PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Shinya Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Pietra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shinya Aoki has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Aoki
vs
Pietra

181 cm
22
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

169 cm
18
162 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Shinya Aoki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rafael Pietra!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Elvis Blanc and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aoki closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pietra circles away.
Aoki throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Pietra's waist but Pietra gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Aoki off to one side.
Aoki is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pietra sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shinya Aoki. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Pietra darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Aoki is concentrating on defense, preventing Pietra from advancing position.
Aoki's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Pietra is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Aoki defends it well.
Pietra prevents Aoki from improving his position.
Aoki is controlling Pietra's trapped leg to prevent Pietra from advancing to side control.
Pietra not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Aoki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pietra is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Aoki moves into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aoki is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Pietra preventing the sweep.
Aoki is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Pietra lands a couple of digs.
Aoki seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Pietra loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Aoki is pulling down on Pietra's head. It's preventing any offense from Pietra, at least for the moment.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Shinya Aoki just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Aoki shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Pietra decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Aoki's guard.
Pietra stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Aoki swivels though and keeps the full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Aoki is on top in guard.

Aoki is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aoki is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Aoki drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Aoki jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Aoki is breathing heavily.
Pietra trying to control the position.
Aoki passes into half guard.
Pietra is trying to maintain the position but Aoki is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Aoki is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Aoki seems to be looking for submissions.

Aoki is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Pietra is trying to control but can't.

Aoki is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Pietra is defending against the submission attempts here by Aoki.

Aoki is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Pietra defends it well.
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 Shinya Aoki will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Pietra takes the fight into the clinch.
Pietra fails to pull guard.
Aoki tries to pull guard but Pietra won't allow it.

Aoki gets control of Pietra's arms and successfully pulls guard. Aoki will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Pietra wants to pass the guard but Aoki is keeping the position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Aoki holds on and takes a little breather.
Pietra trying to control the position from guard on top but Aoki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aoki utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Aoki is controlling Pietra's posture.
Pietra looking to pass the guard.
Pietra is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pietra is one step ahead there.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Aoki with a poor takedown

and Pietra counters with a shoot takedown. Aoki fights it but they end up in guard.
Aoki keeping moving, preventing Pietra from controlling successfully.
Pietra being controlled here momentarily.
Aoki being controlled here, momentarily.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Aoki holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pietra looking to sit in guard and control but Aoki gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Aoki works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Pietra wants to control but Aoki is keeping busy.

Aoki is looking for a kimura but Pietra is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Aoki to get the leverage.
Aoki wants to pass to mount but Pietra is defending the position.
Pietra trying to hold on to Aoki's head to control him but Aoki postures up.

Aoki seems to be looking for submissions.

Aoki seems to be looking for submissions.
Shinya Aoki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aoki in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Pietra tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Aoki!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:21 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Shinya Aoki!