PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Taiki Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vesa Sykk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aoki's entrance music is Cudi the Kid. A fine choice. Vesa Sykk told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Aoki
vs
Sykk

170 cm
19
150 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

172 cm
20
155 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

DJs Locker
Fighters First Nutrition Amsterdam 160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Taiki Aoki!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Vesa Sykk!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yukihiro Shimada and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sykk scores with a jab. Aoki acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Sykk lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Aoki is rocked!
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Sykk looks for the body kick but Aoki saw that one coming.
Oh Aoki is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Aoki misses with an uppercut. Sykk saw that one coming.
Aoki seems to have got his legs back now.
Sykk moves to clinch but Aoki breaks away

and Aoki counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Aoki is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sykk has escaped the position, nice work there.
Aoki working away.

Aoki is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sykk is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Aoki is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sykk has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykk is looking for a sweep.
Aoki throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Sykk can't do much from the bottom here.
Sykk tries to buck Aoki off but Aoki is having none of it.

Aoki looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Aoki tries to score with some ground and pound. Sykk controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Aoki is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sykk is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Aoki trying to control the action but Sykk is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sykk wants to control but Aoki postures up.
Aoki has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sykk tries to improve position but can't.
Sykk struggling a bit here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sykk is trying to get back to half guard.

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

Aoki wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sykk, who protects the arm well.
Sykk struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sykk is looking to reverse the position.
Sykk managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Aoki.
Aoki wants to control but Sykk is keeping him busy.

Aoki tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Aoki has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Aoki trying to control the position but Sykk is working away.

Aoki is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sykk is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Sykk wants to control but Aoki postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Aoki is trying to get an arm triangle but Sykk is defending well.
Sykk is not content to let Aoki control the position.
Aoki postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

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

Aoki tries for a kimura but Sykk is defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sykk struggling a bit here.
Aoki throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taiki Aoki dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Aoki wants to clinch but Sykk slips to the side
and Sykk counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Sykk lands with a good body shot.
Sykk throws a shot from downtown. Aoki moves away and avoids it.
Aoki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sykk throws a quick inside leg kick.
Sykk scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Aoki doesn't seem bothered though.
Sykk lands with a cross.
Aoki takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Aoki closes the distance looking to clinch

and Sykk counters with a series of strikes that sends Aoki to the canvas! Sykk follows down into guard, looking to finish the fight!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykk is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Aoki has his foot on Sykk's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sykk works his way back into a safe position though.
Sykk trying to control but Aoki is working from the bottom.
Aoki 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 is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sykk controlling from the top position.
Sykk passes Aoki's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sykk is looking to advance position but Aoki won't allow it.
Sykk seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Aoki does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sykk prevents Aoki from improving his position.
Sykk seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Aoki does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Aoki is trying to get back to full guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Aoki is trying to maintain the position but Sykk is very close to passing his half guard.
Aoki is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sykk slows the pace down in half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Vesa Sykk.
Sykk throws a hook but Aoki blocks it.
Aoki is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Aoki swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Sykk cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sykk misses with a hook. Aoki ducked under it nicely.
A chopping leg kick lands by Sykk.
Aoki wants to clinch up but Sykk keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Aoki closes the distance and clinches.
Aoki drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sykk pulls his leg out and moves away.
Aoki is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Aoki tries to clinch but Sykk is having none of it.
Aoki tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sykk sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Aoki somewhat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Aoki clinches up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vesa Sykk showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Aoki ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sykk moves away.
Aoki steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sykk.

