PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gomi Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damon Stone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stone has chosen One Step Closer by Linkin Park as his entrance music. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Aoki
vs
Stone

195 cm
23
180 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
180 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
KO power

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Gomi Aoki!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Damon Stone!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stone avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Stone closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Aoki did well to prevent Stone getting side control.
Aoki really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Aoki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Aoki avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stone.
Stone thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Stone missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Aoki is looking to escape.
Stone has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Stone not landing any meaningful shots this time.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Aoki tries to clinch but Stone is having none of it.
Stone misses with a takedown attempt - Aoki sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Aoki moves in looking to clinch but Stone pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stone drops Aoki with a big left hand and mounts him. Aoki is in big trouble!
Aoki takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Aoki is rocked!
Stone misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Stone has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Aoki's face.
Stone thowing shots but they're missing.
Aoki wants to hold on but Stone pushes him away.
Aoki blocking the ground and pound.
Aoki is wriggling around trying to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stone fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aoki wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Stone.
Aoki wants to control but Stone is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stone looking to finish with strikes here!
Stone throws some wild stikes that Aoki manages to avoid easily.
A nice elbow there by Stone.
Stone landing shots from mount.
Aoki working to try and regain half guard.
Stone working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Stone thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Stone unloads with some shots from mount but Aoki bucks and avoids them well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Stone punching from mount but Aoki doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Stone has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Aoki's face.
Aoki holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Stone tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Aoki taking shots to the head.
Aoki tries to lock up and control but Stone gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Aoki is trying to stand up.
Stone putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Stone is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Aoki can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Oh Aoki is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Stone sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Aoki seems to have got his legs back now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stone lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Aoki hang on?
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stone working the ground and pound effectively.
Stone prevents Aoki from getting the reversal.
Stone throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Stone lands a big elbow.
Stone thowing shots but they're missing.
Stone throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stone throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Aoki because Stone loaded up on that one.
Poor strikes thrown by Stone there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Stone thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

The fight stays on the outside here - Aoki looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Aoki throws a big shot that misses.
Aoki wants to clinch up but Stone keeps it at a distance.
Aoki on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Aoki misses with a low kick.
Stone shoots in and drives through. Aoki sprawls well.
Aoki wants to clinch up but Stone keeps it at a distance.
Aoki tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Aoki is looking to clinch but Stone is avoiding it.
Aoki is looking to clinch but Stone is avoiding it.
Aoki tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Aoki tries to clinch but Stone moves out of range.
Aoki wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stone throws an overhand right that lands on Aoki's shoulder, as Aoki tries to avoid the shot.
Aoki wants to clinch.
Aoki throws a hook but Stone blocks it.
Stone is trying hard to land a takedown here. Aoki sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Stone throws a looping overhand right but Aoki ducks down to avoid it.
Stone misses the shot to the body.
Aoki throws an overhand right that lands on Stone's shoulder, as Stone tries to avoid the shot.
Stone moves out of range of the leg kick from Aoki.
Aoki tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gomi Aoki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aoki tries to clinch but Stone is having none of it.

That's two 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.
Aoki moves in looking to clinch but Stone pushes him off.
Aoki tries to clinch there but Stone circles away.
Stone throws a leg kick
and Aoki counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Aoki is looking to clinch.
Aoki throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Gomi Aoki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
No luck for Stone with that takedown attempt.
Gomi Aoki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damon Stone.
Aoki tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stone swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stone loads up on a big right hand but Aoki slips the punch.
Stone fails to land with a series of punches.
Aoki is looking to clinch.
Stone checks the leg kick.

Aoki closes the distance and pushes Stone back into the cage.
Aoki landing knees to the body.
Stone is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki looking to throw knees to the head but Stone is blocking nicely.
Aoki is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Stone is defending well for now.
Aoki with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Stone avoiding damage as Aoki throws knees to the body.
Stone is looking to break free of the clinch but Aoki has double underhooks.
Aoki with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Aoki is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Aoki landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Aoki lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Aoki taking a breather.
Aoki scores with a knee to the head.
Aoki utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Aoki taking a breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoki lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Aoki tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Aoki using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Aoki tries a knee to the head but Stone blocks it.
Aoki throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stone blocks it with crossed arms.
Aoki connects with a nasty looking knee right to Stone's face.
Aoki with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Aoki missing with knees to the body.
Aoki throws a knee to the head but misses.
Aoki is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Stone is defending well for now.
Aoki misses with a knee strike.
Stone is trying to break the clinch but Aoki has him pressed against the cage.
Aoki looking to throw knees to the head but Stone is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gomi Aoki dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Stone throws a right and a left that both miss.
Aoki tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stone paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Aoki tries to clinch up but Stone circles away and keeps his distance.
Aoki buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Aoki tries to clinch but Stone moves out of range.
Stone looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Aoki tries to close the distance and clinch but Stone swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Aoki tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aoki fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stone swats away the attempt to clinch by Aoki.
Aoki walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Stone checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stone looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Aoki is fending him off so far but Stone persists. Nope, Aoki circles away and we're back to standing.
Aoki tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stone loads up on a big right hand but Aoki slips the punch.
Stone scores with a nice strike.
The fight stays on the outside here - Aoki looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Aoki tries to clinch but Stone moves out of range.
Stone misses with a hook.
A clash of legs there as Stone blocks the low kick.
Stone keeps the fight on the outside.
Stone shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Aoki defends it nicely.
Gomi Aoki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damon Stone.
Stone takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Aoki tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stone paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki moves in looking to clinch but Stone pushes him off.
Stone throws a hook but Aoki avoids it easily.
Aoki is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Stone swats away the attempt to clinch by Aoki.
Aoki tries a low kick but Stone avoids it.
Aoki is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Aoki doesn't manage to clinch there - Stone circles away.
Aoki displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Stone.
Aoki tries to clinch but Stone moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Stone.
Stone misses with a series of wild punches.
Aoki pivots, looking for a leg kick but Stone is out of range and Aoki settles back down.
Damon Stone is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Aoki is looking to clinch but Stone is avoiding it.
Stone keeps the fight on the outside.

