PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Taka Osatoko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shina Aoyki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Osatoko
vs
Aoyki

178 cm
19
160 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
164 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Taka Osatoko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shina Aoyki!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Kenichi Hosakawa and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Osatoko rushes Aoyki and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Aoyki looking for a takedown.

Osatoko breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Osatoko throws a hook to the side of Aoyki's head but Aoyki sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Osatoko closes the distance and clinches.
Stalling in the clinch from Osatoko.
Osatoko lands with a light punch inside.
Aoyki tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Osatoko smiles and moves away.
Aoyki closes the distance and clinches up with Osatoko, looking for a takedown. Aoyki pushes Osatoko against the cage but Osatoko circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Taka Osatoko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shina Aoyki.
Aoyki tries to close the distance and clinch but Osatoko swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A punch combination from Osatoko misses.
Aoyki throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The fighters circling - Osatoko throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Osatoko ducks under a wild hook from Aoyki.
Osatoko lands a jab to the head.
Osatoko throws a series of punches but Aoyki avoids them all with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Osatoko clinches but Aoyki breaks the clinch
and Aoyki counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Aoyki misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Osatoko looks to clinch
and Aoyki counters with an outside leg kick.

Aoyki clinches.
Aoyki misses with a knee strike.
Osatoko managing to block the knees to the body from Aoyki.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Aoyki.
Osatoko avoiding damage as Aoyki throws knees to the body.
Osatoko lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Aoyki.
Still in the clinch, Osatoko scores with a nice short uppercut.
Osatoko is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Osatoko gets through Aoyki's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Osatoko lands a nice shot to the body.
Aoyki missing with knees to the body.
Osatoko is trying to break the clinch but Aoyki has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Osatoko wants to break free but Aoyki has control.
Aoyki can't get the takedown.
Osatoko lands a right hand that snaps the head of Aoyki backwards.
Aoyki throws an elbow that misses.
Osatoko avoids the elbow strike from Aoyki, against the cage.
Aoyki taking a breather.
Osatoko throws a head punch that misses.
Aoyki trying to land knees to the body.
Osatoko is trying to break the clinch but Aoyki has him pressed against the cage.
Aoyki tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Osatoko just stands there and leans against the cage.
Aoyki misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Osatoko.

Aoyki pulls guard.
Aoyki wants to sweep but no luck.
Aoyki keeping moving, preventing Osatoko from controlling successfully.
Osatoko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Osatoko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Aoyki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Aoyki looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Osatoko has picked Aoyki up and slammed him! Aoyki can't keep hold of the triangle and Osatoko manages to pass to side control!
Osatoko lands a decent elbow from side control.
Aoyki gets back to half guard.
Osatoko tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Aoyki.
Aoyki trying to control but Osatoko postures up.
Osatoko seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Aoyki does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Aoyki manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Osatoko trying to control the position from guard on top but Aoyki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Aoyki working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Osatoko doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Osatoko manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Osatoko won't allow Aoyki to sweep him here.
Osatoko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Aoyki swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Aoyki escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Osatoko gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
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 Taka Osatoko will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Aoyki fails with the takedown.
Osatoko throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Aoyki's head.
Aoyki misses with a low kick.
Osatoko connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Aoyki rushes Osatoko and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Osatoko wants to break free but Aoyki has control.
Osatoko has Aoyki pushed against the cage.
Aoyki lands a knee to the body.
Come on Aoyki - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Osatoko is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Aoyki looking for a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Osatoko dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Osatoko swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Osatoko blocks an elbow strike from Aoyki.
Aoyki blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Aoyki fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Taka Osatoko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shina Aoyki.
Osatoko has Aoyki pressed against the cage.
Osatoko seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Aoyki dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Aoyki gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Osatoko lands with a light punch inside.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Osatoko lands a body shot in the clinch.
Osatoko looking to stall.
Aoyki tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Osatoko smiles and moves away.
Osatoko darts in trying to clinch
and Aoyki counters with a good low kick that Osatoko was not able to check.
Osatoko is looking to clinch but Aoyki is avoiding it.
A head kick misses from Aoyki.
Osatoko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Aoyki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Osatoko tries to close the distance and clinch but Aoyki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Osatoko wants to land a leg kick but Aoyki is out of range.
Nice defenses there by Aoyki.
Osatoko paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Taka Osatoko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Aoyki looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoyki looking to pass the guard.
Aoyki is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Osatoko is on top in guard.
Aoyki tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Osatoko content to stall in guard here.
Osatoko trying to control but Aoyki is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Aoyki is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The fighters are battling for position here. Osatoko manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Aoyki pushes down on Osatoko's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Osatoko misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Osatoko blocking the ground and pound attempt from Aoyki.
Aoyki trying to control the action but Osatoko is working from the bottom.
Osatoko throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Taka Osatoko will probably get the nod.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Aoyki wants to clinch but Osatoko slips to the side

and Osatoko counters by moving into the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Osatoko breaks from the clinch.
Osatoko tries to clinch there but Aoyki circles away.
Aoyki gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Osatoko counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Aoyki stalls.
Aoyki prevents Osatoko from breaking the clinch.
Osatoko lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Aoyki backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Osatoko is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Aoyki is keeping busy.
Still in the clinch, Osatoko scores with a nice short uppercut.
Osatoko wants to break the clinch but can't.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Osatoko has had enough of the clinch but Aoyki keeps him there for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoyki prevents a body shot from Osatoko.
Aoyki misses with an elbow over the top.
Osatoko throws a punch but it's blocked by Aoyki.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Osatoko wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Osatoko.
Osatoko lands a hook to the side of the head.
Osatoko wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Aoyki.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Osatoko avoiding damage as Aoyki throws knees to the body.
Taka Osatoko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Osatoko wants to stall.
Osatoko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Aoyki misses with an elbow over the top.
Aoyki pressing his opponent against the cage.
Aoyki misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Osatoko.
Aoyki has Osatoko pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Osatoko manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Osatoko working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Osatoko wants to get back to striking at distance but Aoyki won't allow it.
Aoyki tries to pull guard but Osatoko holds him up against the cage and eventually Aoyki drops back down to his feet.
Taka Osatoko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shina Aoyki.
Osatoko working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The is referee keeping an eye on Aoyki - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Aoyki throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Aoyki trying to land knees to the body.
Aoyki stalling in the clinch.
Aoyki is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Good body shot from Osatoko.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A shot in the inside from Osatoko.
Osatoko lands a shoulder strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Aoyki is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Osatoko can't fight it off and eventually Aoyki manages to take the fight to the floor. Osatoko looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Osatoko is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Osatoko has his hands on Aoyki's head, controlling the position.
Shina Aoyki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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 Taka Osatoko.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Osatoko, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taka Osatoko!