PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Harris Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shinya Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shinya Aoki acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Stevenson
vs
Aoki

181 cm
19
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 1

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

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevenson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Aoki sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Aoki gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Stevenson holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Aoki avoids the elbow strike from Stevenson, against the cage.
Aoki avoids a wild elbow strike from Stevenson.
Aoki tries to break the clinch but Stevenson is controlling the position.
Stevenson has Aoki pressed against the cage.
Aoki is trying to break the clinch but Stevenson has him pressed against the cage.
Stevenson wants to stall.
Stevenson stalling.

Aoki breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stevenson wants to clinch

and Aoki counters with a nice double leg into side control. Stevenson won't be happy with that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Stevenson wants to control but Aoki postures up.

Aoki thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Stevenson tries to buck Aoki off but Aoki is having none of it.
Stevenson is not content to let Aoki control the position.
Stevenson is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Aoki has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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!
Stevenson is not content to let Aoki control the position.
Stevenson is trying to control Aoki's posture but Aoki avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aoki stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Stevenson tries to clinch up

and Aoki counters with a takedown into side control.
Aoki working away.

Aoki tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Stevenson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Stevenson is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinya Aoki dominated that round.
That's time! Stevenson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Stevenson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Aoki holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Aoki is looking to take this one to the mat.
Stevenson throws an elbow that misses.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Aoki tries to circle away but Stevenson has him pinned against the cage.
Aoki tries to score a body lock takedown but Stevenson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Aoki wants a takedown.
Harris Stevenson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinya Aoki.
Stevenson pressing his opponent against the cage.
Stevenson prevents Aoki from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson lands a right hand.
Aoki tries to pull guard but Stevenson won't allow it.
Stevenson has Aoki pushed against the cage.
Stevenson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Aoki.
Stevenson's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Aoki goes for a takedown in the clinch but Stevenson prevents it.
Stevenson taking a breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki is looking to break free of the clinch but Stevenson has double underhooks.
Stevenson leaning against his opponent.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Harris Stevenson.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Aoki is defended easily by Stevenson.

Stevenson moves into the clinch.
Stevenson tries a knee to the head but Aoki blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson effectively controlling the action here.
Stevenson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Stevenson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Aoki to keep the fight standing.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Stevenson is trying to maintain a safe position but Aoki gets an underhook and turns Stevenson into the cage.
Aoki looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Stevenson gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Stevenson wants to stall.
Stevenson seems a little flustered. He's come in with the intention of controlling the clinch but Aoki is preventing him from doing so, at least for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Aoki manages to break the clinch.

Stevenson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Aoki sprawls well initially but Stevenson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Aoki is pressing down on Stevenson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stevenson scoring with punches to the head and body.
Stevenson postures up.
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 crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aoki bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Stevenson's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harris Stevenson dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Stevenson with a poor takedown
and Aoki counters with a head kick that wobbles Stevenson - left then right he sways and one more bomb from Aoki sends him down. This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Shinya Aoki!