PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lyoto Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Toivo Halaus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aoki comes to the cage accompanied by Handlebars. Lyoto Aoki has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Aoki
vs
Halaus

183 cm
23
200 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

180 cm
23
201 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Powerful

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 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Lyoto Aoki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Toivo Halaus!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Ren Mimura and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Halaus ducks under a wild hook from Aoki.
Aoki shoots in for a takedown but Halaus shows good takedown defense.

Aoki drives through and clinches with Halaus against the cage.
Halaus misses with an elbow strike.
Good body shot from Halaus.
Halaus throws a punch but it's blocked by Aoki.
Halaus missing with knees to the body.
Aoki tries to break free but Halaus pushes him back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Aoki's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Halaus misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Aoki.
A shot in the inside from Halaus.
Aoki letting Halaus take a breather here.
Aoki throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Halaus blocks it with crossed arms.
Halaus fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Halaus just misses with a elbow thrown towards Aoki's brow.
Aoki takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Lyoto Aoki has been cut.

Aoki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Aoki takes a shot to the body in his stride.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Aoki misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halaus throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Aoki looking to throw knees to the head but Halaus is blocking nicely.
Halaus tries to stall but Aoki uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Aoki's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Aoki getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

It looks like Toivo Halaus has been cut.
Halaus shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Aoki counters with a head kick. That will keep Halaus thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Halaus connects with a solid leg kick.
Aoki slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
A big left from Aoki misses.
Halaus rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Aoki moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Halaus fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Halaus fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Aoki manages to avoid it.
Halaus wants to clinch up but Aoki keeps it at a distance.
Halaus tries to clinch but Aoki moves out of range.
Halaus lands with a slapping head kick.
Halaus lands a head kick!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Aoki closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki lands a nice shot to the body.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Halaus takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Halaus working aggressively here.
Halaus trying to land knees to the body.
Aoki can't get the takedown.
Halaus has a couple of punches blocked by Aoki.

Aoki manages to break the clinch.
Aoki throws a looping overhand right but Halaus ducks down to avoid it.
Halaus throws a right and a left that Aoki avoids nicely.
Halaus moves out of range of the leg kick from Aoki.
Halaus tries to clinch up.
Aoki moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Halaus looks gassed!
Halaus tries to clinch up but Aoki circles away and keeps his distance.
Halaus looks to land a body kick but Aoki moved away.
Lyoto Aoki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Halaus moves into the clinch successfully.
Aoki lands with a left to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Halauss head.
Aoki wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Halaus creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Aoki escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Halaus ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Halaus moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A leg kick checked by Aoki.
Aoki throws a right hand that Halaus ducks under and follows up with a left that Halaus also avoids with ease.
A head kick misses from Aoki.
Halaus digs a good hook to Aoki's body.
Aoki throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Halaus's waist but Halaus gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Aoki off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lyoto Aoki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Halaus fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Aoki.
The fight stays on the outside here - Aoki looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Aoki connects with a body shot.
Aoki misses with a jab to the body
and Halaus counters with a solid body kick.
Aoki moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoki misses the shot to the body.
Aoki takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Halaus misses with a leg kick
and Aoki counters with a left and a right that stings Halaus.
Aoki walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Halaus checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Halaus throws a head kick that half lands.
Aoki fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Aoki will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Halaus clinches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Halaus tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Aoki avoids it.
Halaus lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Aoki looking to stall.
Halaus looks to throw an elbow but misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Halaus lands with a short shot to the head.
Stalling in the clinch from Halaus.
Halaus wants a takedown but no success here.
Aoki lands a shoulder strike.
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 Lyoto Aoki will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Aoki fails to land with a series of punches.
Halaus takes a kick to the side of the head.

Halaus gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Aoki is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Aoki breaks from the clinch.
Halaus throws a combination. Aoki tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Halaus avoids the head kick by Aoki.
Aoki keeps the fight on the outside.
Aoki throws a half hearted mid kick.
Halaus dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Aoki. That did some damage!
Halaus lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Halaus lands with a kick to the temple. Aoki shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Halaus has managed to clinch.
Aoki blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Aoki is trying to break free.
Halaus throws an elbow that misses.
Aoki throws a punch but it's blocked by Halaus.
Halaus tries to land knees in the clinch but Aoki avoids the damage to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halaus trying to land knees to the body.
Halaus is leaning against Aoki and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Halaus misses with an elbow strike.
Halaus creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Aoki's defenses.
Halaus throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Aoki is trying to maintain a safe position but Halaus gets an underhook and turns Aoki into the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Aoki's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Aoki avoids the elbow strike from Halaus, against the cage.
Aoki tries to land a knee to the head but Halaus blocks with his arms.
Halaus dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Aoki lands an uppercut.
Aoki tries to throw a body punch but Halaus avoids it by throwing Aoki back against the cage.
Halaus throws an elbow but it misses.
Aoki slows down the pace here.
Aoki is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Aoki tries to break free but Halaus pushes him back against the cage.
Halaus looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aoki's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Halaus blocks a head kick by Aoki.
Halaus lands a nice looking body kick.

Halaus drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Aoki is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Halaus lands an elbow.
Halaus working the head and body with strikes.
Aoki tries to bench press Halaus off him but Halaus keeps the position.
Aoki taking punishment in the form of punches.
Halaus trying to control the position but Aoki is working away.
Halaus working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki is looking to regain half guard here but Halaus keeps moving and retains side control.
A lull in the action here as Halaus stalls from top position.

Halaus thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Aoki regains half guard.
Aoki is trying to maintain the position but Halaus is very close to passing his half guard.
Aoki tries to get to full guard but Halaus has control of the leg.
Halaus is looking to take a break and control but Aoki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four 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.

Halaus seems to be working for a kimura but Aoki defends the submission attempt.
Aoki is refusing to be controlled, as Halaus sits in half guard.
Aoki slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Halaus is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Aoki is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aoki is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Toivo Halaus showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Aoki scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Aoki trying to control the position but Halaus is working away.
Halaus tries to bench press Aoki off him but Aoki keeps the position.
Aoki tries to score with some ground and pound. Halaus controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Halaus manages to work his way to half guard, despite Aoki's best efforts.
Halaus has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Aoki is working away from the top position though.
Aoki with the ground and pound but Halaus uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Halaus is keeping the position for now.
Aoki is pushing down on Halaus's leg trying to pass to half guard. Halaus is fighting to maintain full guard but Aoki has managed to sneak the leg through.
Aoki throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Halaus is looking to improve his position.
Aoki not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Halaus is looking to improve his position.
Halaus slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

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.

Halaus has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Aoki can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Aoki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Aoki wants to control from the top but Halaus keeps moving.
Aoki sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Halaus's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki is looking to take a break and control but Halaus is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Aoki seems to be looking for submissions.
Aoki is thwarting Halaus's attempts to control the position.
Halaus is trying is best to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Aoki is looking to take a break and control but Halaus is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Aoki throws a strike but Halaus avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Aoki misses the shot to the body.
Halaus throws a predictable looking body shot
and Aoki counters with a nice uppercut.
A big right from Halaus misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Aoki cracks the inside of Halaus's front leg.
Halaus circles away from the clinch attempt.
Aoki jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Aoki tries to close the distance and clinch up but Halaus swats him away and circles back towards the center.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyoto 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lyoto Aoki!