PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Michael Gronfors (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shinya Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Gronfors
vs
Aoki

175 cm
22
157 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

171 cm
20
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Michael Gronfors!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinya Aoki!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shigeki Fujiwara and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gronfors scores with a nice head shot.

Aoki scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Gronfors avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Aoki.
Gronfors is refusing to be controlled, as Aoki sits in half guard.
Aoki tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gronfors knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Aoki trying to control from Gronfors's half guard. Gronfors has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Gronfors pulls Aoki in close to prevent any damage.
Aoki forces his way into half guard.
Aoki prevents Gronfors from improving his position.
Aoki is trying to control the action in half guard but Gronfors is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Gronfors moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Gronfors looking for a sweep. Not yet Gronfors, not yet.
Aoki trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Aoki postures up in Gronfors's guard and throws a big left but Gronfors blocks it.
Aoki trying to control but Gronfors is working from the bottom.
Aoki looking to pass the guard.

That's two 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.
Aoki trying to control the position from guard on top but Gronfors is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gronfors tries to land a sweep but no joy.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Gronfors with a poor takedown

and Aoki counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Aoki wants to pass the guard but Gronfors is keeping the position.
Gronfors will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Gronfors will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Aoki trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gronfors's guard.
Aoki looks gassed!
Gronfors is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Aoki passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki working away.
Gronfors dodges the ground and pound from Aoki.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gronfors doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Aoki makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Gronfors really felt that one!
Gronfors tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Aoki counters with a straight right hand.
Aoki shoots for a takedown but Gronfors saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Gronfors tries to close the distance and clinch up but Aoki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Aoki thows a body shot but no joy.
Gronfors thows a leg kick but Aoki checks it

and Aoki counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Gronfors is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoki looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Gronfors missing with punches from the bottom.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Aoki in particular looking to stall.
Aoki's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gronfors doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Aoki counters with a shoot takedown. Gronfors fights it but they end up in guard.
Aoki sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Aoki drops back looking for a leg! Gronfors is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gronfors manages to kick Aoki off! Aoki jumps back into Gronfors's guard.
Aoki trying to control but Gronfors is working from the bottom.
Aoki slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Gronfors tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Aoki wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

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

Aoki tries for a kimura but Gronfors is defending well.
Aoki trying to control the action but Gronfors is working from the bottom.
Aoki working the head and body with strikes.
You can see the frustration on Gronfors's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Gronfors sneaks back into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

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 is thwarting Gronfors's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gronfors manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Gronfors trying to keep a closed guard but Aoki is proving a slippery customer.
Aoki looking to pass the guard.
Gronfors is looking to stand up but Aoki isn't so interested in that idea.

Gronfors keeping busy on the bottom but Aoki has passed one foot through into half guard.
Aoki moves nicely into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki cracks Gronfors with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Gronfors manages to work his way to half guard, despite Aoki's best efforts.
Gronfors wants to control but Aoki is keeping busy.

Gronfors has one foot on Aoki's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Gronfors drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gronfors controls from within his opponent's guard.

Aoki working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gronfors doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gronfors manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoki pulls Gronfors in close to his closed guard and prevents Gronfors from doing any damage or advancing position.
Aoki throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Gronfors looking to sit in guard and control but Aoki gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Gronfors is trying to hold Aoki in close to prevent damage but Aoki has managed to pass into half guard.

Aoki is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Gronfors has managed to free his arm - good work.
Aoki winds up and cracks Gronfors with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinya Aoki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Aoki.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Aoki is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Gronfors knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Gronfors tries to improve position but can't.
Gronfors is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Aoki's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Aoki is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Aoki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gronfors won't allow Aoki to pass to mount.
Aoki is thwarting Gronfors's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Aoki stops Gronfors from getting back to his feet.

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

and Aoki moves into the clinch.
Gronfors gets underhooks to prevent Aoki's takedown attempt.
Aoki avoiding damage as Gronfors throws knees to the body.
Aoki tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Gronfors smiles and moves away.
Horrible takedown by Aoki or perhaps it was just good defense by Gronfors which made him look bad.
Michael Gronfors has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinya Aoki.
Gronfors with a lazy takedown attempt

and Aoki holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gronfors goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Aoki using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gronfors has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Gronfors breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gronfors with a lazy takedown attempt

and Aoki counters with a single leg into guard. Gronfors didn't expect that.

Aoki 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 slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Shinya Aoki has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gronfors keeping moving, preventing Aoki from controlling successfully.
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.
Aoki trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Gronfors won't allow Aoki to pass to mount.

Aoki stands up and beckons Gronfors to join him on the feet.
Gronfors throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A good leg kick by Aoki.

Gronfors scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Gronfors wants to control but Aoki is keeping him busy.

Gronfors decides to stand back up.
Gronfors wants to clinch

and Aoki counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Aoki is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gronfors is keeping the position for now.
Gronfors striking off his back but it's not causing Aoki any problems.

Gronfors 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.
Aoki throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gronfors works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Aoki not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Aoki trying to control but Gronfors is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gronfors working a defensive guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shinya Aoki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Aoki winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30

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