PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Shinya Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Katashi Fujioka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aoki comes to the cage accompanied by Sephiroth Theme. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Aoki
vs
Fujioka

178 cm
20
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinya Aoki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Katashi Fujioka!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fujioka has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Katashi Fujioka has been cut.

Aoki gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Fujioka 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. Fujioka gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Aoki throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A head kick misses from Aoki.
Aoki throws a jab when Fujioka was well out of range.
Aoki misses with a two punch combination.

Fujioka looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Aoki!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fujioka landing strikes, looking to finish!
Fujioka has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Fujioka controlling his opponent.
Fujioka lands a big shot there that rocks Aoki but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Fujioka tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fujioka lands a heavy elbow.
Fujioka with good strikes from the mount here!

Fujioka goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Aoki turns into him and now he's in Fujioka's guard.
Fujioka tries to strike from the bottom.
Aoki would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Aoki preventing the sweep.
Fujioka looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Aoki puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Fujioka makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Fujioka.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Fujioka is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Aoki stands up and waves to Fujioka to follow him.
Aoki throws a series of punches but Fujioka avoids them all with ease.
Aoki tries to clinch there but Fujioka circles away.
Aoki jabs at Fujioka's body.
Aoki scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Aoki moves in looking to clinch but Fujioka pushes him off.
Fujioka dives in and grabs Aoki's left leg, looking for a takedown. Aoki pushes down on Fujioka's head and hops out.

Fujioka closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Fujioka lands in his opponent's guard.
Fujioka looks gassed!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Aoki being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fujioka is working Aoki over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Fujioka wants to pass the guard but Aoki is keeping the position.
Fujioka scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Aoki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Fujioka drops back, looking for a kneebar! Aoki looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Aoki looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Aoki!
Fujioka is looking for a sweep.

That's four 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.

Aoki is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Fujioka knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Aoki tries to stand but Fujioka is controlling his head.
Fujioka manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Nice strikes from Fujioka there.
Fujioka looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Fujioka takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
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 cut man is working on Katashi Fujioka's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Fujioka feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Fujioka working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Aoki has momentary wrist control but Fujioka slips an elbow through the middle.
Fujioka is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fujioka pushing down on Aoki's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Fujioka passes the guard and advances to mount!
Fujioka lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Fujioka with shots to the head and body - Aoki looks very uncomfortable down there.
Aoki wants to get back to his feet.
Fujioka lands with some strikes.
Fujioka working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fujioka is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Aoki has managed to escape the submission attempt.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Fujioka cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Fujioka lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Aoki hang on?
Fujioka controlling the position easily from mount.
Fujioka working Aoki over with strikes here.
Fujioka controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki taking shots to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aoki is trying to escape the mount.
Aoki takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Fujioka controlling his opponent.
Fujioka lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Aoki is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fujioka controlling the pace for now.
Fujioka's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Fujioka cracks Aoki with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Fujioka lands a big elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fujioka controlling the position easily from mount.
Let's hope that Fujioka has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Despite being in the dominant position, Katashi Fujioka just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Aoki tries to clinch there but Fujioka circles away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Fujioka.
Fujioka scoring with punches and elbows.
Katashi Fujioka has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fujioka moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Katashi Fujioka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Katashi Fujioka's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Aoki will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Fujioka darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Aoki is trying to stand.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Fujioka connects with a nice short shot to Aoki's temple.
Fujioka is controlling the pace.

Fujioka seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fujioka seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fujioka lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Fujioka seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Fujioka working the head and body with strikes.
Fujioka sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Fujioka working Aoki over with strikes.
Fujioka stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Katashi Fujioka.
Aoki tries to clinch there but Fujioka circles away.

Fujioka shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Fujioka takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Fujioka 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. Aoki tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Fujioka!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Katashi Fujioka!