PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Shinya Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maurice Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Aoki
vs
Smith

176 cm
22
158 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

161 cm
20
160 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Shinya Aoki !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Maurice Smith!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Summer Carpenter and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aoki tries for a takedown but Smith sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Smith bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Smith tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Aoki keeps working.
Aoki tries to bench press Smith off him but Smith keeps the position.
Aoki sneaks back into half guard.
Smith takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Aoki looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Smith wants to stand up but Aoki has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Smith trying to control the pace.
Aoki is refusing to be controlled, as Smith sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.
Smith is looking to stall here but Aoki recovers full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Aoki is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Smith is aware though and is defending well.

Aoki looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Aoki working for a triangle but Smith defends it easily.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Aoki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aoki escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Smith gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Aoki has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Smith is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Aoki .
Smith tries to stand but Aoki is controlling his head.
Aoki is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Smith is controlling him well.
Smith slips into full mount, dodging the strikes by Aoki .
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Smith takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Aoki tries to hold on but Smith postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith looking to control and managing it successfully.
Smith can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Aoki is looking to escape.
Aoki is looking to get to half guard.
Aoki is working hard here to advance position.
Smith looking to control but Aoki is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aoki can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to control but Aoki wriggling away.
Aoki is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Aoki is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Smith controlling from the full mount.
Smith looking to control but Aoki is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Aoki is wriggling around trying to escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aoki wants to hold on but Smith pushes him away.
Aoki keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Aoki tries to hold on but Smith pushes him away.
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 Shinya Aoki will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Smith fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Smith closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Aoki scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown. Aoki tries to sprawl out of it but Smith 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 misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Smith tried to score with a low kick but Aoki checks it.
Smith fails with the takedown.
Shinya Aoki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maurice Smith.
Smith defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Aoki .
Aoki thuds his right hand into Smith's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Smith misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Smith throws a hook but Aoki avoids it easily.
Aoki fails with a takedown attempt.

Aoki gets caught flat footed, as Smith shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Aoki trying to strike off his back.

Aoki looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Smith is looking to stand up but Aoki won't let him.
Aoki will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Aoki is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smith defends well.
Smith showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki wants to get back to his feet but Smith is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Smith controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Aoki has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smith can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Aoki keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Shinya Aoki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Maurice Smith was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Smith takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Aoki shoots and misses

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Aoki working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Smith has passed into half guard!
Aoki pushes Smith off looking to stand but Smith dives back in and keeps control.
Smith wants to take a breather but Aoki is having none of it.

Aoki looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Smith 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.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Aoki is pressing down on Smith's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Aoki looking for a triangle here. Smith is fighting it but it looks tight! Aoki pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Smith is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Shinya Aoki !
Shinya Aoki decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.