Aoki forces Stone back against the cage and clinches.
Stone tries to break free but Aoki pushes him back against the cage.
Aoki unloads a knee to the mid-section. Stone lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Aoki with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Aoki tries to land a knee to the head but Stone blocks with his arms.
Aoki with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Knees to the body from Aoki.
Aoki'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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoki landing knees to the head.
Aoki throws a knee to the head but misses.
Stone managing to block the knees to the body from Aoki.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Aoki throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stone blocks it with crossed arms.
Aoki looking to slow down the pace here.
Aoki tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aoki throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stone blocks it with crossed arms.
A frustrated look appears on Stone's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Stone manages to break the clinch.
Stone uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Aoki.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gomi Aoki clearly takes that round.
That's time! Aoki's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Stone thows a body shot but no joy.
A clash of legs there as Aoki blocks the low kick.
Stone keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Aoki.
Aoki tried to score with a low kick but Stone checks it.
A punch combination from Stone misses.
No joy there for Stone, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Aoki tries to clinch there but Stone circles away.
Stone fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Aoki moves away from the strike by Stone.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Aoki moves into the clinch successfully.
Stone is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Aoki with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Aoki throws a knee to the head but misses.
Aoki has Stone pushed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Aoki with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Aoki connects with a nasty looking knee right to Stone's face.
Stone takes a knee to the side of the body.
Aoki landing knees to the body.
Aoki stalling against the cage.
Aoki tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Aoki tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A knee to the head by Aoki.
Aoki with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Aoki tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Stone is working for takedown but Aoki is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki landing knees to the head.
Stone tries for a takedown but Aoki manages to get underhooks.
Gomi Aoki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damon Stone.
Aoki throws a knee to the head but misses.
Aoki with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Stone is looking to break free of the clinch but Aoki has double underhooks.
Aoki using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Stone has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Aoki stops a takedown attempt from Stone.
Aoki tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Stone tries to circle away but Aoki has him pinned against the cage.
Stone has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Aoki avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Aoki using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Stone has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Aoki manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Aoki looking to throw knees to the head but Stone is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stone blocks it with crossed arms.

Stone has Aoki pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Stone pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Aoki tumbling to the mat - Stone dives into Aoki's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Aoki is on top in guard.
Stone wants to sweep but no luck.
Stone striking off his back but it's not causing Aoki any problems.

Aoki gets to his feet - Stone follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoki tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stone paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Aoki slips a straight right by Stone.
Stone lands with a hook. Aoki tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Stone swats away the attempt to clinch by Aoki.
Stone checks a leg kick.

Stone shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
A nice elbow there by Stone.
Aoki takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Stone thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Aoki wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Stone.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Gomi Aoki will probably get the nod.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Stone avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Aoki tries to clinch but Stone is having none of it.
Aoki tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stone paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stone slips under a jab.
No luck for Stone with that takedown attempt.
A telegraphed right hand from Stone misses the target.
Stone keeps the fight on the outside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stone throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Aoki.
Stone lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Aoki at a distance.
Aoki tries to close the distance and clinch but Stone swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Aoki moves away from the strike by Stone.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stone closes this distance looking for a takedown but Aoki circles away.
Stone is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Stone checks the leg kick nicely there.
Aoki tries to clinch there but Stone circles away.
Aoki with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Aoki fails with an attempt to clinch.
Aoki wants to clinch up but Stone keeps it at a distance.
Aoki leaves Stone with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gomi Aoki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damon Stone.
Aoki misses with a leg kick.
Aoki tries to clinch there but Stone circles away.
Aoki doesn't manage to clinch there - Stone circles away.
Aoki loads up on a big right hand but Stone slips the punch.
Aoki tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Aoki lands a nice leg kick that just misses Stone's sensitive parts.
Aoki moves in looking to clinch but Stone pushes him off.
Aoki attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Aoki fails in his attempt to clinch.
Aoki tries to clinch but Stone is having none of it.
Stone jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Aoki fails in his attempt to clinch.
Aoki tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stone swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Aoki tries to clinch but Stone moves out of range.

Aoki instigates a clinch.
Aoki is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Aoki is pressed up against the cage. Stone has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Aoki down to the mat. Aoki avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Aoki counters with a slapping leg kick.

Aoki clinches with his opponent.
Aoki landing knees to the body.
Stone takes a knee to the side of the body.
Aoki crunches a lovely knee into Stone's ribcage.
Aoki leaning against his opponent.
Aoki throws a knee to the head but misses.
Aoki misses with a knee to the head.
Aoki keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Stone's efforts to push away.
Aoki trying to land knees to the body.
Aoki looking to throw knees to the head but Stone is blocking nicely.
Stone jumps guard but Aoki stands there with Stone around his waist. Stone gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
The referee calls for Aoki to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Damon Stone has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gomi Aoki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Aoki using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Stone has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Aoki tries to land a knee to the head but Stone blocks with his arms.
Stone tries for a takedown but Aoki manages to get underhooks.
Aoki misses with a knee strike.
Aoki has Stone pressed against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Stone as Aoki tries to tie him up.
Stone misses with an elbow strike.
Aoki blocking some punches.
Aoki throws a knee to the head but misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gomi Aoki showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Aoki has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andi Peters scores the fight 48:46
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 48:46
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 48:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gomi Aoki!
Gomi Aoki is the new welterweight champion!