PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between ray leonards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gilbert Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aoki has chosen Prodigy - Breathe as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

leonards
vs
Aoki

182 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

188 cm
19
200 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
KO power

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, ray leonards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gilbert Aoki!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yuuki Gou and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aoki has a takedown stuffed.

leonards closes the distance and clinches.

leonards turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and leonards manages to end up in side control.
Aoki is trying to escape the position but leonards is controlling the position.
Aoki regains half guard.
leonards throwing shots but Aoki is blocking nicely.
Aoki tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
leonards prevents Aoki from improving his position.
leonards lands strikes from half guard.

Aoki actively working from the bottom here.
leonards trying to control from half guard but Aoki is working away.
leonards tries to pass to full mount but Aoki defends it.
leonards wants to control but Aoki is keeping him busy.
Aoki has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Aoki drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Aoki has gone for a leg lock! leonards slips out almost immediately though and dives into Aoki's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Aoki working for a triangle but leonards defends it easily.
leonards has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Aoki escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. leonards gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

leonards drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and leonards jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Aoki trying to control the position.

Aoki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
leonards trying to control the position from guard on top but Aoki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
leonards is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Aoki is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

leonards 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 is trying to control the position from the bottom.
leonards would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Aoki has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think leonards should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Aoki has tightened it up now! leonards should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Gilbert Aoki!