PBP Commentary

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

Aoki
vs
Kulani

195 cm
23
180 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

171 cm
20
171 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

{GTI} - HGH Nutrients

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 6 - 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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kikeona Kulani!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aoki blocks a jab.
Aoki is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kulani keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kulani checks a leg kick.
Kulani lands a nice shot to the body.
Kulani fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kulani just misses with a punch to the body.
Kulani keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Aoki misses the jab.
Kulani checks a low kick from Aoki.
Aoki tries to clinch but Kulani is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kulani throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Aoki has taken the fight to the clinch.
Aoki has Kulani pushed against the cage.
Kulani wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Aoki lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Kikeona Kulani has been cut.
Kulani goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Aoki.
Aoki tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Aoki unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Kulani looks gassed!
Aoki displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kulani up against the cage.
A knee to the head by Aoki.
Aoki with a knee to the head.
Aoki unloads a knee to the mid-section. Kulani lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Aoki scores with a knee to the head.
Aoki connects with a knee to the head.
Aoki scores with a knee to the head.
Kulani is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Aoki lands a knee to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Aoki crunches a lovely knee into Kulani's ribcage.
Aoki crunches a lovely knee into Kulani's ribcage.
Aoki landing knees to the body.
Aoki connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kulani's face.
Aoki connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kulani's face.
Aoki with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Aoki with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kulani takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kulani takes a knee right on the jaw!
Aoki with a knee to the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kulani as Aoki tries to tie him up.
Kulani fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Aoki trying to land knees to the body.
Kulani tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Aoki leaning against his opponent.
Aoki crunches a lovely knee into Kulani's ribcage.
Kulani avoiding damage as Aoki throws knees to the body.
Aoki scores a nice knee to the body.
Kulani tries to pull guard but Aoki won't allow it.
Gomi Aoki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kikeona Kulani.
Kulani jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Aoki walks away with a smile on his face. Kulani gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Aoki tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kulani swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kulani bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kulani closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kulani lands in his opponent's guard.
Aoki looking for a sweep. Not yet Aoki, not yet.
Kulani advances position into side control!
Aoki wants to get back to his feet.

Kulani is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Aoki has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kulani goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Aoki has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Kulani but great work by Aoki.

Aoki decides to stand back up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aoki wants to clinch.
Aoki fails in his attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gomi Aoki dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kikeona Kulani's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Aoki doesn't manage to clinch there - Kulani circles away.
Kulani fails to land the takedown.

Aoki moves into range and clinches up with Kulani.
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.
Kulani stalling in the clinch but Aoki improves position.
Kulani jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Aoki walks away with a smile on his face. Kulani gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Aoki staying out of range there.
The fight stays on the outside here - Aoki looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kulani throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Aoki tries a low kick but Kulani avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kulani takes a swing at Aoki's ribcage but misses.

Aoki gets a clinch.
Aoki leaning against his opponent.
Aoki using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kulani has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Aoki misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kulani.
Aoki with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki looking to throw knees to the head but Kulani is blocking nicely.
Aoki lands a nice knee to the body.
Kulani tries to pull guard but Aoki won't allow it.
Gomi Aoki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kikeona Kulani.
Aoki misses with a knee to the head.
Aoki is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Aoki manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Kulani ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Kulani no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Aoki will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kulani wants to hit a switch here but Aoki passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Kulani there!
Kulani wants to hold on but Aoki pushes him away.
Aoki wants to control the pace but Kulani is squirming around nicely.
Kulani tries to hold on but Aoki pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki content just to control the position here.
Aoki has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Kulani is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Kulani is working to get back to half guard.
Aoki looking to control but Kulani is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki is trying to control here but Kulani has managed to regain half guard.

Kulani looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Kulani looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kulani is breathing heavily.
Aoki is keen to just control but Kulani is a slippery customer.
Kulani wants to control but Aoki is keeping busy.

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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Aoki tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kulani swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Aoki tries to clinch but Kulani moves out of range.
Kulani looks to score with a jab to the body but Aoki is just out of range.
Aoki moves in looking to clinch but Kulani pushes him off.
Kulani keeps the fight on the outside.
Kulani scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Aoki slips a jab and a cross from Kulani.
Kikeona Kulani is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fight stays on the outside here - Aoki looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gomi Aoki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kulani connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aoki tries to clinch up but Kulani circles away and keeps his distance.
Kulani comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Kulani throws a shot from downtown. Aoki moves away and avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gomi Aoki dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kikeona Kulani's cut.
That's time! Aoki's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Aoki is looking to clinch but Kulani is avoiding it.
Kulani scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kulani.
Aoki can't do much from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aoki is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Kulani is controlling him well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kulani trying to control the position but Aoki is working away.
Aoki prevents Kulani from improving position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Aoki's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Kulani swings around for an armbar but Aoki sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Kulani's guard.
Aoki trying to control the position from guard on top but Kulani is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kulani throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Aoki moves in looking to clinch but Kulani pushes him off.
Kulani circles away from the clinch attempt.
Aoki fails with an attempt to clinch.
Aoki tries to close the distance and clinch but Kulani swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Aoki throws a chopping leg kick but Kulani manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Aoki moves in looking to clinch but Kulani pushes him off.
Kulani fails with a takedown attempt.
Kulani avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kulani misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Aoki.
Aoki tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kulani swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kulani scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Kulani throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Aoki.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki moves in looking to clinch but Kulani pushes him off.
Aoki takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Kulani throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Aoki tries to clinch up.