Sykk drops Aoki with a nice combination! Sykk dives into Aoki's guard, looking to finish!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Aoki working for submissions but it's allowed Sykk to get to half guard.
Aoki is looking for a sweep. Sykk is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sykk moves nicely into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aoki is not content to let Sykk control the position.
Aoki is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykk controlling from side mount.
Sykk tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Aoki tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Sykk tries for a kimura but Aoki is defending well.
Aoki is trying to improve his position.
Sykk trying to control the position but Aoki is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Sykk wants to lay and pray for a moment but Aoki keeps working.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Sykk working away.
Taiki Aoki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Aoki tries to improve position but can't.
Aoki gets back to half guard.
Sykk wants to take a breather but Aoki is having none of it.
Aoki is trying to maintain the position but Sykk is very close to passing his half guard.
Sykk trying to control the action but Aoki is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Vesa Sykk wasn't active enough on the ground.
The fight stays on the outside here - Aoki looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sykk throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Aoki tries to clinch up but Sykk circles away and keeps his distance.
Sykk is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Aoki.
Sykk's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Sykk duly obliges.
Sykk thuds his shin into the meat of Aoki's side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sykk throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Sykk jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sykk swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Aoki swings for the body but Sykk moves out of range.
Sykk explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Sykk scores with a sloppy right hand. Aoki should have avoided that one.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sykk connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Aoki slips a straight right by Sykk.
Sykk throws a head kick but Aoki moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vesa Sykk really dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sykk scores with a body shot.
Aoki tries to clinch but Sykk moves away
and Sykk counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Aoki tries to clinch there but Sykk circles away.
Sykk slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Sykk pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sykk jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sykk tries a head kick but it misses.
Jab from Sykk.
Aoki wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykk circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sykk throws a jab when Aoki was well out of range.
Sykk looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Aoki avoids a kick to the body.
Aoki moves out of range of the body kick from Sykk.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sykk. Aoki does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki is looking to clinch but Sykk is avoiding it.
Aoki fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sykk connects with a body shot that sends Aoki's belly button to the back.
Sykk throws a half hearted mid kick.
Vesa Sykk is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sykk throws the kick towards the body but Aoki avoids it.
Aoki is looking to clinch but Sykk is avoiding it.
Sykk throws out a leg kick but Aoki moves out of range and Sykk only half commits.

Aoki changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sykk looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sykk is trying to control Aoki's posture but Aoki avoids it.
Aoki in side control, throwing shots but Sykk defends.

Aoki is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sykk has escaped the position, nice work there.

Aoki is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sykk is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Sykk is looking for a sweep.

Aoki goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Sykk rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Aoki's guard! Nice work there by Sykk!
Sykk is looking to stand up but Aoki won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Aoki is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sykk defends well.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Aoki tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sykk not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Sykk wants to control from the top but Aoki keeps moving.
Aoki keeping full guard, as Sykk tries to pass.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Sykk got a little sloppy there for a moment and Aoki has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sykk has managed to get both his arms back between Aoki's legs - danger averted.
Aoki being controlled here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vesa Sykk dominated that fourth round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sykk misses the shot to the body.
Sykk keeps the fight on the outside.
Sykk lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Aoki drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Aoki has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Sykk.
Sykk throws an overhand right that lands on Aoki's shoulder, as Aoki tries to avoid the shot.
Sykk connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykk lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Sykk avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sykk lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Aoki slips under a jab from Sykk.
Aoki avoids a kick to the body.
Aoki misses with a takedown attempt - Sykk sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Aoki looks to clinch
and Sykk counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Aoki misses with a looping right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sykk misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Aoki.
Aoki tries to clinch but Sykk moves out of range.
Aoki is looking to clinch but Sykk is avoiding it.
Sykk looks to score with a jab to the body but Aoki is just out of range.
Aoki wants to clinch up but Sykk keeps it at a distance.
Sykk tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sykk circles away from the clinch attempt.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Aoki checks a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki throws a hook to the side of Sykk's head but Sykk sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Taiki Aoki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sykk tries to clinch up.
Aoki takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Sykk lands with a right hand.
Vesa Sykk seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sykk fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Aoki looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Sykk throws a nice inside leg kick.
Aoki is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sykk jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Sykk throws a looping overhand right but Aoki ducks down to avoid it.
Aoki misses with a body shot.
Aoki tries to clinch but Sykk moves out of range.
Aoki shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Aoki tries to clinch but Sykk moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aoki fails with a takedown attempt.
Sykk throws the left hand but Aoki avoids the punch easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vesa Sykk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sykk has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 46:49
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 46:49
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vesa Sykk!
Vesa Sykk is the new featherweight champion!