PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Masakazu Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Melekh David (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aoki comes to the cage accompanied by Sandstorm by Darude. Masakazu Aoki could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Melekh David's chin.

Aoki
vs
David

155 cm
38
147 lbs
31 - 16 - 1

170 cm
28
149 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Mango Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 31 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Masakazu Aoki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Melekh David!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Daniel Cesar and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aoki misses with a hook.
No joy there for Aoki, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Aoki tries to close the distance and clinch but David swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
David blocks a head kick by Aoki.

Aoki moves into range and clinches up with David.
Aoki tried to land a shot to the body but connects with David's elbow.

David's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Aoki works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Aoki on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A looping hook to the body misses from Aoki. David does a little dance to reset his feet.
Aoki throws a nice inside leg kick.
David connects with a solid leg kick.
Aoki throws a push kick but David slaps the foot to one side.
Aoki looks to score with a jab to the body but David is just out of range.
David scores with a punch to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Aoki shoots in and gets a takedown into David's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki landing some decent shots from guard.

David has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Aoki can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
David seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
David keeping moving, preventing Aoki from controlling successfully.
Aoki makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Aoki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
David keeping moving, preventing Aoki from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
David is controlling Aoki's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aoki sitting in guard here, content to control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A lazy left from David finds it's target.
Aoki throws a nice inside leg kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Aoki shoots for a double leg takedown but David sprawls well. He's pushed Aoki's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Aoki rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and David counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
No joy there for David, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
David ducks right into an uppercut from Aoki.
Aoki shoots in and drives through. David sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
David fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Aoki is out of range.
David leaves Aoki with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Masakazu Aoki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
David slips under a jab.
Aoki scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Aoki throws a leg kick but David sees it coming and moves out of range.
David ducks under a wild hook from Aoki.
David avoids the body shot from Aoki.
Aoki shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts David as he jumps to the side.
David tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
David throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Nice cross by David.
Aoki throws a poor cross that misses
and David counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoki takes a swing at David's ribcage but misses.
Aoki feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to David's calf.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
David looks to land a body kick but Aoki moved away.

Aoki closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. David quickly recovers to half guard.
David wants to control but Aoki is keeping busy.
Aoki trying to advance position but David counters by regaining guard.
David keeping full guard, as Aoki tries to pass.
David lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Aoki!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Aoki can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Masakazu Aoki will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

David displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Aoki throws out the jab.
Masakazu Aoki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
David lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Aoki misses with a hook
and David counters with a straight right hand.

It looks like Masakazu Aoki has been cut.
A head kick misses from Aoki.
David is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
David avoids the body shot from Aoki.
Melekh David seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Aoki throws a sloppy head kick
and David counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
David lands a jab-cross combination.
The fighters circle momentarily. Aoki darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Aoki fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Aoki keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from David.
Melekh David is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Aoki swings for the body but David moves out of range.
Aoki fails with an attempt to clinch.
Aoki looks to land a right hand but David moved out of range.
No luck for Aoki with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
David displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Aoki throws out the jab.
David misses the jab.
Nice shot lands for David.
David feints and then cracks Aoki's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Aoki down.
Aoki defending well as David loads up on a big left hand.
Aoki throws a body punch but David moves out of range.
Aoki thuds his right hand into David's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
David fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Aoki avoids it really well and circles away.
David tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick misses from David.
Aoki lands a jab to the nose.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
David tries to land a front kick but Aoki steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Aoki shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as David sprawls well. David wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Aoki gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Masakazu Aoki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Aoki ducks down and throws a hook to the body but David moves away.
Aoki is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
David scores with a nice right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
David misses with a jab, cross combination.
David pivots, looking for a leg kick but Aoki is out of range and David settles back down.
A slow jab from Aoki misses its intended target.
Aoki stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
David throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. David manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Aoki tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but David was well out of range. Poor timing from Aoki.
David bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Aoki's head.
Aoki fails with a takedown attempt.
David throws a chopping leg kick but Aoki manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
David connects with a nice looking jab.
Aoki fails with the takedown
and David counters with a low kick, right behind Aoki 's knee.
David lands a nice hook to Aoki's body. Aoki takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
David lands a leg kick that knocks Aoki off balance momentarily.
Aoki tries to close the distance and clinch but David swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Aoki misses with a right hand
and David counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aoki wants to slow David down by chopping away at his legs.
David lands a leg kick that knocks Aoki off balance momentarily.
David has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Aoki misses with a body shot.
David lands a jab.
Aoki throws a right hand that misses
and David counters with a nice leg kick.
A low kick from Aoki is predictable there
and David connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
David scores with a punch to the head.
Aoki misses with a low kick.
Aoki throws a head kick but David moves out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The fighters circling - Aoki throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Aoki pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Aoki checks the leg kick nicely there.
The fighters circling - Aoki throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Melekh David showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Masakazu Aoki's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

David closes the distance and clinches up with Aoki, looking for a takedown. David pushes Aoki against the cage but Aoki circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Aoki throws a hook to the side of David's head but David sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Aoki throws a hook but David avoids it easily.
Aoki tries to move into range but David moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Aoki rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and David counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Aoki misses with a double jab
and David counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A left lands for Aoki.
Aoki tests David's chin there with a solid looking shot.
David takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
David shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Aoki as he avoids it easily.
David keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Aoki.
Aoki misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
David swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A jab lands there for David.
A chopping leg kick lands by David.
David throws a hook but Aoki avoids it easily.
David slips under a jab from Aoki.
Aoki on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Aoki tries to work over David's front leg with a kick but David checks it.
David closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
David takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
David stuffs the takedown attempt from Aoki. Aoki gets slowly back to his feet.
David on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Aoki throws an uppercut from half a mile away. David sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
David slips under a jab.
Aoki swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by David.
A lazy left from David finds it's target.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
David throws a shot to the body.
Aoki digs a good body shot into David's ribs.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as David checks a leg kick.
David throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Aoki stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
David avoids the body shot from Aoki.
Aoki dives in and grabs David's left leg, looking for a takedown. David pushes down on Aoki's head and hops out.
Aoki looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
David lands with a straight right. Aoki didn't see that one coming.
Aoki takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Aoki is rocked!
Aoki swings away with a body shot that misses
and David counters with a big right hand! Oh Aoki is in trouble here! David follows up with more strikes and that's it! The ref has stopped it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Melekh David!
An out of breath Melekh David thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.