Aoki fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kulani, pushing him back against the cage.
A knee to the head by Aoki.
Kulani throws a head punch that misses.
Aoki with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Aoki with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kulani blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Aoki slows down the pace here.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Kulani jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Aoki walks away with a smile on his face. Kulani gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Gomi Aoki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kulani avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kulani swats away the attempt to clinch by Aoki.

Aoki moves into the clinch successfully.
Aoki connects with a knee to the head.
Aoki tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kulani is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Aoki trying to control the position but instead, Kulani has worked for underhooks and has pushed Aoki into the cage.
Kulani avoiding damage as Aoki throws knees to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aoki connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kulani's face.
Kulani goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Aoki tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kulani avoids it.
Kulani jumps guard but Aoki stands there with Kulani around his waist. Kulani gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Gomi Aoki did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The cut man is working on Kikeona Kulani's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A jab lands there for Kulani.

Kulani shoots in and bounces Aoki off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Aoki looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Kulani trying to control the position from guard on top but Aoki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki trying to control the position.
Kulani looking to pass the guard.
Aoki keeping moving, preventing Kulani from controlling successfully.

Aoki pushes Kulani off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Kulani bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Aoki is trying to control Kulani's posture but Kulani avoids it.

Kulani stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Kulani will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kulani looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Aoki is fending him off so far but Kulani persists. Nope, Aoki circles away and we're back to standing.
Kulani is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Aoki swings away with a leg kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kulani keeps the fight on the outside.
Aoki doesn't manage to clinch there - Kulani circles away.
Aoki tries to clinch up.

Kulani decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Aoki manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Aoki is looking to stand up but Kulani isn't so interested in that idea.
Aoki keeping full guard, as Kulani tries to pass.
Aoki bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kulani's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kulani keeping full guard, as Aoki tries to pass.
Aoki trying to control but Kulani is working from the bottom.

Kulani working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Aoki doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Aoki manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kulani holds on and takes a little breather.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kikeona Kulani dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Kikeona Kulani's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kulani is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Aoki.
Kulani checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

Aoki clinches up with Kulani and pushes him back against the cage.
Aoki landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Kulani is looking to control Aoki's arms but Aoki gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kulani has his back to the cage.
Aoki has Kulani pressed against the cage, preventing Kulani from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Aoki scores with a knee to the head.
Aoki throws a knee to the head but misses.
Aoki unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Aoki connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kulani's face.
Aoki using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Gomi Aoki has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Aoki obliges.
Kulani tries to pull guard but Aoki won't allow it.
Aoki stalling in the clinch.
Kulani takes a knee to the side of the body.
Aoki utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Aoki working Kulani over with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Aoki.
Aoki keeps control of Kulani as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Aoki unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Aoki lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Aoki tries to land a knee to the head but Kulani blocks with his arms.
Kulani misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kulani tries to pull guard but Aoki holds him up against the cage and eventually Kulani drops back down to his feet.
Kulani on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Aoki throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kulani fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Gomi Aoki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kikeona Kulani.
Aoki throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kulani blocks it with crossed arms.
Aoki letting Kulani take a breather here.
Kulani jumps guard but Aoki stands there with Kulani around his waist. Kulani gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Aoki unloads a knee to the mid-section. Kulani lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Kulani struggles to land a body shot inside as Aoki controls his hands.
Aoki with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kulani slowing the pace effectively.
Kulani misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Aoki tries to land knees in the clinch but Kulani avoids the damage to the body.
Kulani stalling in the clinch but Aoki improves position.
Aoki tries a knee to the head but Kulani blocks it.
Aoki with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kulani jumps guard but Aoki stands there with Kulani around his waist. Kulani gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kulani looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A hook to the body from Kulani.
Kulani jumps guard but Aoki stands there with Kulani around his waist. Kulani gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Aoki tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Kulani.
Aoki looking to throw knees to the head but Kulani is blocking nicely.
Kulani tries to pull guard but Aoki holds him up against the cage and eventually Kulani drops back down to his feet.
Kulani stalling the fight.
Aoki throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kulani blocks it with crossed arms.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kulani escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kulani checks a low kick from Aoki.
Kulani cracks Aoki with a good jab.
Aoki showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kulani.

Kulani scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Kulani is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Aoki holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Kulani is stalling here. Aoki is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Kulani seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Aoki has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoki gets to mount! Kulani was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Gomi Aoki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Aoki looking to control and managing it successfully.
Aoki wants to control the pace but Kulani is squirming around nicely.
Kikeona Kulani has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aoki content just to control the position here.

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 49:47
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 48:47
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gomi Aoki!
Gomi Aoki retains his welterweight title!