has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Aoqe jumps into guard, dragging Hinnant to the mat.
Hinnant postures up in Aoqe's guard and throws a big left but Aoqe blocks it.
Hinnant is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Aoqe working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hinnant.
Aoqe is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hinnant can do to turn this around?
Hinnant throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Aoqe works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Aoqe trying to control the position here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aoqe is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Still in half guard, Aoqe seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoqe passes to full mount!
Hinnant flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Aoqe thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Hinnant tries to improve his position but instead Aoqe has taken his back!

Hinnant is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Aoqe gets his way!

Aoqe tightening his grip on Hinnant, looking for the choke.
Aoqe misses with a punch to the head.
Hinnant tries to roll but Aoqe sticks to his back.
Aoqe misses with punches from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoqe has the hooks in. Hinnant is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Hinnant covering up well and avoiding damage.
You can see the frustration on Hinnant's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Hinnant is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hinnant is breathing heavily.
Aoqe is riding his opponent, not letting Hinnant buck him off.
Hinnant can't escape the position.
Aoqe somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Hinnant tries to roll but Aoqe sticks to his back.
What can Hinnant do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoqe scores with punches to the body.
Aoqe is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

Aoqe is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Aoqe looking for the choke from the back.
Hinnant is trying to remain composed but Aoqe is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Aoqe has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Hinnant's body.
Aoqe is looking to control Hinnant but Hinnant is wriggling around and keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoqe controlling well, preventing Hinnant from escaping the position.
Hinnant tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Hinnant is trying to escape the mount.
Hinnant is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Hinnant avoids a series of strikes thrown by Aoqe.
Aoqe unloads with some shots from mount but Hinnant bucks and avoids them well.

Aoqe wants to finish this one by submission but Hinnant is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Aoqe.
Hinnant swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aoqe landing strikes, looking to finish!
Hinnant is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hinnant looks very frustrated and is flailing away with strikes from the bottom. His corner are telling him to stay calm.
Hinnant flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Horrible takedown attempt by Hinnant or perhaps it was just good defense by Aoqe, which made it look bad.
Aoqe pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Aoqe throws a leg kick that misses.

Aoqe darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Aoqe is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Aoqe moves into side control, avoiding the strikes from Hinnant.

Aoqe looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hinnant throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Hinnant misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoqe lands a few punches from side control.
Hinnant manages to work his way to half guard, despite Aoqe's best efforts.
Aoqe blocks the strikes from Hinnant.
Aoqe is taking a breather. Hinnant says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Hinnant is defending against the submission attempts here by Aoqe.
Hinnant punching from the bottom.

Hinnant is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Aoqe pulls his head out easily.

Aoqe seems to be working for a kimura but Hinnant defends the submission attempt.
Aoqe is looking to advance position but Hinnant won't allow it.
Jax Aoqe overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Aoqe wants to take a breather but Hinnant is having none of it.

Hinnant looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Aoqe keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Hinnant looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Aoqe in particular looking to stall.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Aoqe stalks Hinnant and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Hinnant's face. Hinnant staggers backwards, shaken.

Hinnant gets tackled into the cage by Aoqe. Aoqe maintains the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hinnant has Aoqe pressed against the cage, preventing Aoqe from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hinnant drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Aoqe jumps into guard, dragging Hinnant to the mat.
Hinnant postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Aoqe looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hinnant is one step ahead there.
Aoqe utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hinnant working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cannon Hinnant has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four 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.
Aoqe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Aoqe working for a triangle but Hinnant defends it easily.
Aoqe working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hinnant.
Aoqe working a defensive guard here.
Hinnant working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Aoqe's head.
Hinnant working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hinnant postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Aoqe controlling Hinnant's posture.
Jax Aoqe is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hinnant preventing the sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jax Aoqe showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Aoqe has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jax Aoqe!