PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tatsuya Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George St Pierre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). St Pierre comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Make Smash Ya Tap! kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Aoki
vs
St Pierre

178 cm
28
181 lbs
15 - 10 - 1

175 cm
34
185 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Knockout power

CEC Nutrition Q160 & Loan

Damnfield clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Tatsuya Aoki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, George St Pierre!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Hirohito Nitta and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Aoki throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. St Pierre was covering up waiting for the punch and Aoki finishes the takedown easily into guard.
St Pierre not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Aoki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. St Pierre swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Aoki is looking to advance position but St Pierre has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
St Pierre punishing his opponent with strikes.
Aoki in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
St Pierre thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
This has been an exciting period of action!
St Pierre lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Aoki is looking to improve his position but St Pierre isn't that keen on the idea.
Aoki avoids a series of strikes thrown by St Pierre.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by St Pierre there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Aoki really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Aoki is squirming around, avoiding St Pierre's attempts to control the action.

St Pierre has control of Aoki's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Aoki regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Aoki tries to lock up and control but St Pierre gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Aoki keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
St Pierre lands a big shot there that rocks Aoki but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Aoki tries to reverse the position but St Pierre maintains control.
Aoki is bucking up trying to escape but St Pierre cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Aoki is desperately trying to improve his position but St Pierre has a good base and remains in mount.
Aoki is bucking up trying to escape but St Pierre cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Aoki is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki gets back to half guard.

St Pierre is looking for a kimura here.

St Pierre wants to work for an arm triangle but Aoki is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Aoki is looking for a sweep. St Pierre is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
St Pierre throwing shots but Aoki is blocking nicely.
Aoki moves into full guard.
St Pierre throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Aoki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Aoki manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
St Pierre slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki is nestled in close to St Pierre, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Aoki working St Pierre over with strikes.
Aoki works his way into full mount!
St Pierre wants to get back to his feet.

Aoki goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now St Pierre is on top in guard.
Aoki working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from St Pierre.
St Pierre wants to control from the top but Aoki keeps moving.
St Pierre throwing strikes but missing.

Aoki is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoki wants to take the fight to the mat but St Pierre manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Aoki is looking for a takedown.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Aoki gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from St Pierre.
St Pierre tries to break the clinch but Aoki is controlling the position.
Aoki wants to take the fight to the mat but St Pierre manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tatsuya Aoki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Aoki is working for takedown but St Pierre is calmly controlling the position for now.

Aoki is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. St Pierre can't fight it off and eventually Aoki manages to take the fight to the floor. St Pierre looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
St Pierre keeping moving, preventing Aoki from controlling successfully.
St Pierre seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Aoki slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Aoki.
Tatsuya Aoki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aoki misses with a jab, cross combination.
St Pierre throws a head kick but Aoki moves out of range.
Aoki throws a right and a left that both miss.
St Pierre shoots in for a takedown but Aoki shows good takedown defense.
Aoki avoids the head kick by St Pierre.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Aoki shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Aoki showed some decent athleticism there.

St Pierre actively working from the bottom here.
St Pierre has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Aoki is working away from the top position though.
Aoki is trying to control. St Pierre wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
St Pierre wants to control but Aoki is keeping busy.
St Pierre avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Aoki.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre is looking to control Aoki's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can St Pierre avoid being mounted?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

OK we're going to have a standup here. George St Pierre hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
St Pierre shoots in looking for a takedown. Aoki tries to sprawl out of it but St Pierre keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Aoki manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Aoki shoots for a double leg takedown but St Pierre sprawls well. He's pushed Aoki's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
St Pierre throws out a loose jab but Aoki uses good head movement to avoid it.
St Pierre dodges the punch combination from Aoki.
Aoki defends well against a solid takedown attempt from St Pierre.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre throws a sloppy head kick and Aoki moves out of range easily.

St Pierre gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
St Pierre utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Aoki postures up.

Aoki decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on St Pierre, up you get!
St Pierre takes one on the chin but seems OK.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

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

Aoki thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Aoki looking to sit in guard and control but St Pierre gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Aoki controls St Pierre momentarily but St Pierre frees himself.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre preventing the sweep.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
St Pierre working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Aoki lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for St Pierre!
St Pierre is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Aoki in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Aoki putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aoki controlling the position easily from mount.
Aoki's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tatsuya Aoki dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

St Pierre throws a head kick but Aoki moves out of range.
Aoki closes the distance and lands a one-two.
St Pierre throws a head kick but Aoki moves out of range.
Aoki throws a low kick, looking for St Pierre's leg but St Pierre calmly moves out of range.
Aoki lands with a cross.
Aoki lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but St Pierre circles away quickly and effectively.
Aoki lands with a good body shot.
St Pierre misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Aoki rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but St Pierre moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Aoki shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. St Pierre defends it nicely.
Aoki shoots in but no luck this time.
Aoki scores with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Pierre looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Aoki is fending him off so far but St Pierre persists. Nope, Aoki circles away and we're back to standing.
Aoki misses with an uppercut.
Aoki shoots in looking for a takedown but St Pierre manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Aoki's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tatsuya Aoki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Some wild striking there from Aoki.
Aoki uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by St Pierre.
St Pierre stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and St Pierre wants it to stay on the feet.
No joy there for Aoki, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Aoki throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. St Pierre tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Aoki is in St Pierre's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
St Pierre looking to hit a scissor sweep but Aoki is one step ahead there.
Aoki wants to control from the top but St Pierre keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre trying to keep a closed guard but Aoki is proving a slippery customer.
St Pierre has Aoki pulled in close to control his posture.
Aoki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. St Pierre swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Aoki trying to control the position from guard on top but St Pierre is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

We're going to have a standup here because Tatsuya Aoki wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
St Pierre misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Aoki misses with a jab, cross combination.

Aoki dives in and scores a takedown into St Pierre's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aoki slips nicely into half guard.
St Pierre is trying to control but can't.
St Pierre trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Aoki landing punches.
St Pierre is desperately trying to improve his position but Aoki has a good base and remains in mount.
Tatsuya Aoki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Aoki scoring with strikes but St Pierre is staying in there.
Aoki misses with a head shot.
Aoki looking to control but St Pierre is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre wants to control but Aoki is having none of it.
Aoki breaks from St Pierre's wrist control and lands an elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aoki content just to control the position here.
Aoki is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. St Pierre can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Aoki with good strikes from the mount here!
Aoki lands a big shot there that rocks St Pierre but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

St Pierre is rocked!

It looks like George St Pierre has been cut.
Aoki connects with a bit shot that sees St Pierre covering up! More strikes from Aoki and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Aoki is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tatsuya Aoki!
An out of breath Tatsuya Aoki thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.