PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Shinya Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lazarus Envy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aoki's entrance music is Nina simone - Feeling good. A fine choice. Envy comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Converge - Dark Horse kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Shinya Aoki had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Aoki
vs
Envy

180 cm
23
162 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

165 cm
22
160 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Determined

ev0lved Fight Gear

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shinya Aoki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lazarus Envy!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Frank Dennis and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Envy lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Envy fails with an attempt to clinch.

Aoki shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Envy is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Aoki working some strikes from top position.
Envy keeping moving, preventing Aoki from controlling successfully.
Aoki controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Aoki drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Aoki jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Aoki has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Aoki looking to pass the guard.
Aoki will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Aoki passes into half guard.
Envy looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki is tying to control. Envy wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Envy is looking to improve his position.
Aoki looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Envy throws a head kick but Aoki moves out of range.

Aoki bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Envy sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aoki works his foot free and advances to mount.
You get the feeling that Envy really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Envy tries to hold on but Aoki pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aoki working for a guillotine from mount but Envy is in no mood to give up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aoki working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Aoki trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Envy is trying desperately to improve position.

Aoki goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Envy turns into him and now he's in Aoki's guard.
Aoki is breathing heavily.
Envy trying to stand up but can't free himself from Aoki's guard.

Aoki is looking for a triangle but Envy pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki trying to control the position.

Aoki looking for a guillotine here but Envy defends easily.
Envy would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Envy trying to control the position from guard on top but Aoki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Envy avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Aoki looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

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.
Aoki 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.

Envy drops back looking for a leg! Aoki is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Aoki manages to kick Envy off! Envy jumps back into Aoki's guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Aoki looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
No luck for Aoki with that takedown attempt.
Aoki is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Envy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Aoki has a takedown stuffed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Envy fails to land the takedown.

Aoki feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Aoki stops Envy from standing up.
Aoki lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Envy looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Aoki trying to control but Envy is working from the bottom.
Aoki forces his way into half guard.
Envy gets full guard.
Envy wants to stand and escape but Aoki is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Envy looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Aoki passes into side control.
Envy is breathing heavily.

Aoki is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Envy has escaped the position, nice work there.
Aoki misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Envy is trying to get back to his feet.

Aoki working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Aoki wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Envy, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Aoki trying to control the action but Envy is working from the bottom.
Envy tries to escape but Aoki is in control.
Envy is not content to let Aoki control the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Envy lands with a kick to the temple. Aoki shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Lazarus Envy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Envy shoots for a takedown but Aoki saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Envy tries a head kick but it misses.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Aoki.

Aoki is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Envy knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aoki tries for a kimura but Envy is defending well.
Aoki sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Envy is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Aoki trying to control the position but Envy is working away.

Aoki is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Envy has escaped the position, nice work there.
Aoki wants to control but Envy is keeping him busy.

That's four 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.
Envy manages to work his way to half guard, despite Aoki's best efforts.
Aoki stops Envy from getting back to his feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Envy lands a high kick!
A nice leg kick lands there from Envy.
Envy fakes the leg kick and cracks Aoki in the body.
Aoki looks for a takedown but Envy sprawls well.
Envy looks to land a combination but Aoki avoids it well.
Aoki misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Envy moves in looking to clinch but Aoki pushes him off.
Aoki avoids the head kick by Envy.
Aoki takes a kick to the side of the head.
Envy wants to clinch.
Envy plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lazarus Envy 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Envy throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Aoki's waist but Aoki gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Envy off to one side.

Aoki scores with a takedown into Envy's guard.
Aoki throws a big right hand that misses.
Aoki prevents Envy from getting back to his feet.
Aoki with a nice head shot there.
Aoki thows a big elbow that misses.
Envy bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Aoki's guard.
Aoki trying to control the position.

Aoki throws his legs up looking for a submission but Envy uses it to pass to side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Aoki tries to improve position but can't.
Envy wants to stand but Aoki has his arm trapped.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Envy wants to stand but Aoki has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.
Shinya Aoki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Aoki looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Envy has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Aoki is proving hard to escape from.
Envy won't allow Aoki to sweep him here.
Aoki wants to hit a switch here but Envy passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Aoki there!

Envy is working for a guillotine from mount but Aoki frees his head quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Envy wants to stand but Aoki is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.

Envy goes for an armbar but Aoki turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Aoki.
Aoki pushes down on Envy's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Aoki is looking to take a break and control but Envy is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Aoki frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki working Envy over with strikes here.
Aoki lands a big elbow.
Aoki is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Envy can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Envy flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Aoki misses with a head shot.

Aoki goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Envy is on top in guard.
Aoki doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Envy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Aoki is keeping the position for now.
Aoki has a closed guard, preventing Envy from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Aoki is looking for a triangle but Envy pushes his legs off easily.

Envy stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Envy lands a head kick!
Shinya Aoki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aoki misses with a takedown attempt - Envy sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A thudding body kick lands there by Envy!
Envy fails to land the takedown.
Aoki looks for a takedown but Envy sprawls well.
Envy shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Aoki as he avoids it easily.
Shinya Aoki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lazarus Envy.

Aoki gets the takedown into side control.
Envy pushes Aoki away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Aoki gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shinya Aoki showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Aoki 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shinya Aoki!