PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Christopher Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taiki Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aoki is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Cudi the Kid. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Thomas
vs
Aoki

170 cm
28
141 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

170 cm
22
149 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Zombie Nutrition - LOD

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Christopher Thomas!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Taiki Aoki!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Aoki counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Aoki fails with a takedown attempt.

Thomas shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Aoki napping and manages to drive through into side control!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
The ground and pound from Thomas seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aoki gets back to half guard.
Thomas misses with a head shot. Aoki uses the momentum to regain guard.
We've been hearing that Thomas has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Aoki holds on and takes a little breather.
Aoki tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Aoki is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Thomas with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Aoki holds on and takes a little breather.
Thomas has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Thomas lands a couple of elbows.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Thomas's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Thomas in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thomas accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Aoki is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Thomas postures up in Aoki's guard and throws a big left but Aoki blocks it.
Thomas makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Aoki keeping full guard, as Thomas tries to pass.
Aoki wants to sweep but no luck.
Aoki utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Aoki working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thomas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Aoki manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Thomas manages to get himself to full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Aoki stopping the sweep attempt from Thomas.
Aoki throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Aoki preventing the sweep.
Aoki trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomas is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Thomas not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Aoki felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki blocking the ground and pound attempt from Thomas.
Thomas is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Aoki reverses the position - he's now on top in Thomas's guard.
Aoki preventing the sweep.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing Aoki from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aoki in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing Aoki from controlling successfully.
Aoki throws a big right hand that misses.
Thomas working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Aoki.
Thomas avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Aoki.

Aoki drops back, looking for a kneebar! Thomas looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Thomas looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Thomas!
Sloppy strikes there by Thomas.
Aoki manages to work his way to half guard, despite Thomas's best efforts.
Thomas thows a huge punch but Aoki dodges it nicely.
Aoki is controlling Thomas's trapped leg to prevent Thomas from advancing to side control.
Thomas landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Aoki wants to improve his position but Thomas is controlling well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thomas missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Aoki is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Thomas's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Thomas's back!
Aoki has the hooks in. Thomas is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
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 Christopher Thomas will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Thomas misses the jab.
Aoki throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Aoki shoots in looking for a takedown. Thomas tries to sprawl out of it but Aoki keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Thomas manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Thomas throws a body punch but Aoki moves out of range.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Aoki checks a leg kick.
Thomas throws a right and a left that both miss.
Thomas throws a front kick aimed at Aoki's knee but Aoki avoids it well.

Thomas scores with a takedown into Aoki's guard.
Aoki has his hands on Thomas's head, controlling the position.

Thomas has gone for a leg lock! Aoki slips out almost immediately though and dives into Thomas's guard.
Thomas looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki is looking to work some ground and pound but Thomas has wrist control.
Thomas avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing Aoki from controlling successfully.
Aoki with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Thomas 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 working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Thomas avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Aoki trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Thomas wants to sweep here but Aoki controlling him for the moment.
Thomas pulls Aoki in close to his closed guard and prevents Aoki from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki passes into half guard.
Aoki throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Aoki misses with a head shot. Thomas uses the momentum to regain guard.
Aoki wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.
Thomas tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Thomas not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
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 lands a couple of digs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomas managing to control the position.
Thomas utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thomas is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Aoki throwing strikes from guard but Thomas blocks nicely.
Aoki tries to free his leg and advance position but Thomas is retaining full guard.
Aoki working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Aoki working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Thomas's head.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing Aoki from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoki in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Aoki content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Aoki trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomas wants to sweep but no luck.
Aoki looking to pass the guard.
Aoki throws a strike but Thomas rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
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!
Thomas landing with the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thomas throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Aoki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taiki Aoki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Thomas's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Aoki moves out of range of the strikes.
Thomas throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Aoki sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Aoki scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Thomas misses with an uppercut.
Thomas throws a predictable looking body shot
and Aoki counters with a one-two to the body.

Thomas is rocked!
A swing and a miss from Aoki.
Oh Thomas is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Aoki throws a hook but Thomas blocks it.

Aoki closes the distance looking for a takedown. Thomas stuffs it but Aoki still has hold of him. Aoki picks Thomas up in a fireman's lift! The crowd roars in approval. Aoki slams Thomas to the floor and that's really hurt Thomas - he doesn't know where he is! Aoki throws a couple of strikes and the referee steps in to save him! This one is in the books!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Taiki Aoki!
Taiki Aoki is the new bantamweight champion!
Taiki Aoki gave a mention to Zombie Nutrition - LOD in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).