PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Chilo Menga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shinya Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Aoki's choice of entrance music: Nina simone - Feeling good. 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.

Menga
vs
Aoki

170 cm
20
155 lbs
5 - 4 - 1

180 cm
23
162 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 5 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chilo Menga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shinya Aoki!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Robert Twigg and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aoki shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Menga as he jumps to the side.
Menga 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 in and bounces Menga off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Menga avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Menga keeping moving, preventing Aoki from controlling successfully.
Menga is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Menga escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Aoki gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Aoki preventing the sweep.
Aoki throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Menga closes the distance and clinches up with Aoki, looking for a takedown. Menga pushes Aoki against the cage but Aoki circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aoki closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Aoki lands in his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aoki wants to pass the guard but Menga is keeping the position.
Menga not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Aoki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Menga is on top in guard.
Aoki trying to control the position.
Menga has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Menga postures up in Aoki's guard and throws a big left but Aoki blocks it.
Aoki trying to control the position.
Menga stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Aoki swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Aoki trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menga advances position into side control!
Aoki manages to get back to half guard.
Menga prevents Aoki from improving his position.
Aoki wants to control but Menga is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Aoki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Menga slows the pace down in half guard.
Aoki has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Menga is working away from the top position though.
Menga thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Aoki's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Menga looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Aoki wants to get back to full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Aoki gets a takedown into half guard.

Aoki is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Aoki is stalling here. Menga is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Aoki seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Menga has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Menga trying to control the action but Aoki is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menga has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Aoki!
Aoki working to try and regain half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Aoki prevents Menga from taking his back.
Aoki regains half guard.
Menga is looking to advance position but Aoki won't allow it.
Aoki tries to roll over but Menga keeps him under control.
Aoki wants to control but Menga is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinya Aoki dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Aoki has his takedown stuffed
enabling Menga to counter with a crisp jab.
Aoki shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Menga counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Aoki!
Aoki is squirming around, avoiding Menga's attempts to control the action.
Menga wants to take Aoki's back but he can't do it this time.
Aoki keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Menga is looking to stand but Menga has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Aoki can't escape the position.
Aoki is breathing heavily.
Aoki is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Menga stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Nice takedown defense from Aoki. No joy for Menga on that attempt.

Menga gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Menga manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Aoki manages to get himself to full guard.
Menga wants to pass the guard but Aoki is keeping the position.
Menga is working hard here to advance position.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menga looking to sit in guard and control but Aoki gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Menga wants to control the position but Aoki says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Aoki trying to control the action but Menga is working from the bottom.
Aoki passes to side control.
Aoki cracks Menga with a big elbow.
Aoki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Menga keeps working.
Menga stops Aoki from passing to mount.

Aoki working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menga is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Aoki off and has taken his back!
Menga doesn't have the hooks in and Aoki manages to turn into his guard.
Aoki slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Aoki is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Menga has escaped the position, nice work there.
Aoki controls the position.
Aoki wants to control but Menga is keeping him busy.
Aoki has knee on belly and moves into mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menga is trying to escape the mount but Aoki keeps good control and instead manages to take Menga's back.

Aoki working for the rear naked choke here. He's got one arm under but Menga is defending well. A couple of punches soften him up though and Aoki has tightened the hold! This one could be all over! It is! Menga taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:28 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Shinya Aoki!