PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between John Equinox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Masakazu Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aoki has chosen Sandstorm by Darude as his entrance music. John Equinox could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Masakazu Aoki's chin.

Equinox
vs
Aoki

172 cm
43
147 lbs
53 - 28 - 1

155 cm
43
147 lbs
41 - 23 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 53 - 28 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Equinox!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 41 - 23 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Masakazu Aoki!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Daniel Cesar and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Equinox misses.

Aoki instigates a clinch.
Equinox throws a head punch that misses.
Equinox can't find room to land a body shot as Aoki controls the action.
Aoki is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Equinox is keeping busy.
Equinox has a couple of punches blocked by Aoki.
Equinox misses with a short punch on the inside.
Aoki misses with a hook to the ribs.
Aoki tries for a takedown. No joy.
Equinox pushes Aoki back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Equinox has a couple of punches blocked by Aoki.
Equinox throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Aoki misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Equinox.
Equinox tries to work over Aoki's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Equinox managing to block the knees to the body from Aoki.
Equinox has Aoki pressed against the cage.
Equinox blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki trying to stall but Equinox improves his position.
Equinox misses with the head strike.
Aoki tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Equinox avoids it.
Aoki's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Equinox has a couple of punches blocked by Aoki.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Aoki.
Aoki trying to control the position but instead, Equinox has worked for underhooks and has pushed Aoki into the cage.
Equinox misses with a body punch.
Equinox gets underhooks to prevent Aoki's takedown attempt.
Aoki is looking for a takedown.
John Equinox has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Masakazu Aoki.
A right handed body shot lands from Equinox.
Stalling in the clinch from Equinox.
Equinox working aggressively here.
Equinox is pressed up against the cage. Aoki has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Equinox down to the mat. Equinox avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Equinox stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Aoki.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Equinox avoids the body shot from Aoki.
Equinox throws an overhand right that lands on Aoki's shoulder, as Aoki tries to avoid the shot.
Aoki misses with a few strikes there.
Equinox throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Aoki tries to clinch up
and Equinox counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Equinox misses with a few strikes there.
Equinox showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Aoki.
Equinox keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A left lands for Aoki.
Aoki throws a head kick but Equinox moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki works the jab nicely.
The crowd cheers as Equinox lands an impressive looking overhand right. Aoki doesn't seem phased though.
Equinox is looking to clinch but Aoki is avoiding it.
Equinox walks into a left hand.
Aoki lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Aoki steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Equinox.
Aoki fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Equinox fails in his attempt to clinch.
Equinox misses with a looping left.
Aoki scores with the left hand. Equinox knows he should have avoided that one.
Equinox blocks a jab.
A chopping leg kick lands by Aoki.
A head kick misses from Aoki.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoki lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
John Equinox is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Equinox staying out of range there.
Aoki misses with a hook to the body

and Equinox moves into the clinch.
Equinox misses with the head strike.
Equinox misses with some punches.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Equinox lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Aoki or not.
Aoki tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Equinox misses with a hook from the clinch.
Equinox throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Aokis head.
Still in the clinch, Equinox scores with a nice short uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Equinox misses with a punch to the body.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Aoki with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Equinox dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Equinox lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Aoki.
Aoki misses with a low kick.
Equinox tries to close the distance and clinch up but Aoki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Masakazu Aoki seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Aoki loads up on a big right hand but Equinox slips the punch.
Aoki swats away the attempt to clinch by Equinox.
Aoki fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Aoki misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Equinox lands a jab to Aoki's midsection.
Aoki connects with a looping right hand.
Equinox clobbers Aoki with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

It looks like Masakazu Aoki has been cut.
Equinox misses with a hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aoki pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki misses with a series of wild punches.

