PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Strath More (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shinya Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). More comes to the cage accompanied by Reign in Blood. Shinya Aoki will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

More
vs
Aoki

169 cm
23
152 lbs
3 - 4 - 1

180 cm
24
155 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Strath More!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinya Aoki!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
More lands a nice looking kick to the body. Aoki takes a step back to recover.
Aoki with a lazy takedown attempt
and More counters with a left to the body.
Aoki doesn't succeed with the takedown
and More counters with a body kick.
Aoki looks gassed!
More tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Aoki manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
More tries for a takedown but Aoki sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
More tries to close the distance and clinch but Aoki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Aoki shoots and misses
and More counters with a series of strikes. Aoki will be more careful next time no doubt.
Strath More has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinya Aoki.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aoki blocks a leg kick.

More gets in close and instigates a clinch.

More gets a trip takedown into half guard.
More thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

More is working for a submission of some sort.
Aoki is refusing to be controlled, as More sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
More missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
More thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
More is keen to just control but Aoki is a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Strath More wasn't doing enough on the ground.
More tries to close the distance and clinch up but Aoki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Aoki fails with the takedown

and More counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Aoki looking to hit a scissor sweep but More is one step ahead there.
More has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
More trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

More 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 manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. More manages to get himself to full guard.
More trying to control the position.
Aoki is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
More trying to control the position here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
More has his takedown stuffed

and Aoki counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoki is keen to just control but More is a slippery customer.
Aoki not doing much here.
More is looking to control Aoki's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can More avoid being mounted?
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Aoki is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and More defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Strath More dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

More with a poor takedown

and Aoki counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Aoki trying to control the position from guard on top but More is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

More 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.
More looking to hit a scissor sweep but Aoki is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki trying to control but More is working from the bottom.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Shinya Aoki was stalling too much, according to the referee.
More tries to bum rush Aoki with a series of wild strikes but Aoki uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Aoki fails with the takedown

and More counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Aoki is trying to control the position but More postures up.
Strath More overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Aoki is breathing heavily.
Aoki tries to land a sweep but no joy.

More thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
More trying to stand up but can't free himself from Aoki's guard.
Aoki wants to sweep but no luck.
More has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Aoki is proving hard to escape from.
More trying to control the position from guard on top but Aoki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aoki wants to sweep here but More controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
More trying to control the position from guard on top but Aoki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Strath More wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Aoki tries for a takedown but More circles away easily
and More counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Aoki doesn't succeed with the takedown

and More counters with a takedown into side control.
Strath More has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinya Aoki.
Aoki tries to buck More off but More is having none of it.
More is looking to take a break and control but Aoki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Aoki is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

More thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The ground and pound from More seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Aoki is trying to improve his position.
Aoki struggling a bit here.
More throws a strike aimed at the side of Aoki's head but Aoki avoids it well.
More is looking to take a break and control but Aoki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

More is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Aoki knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Strath More dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

More doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Aoki decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in More's guard.

More looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Aoki throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
More throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Aoki slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aoki thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

More has his foot on Aoki's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Aoki works his way back into a safe position though.
More looking to control.

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.
Aoki slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Aoki closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
More might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
More being controlled for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
What's More going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Shinya Aoki.
Aoki has his takedown stuffed
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
More misses the shot to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
More ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Aoki moves away.
More doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Aoki counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shinya Aoki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think More 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight for Strath More!
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight for Strath More!
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight for Strath More!

Strath More wins by unanimous decision!