PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Leland Kirby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shinya Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Kirby
vs
Aoki

194 cm
24
151 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Leland Kirby!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinya Aoki!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kirby has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kirby is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Kirby wants to get back to striking at distance but Aoki won't allow it.
Aoki has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kirby avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Kirby escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kirby will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Aoki fails with the takedown.
Aoki has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Kirby.
Kirby tries to clinch but Aoki is having none of it.

Kirby has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kirby pulls his leg out and moves away.
Leland Kirby has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinya Aoki.
Aoki has his takedown stuffed

and Kirby holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Aoki manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Aoki manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kirby manages to get himself to full guard.
Aoki postures up.
Kirby will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kirby looking to hit a scissor sweep but Aoki is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kirby throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Aoki escapes and throws Kirby's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Kirby is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirby is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Aoki's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Aoki wants to pass to mount but Kirby is defending the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kirby wants to control but Aoki is keeping busy.
Kirby tries to get to full guard but Aoki has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoki looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kirby fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leland Kirby dominated that 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.

Aoki shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kirby counters with a solid body kick.
Kirby shoots in for a takedown but Aoki shows good takedown defense.

Aoki darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Kirby is looking for a sweep. Aoki is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kirby moves into full guard.
Kirby manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Aoki manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirby trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Aoki looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Aoki is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirby throws a strike but Aoki rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Kirby is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Aoki defends well.

Kirby working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Aoki doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Aoki manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kirby throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Aoki escapes and throws Kirby's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Kirby taking a bit of punishment here - Aoki scoring with strikes.
Kirby is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Aoki wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kirby, who protects the arm well.
Kirby is trying to improve his position.

Aoki tries for a kimura but Kirby is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinya Aoki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Kirby tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Aoki swats away the attempt to clinch by Kirby.
Kirby tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Aoki counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Aoki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Aoki trying to control but Kirby is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki postures up.

Shinya Aoki has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Aoki tries for a takedown but Kirby sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Aoki closes the distance and clinches.
Kirby tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kirby can't break the clinch.

Kirby's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Aoki is defended easily by Kirby.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Kirby with that takedown attempt.

Kirby closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Aoki to the mat! Aoki manages to get full guard.
Kirby throws an elbow that misses. Aoki uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kirby's guard. Nice move by Aoki!

Kirby 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kirby manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Aoki fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kirby, pushing him back against the cage.

Kirby manages to pull guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aoki advances position into side control!
Kirby struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirby tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Aoki wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Leland Kirby.
I think Kirby has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!