Aoki drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Aoki pushes down on Equinox's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Aoki is trying to control the action in half guard but Equinox is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Aoki looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Well, if Aoki is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki is looking to take a break and control but Equinox is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Masakazu Aoki has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Aoki has a takedown stuffed.
Equinox blocks a low kick nicely.
Aoki jabs Equinox to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Equinox defending well as Aoki loads up on a big left hand.
Equinox leaves Aoki with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Aoki throws a big shot that misses.
Equinox lands a jab.
Equinox thows a left - swing and a miss!
Equinox is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Aoki swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Equinox counters with a nice body shot.
Equinox works over Aoki's head and body with a nice combination.
Aoki misses with an uppercut. Equinox saw that one coming.
Equinox swings for the body but Aoki moves out of range.
Aoki throws a jab when Equinox was well out of range.
Masakazu Aoki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aoki throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Equinox connects with a jab.
Aoki is looking to clinch but Equinox is avoiding it.
Aoki looks to land a right hand but Equinox moved out of range.
Equinox scores with a nice head shot.
Aoki throws a series of punches but Equinox avoids them all with ease.
Good work by Equinox as he checks the leg kick.
A head kick misses from Aoki.
Aoki throws a body punch but Equinox moves out of range.

Aoki forces Equinox back against the cage and clinches.
Equinox working aggressively here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Equinox doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Equinox fails to land.
Equinox tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Aoki's elbow.
Aoki is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
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 John Equinox will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Masakazu Aoki's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Aoki misses with a body shot.
Aoki throws a jab but it's blocked by Equinox.
Aoki fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Equinox looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Aoki throws a chopping leg kick but Equinox manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Aoki throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Equinox moves out of range of the strikes.
Equinox doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Equinox staying out of range there.
Aoki is looking to clinch.
Aoki misses with a body punch
and Equinox connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Equinox's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Aoki connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Equinox scrambles back to his feet.
Aoki pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Equinox ducks under a wild hook from Aoki.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as Equinox blocks the low kick.
Aoki throws a lazy uppercut

and Equinox counters by moving into the clinch.
Equinox tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Equinox has a couple of punches blocked by Aoki.
Equinox scores with a shot to the side of Aoki's head.
Aoki misses with a knee to the head.
Equinox is leaning against Aoki and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Aoki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Good body shot from Equinox.
Equinox lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Equinox tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Equinox misses with the head strike.
Equinox struggles to land a body shot inside as Aoki controls his hands.
Equinox swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Equinox misses with a punch on the inside.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Equinox fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Equinox digs a right hand into Aoki's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Aoki's gas tank.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Equinox softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Equinox can't find room to land a body shot as Aoki controls the action.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Equinox.
Aoki's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Equinox misses with a hook to the ribs.
Equinox is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Equinox lands a nice uppercut.
Equinox lands a body shot.
Equinox fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Equinox lands a body shot in the clinch.
Aoki blocks a body shot from Equinox.
A shot in the inside from Equinox.
Equinox misses with a short punch on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Equinox.
A short uppercut from Equinox.
Equinox misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Equinox has a couple of punches blocked by Aoki.
Equinox pushes Aoki back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A head punch on the inside from Equinox fails to land.
A shot in the inside from Equinox.
Equinox misses with a hook to the ribs.
Aoki taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Equinox misses with a hook to the ribs.
Equinox misses with a short punch on the inside.
Equinox misses with a body punch.
Equinox swings wildly with an uppercut but Aoki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Aoki prevents a body shot from Equinox.
Equinox tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Equinox scores with a nice hook to the head.
Equinox working aggressively here.
Equinox lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Aoki backwards.
A nice right hand lands inside from Equinox.
Equinox lands a right hand.
Aoki looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Equinox effectively controlling the action here.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Equinox lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Equinox lands a hook to the side of the head.

Aoki is rocked!
Aoki blocks a body shot from Equinox.
Equinox gets through Aoki's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Aoki is still on wobbly legs! Can Equinox finish him?
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Equinox lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A hook to the body from Equinox.
John Equinox has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Equinox scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Equinox pushes Aoki against the cage. Equinox is working some dirty boxing. Equinox pushes off with a quick right hook! Aoki goes down! Aoki tries to stand but stumbles back to his kness! Equinox moves in to finish and the ref steps in to prevent any more damage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). John Equinox!
John Equinox retains his featherweight title!
After winning the bout, John Equinox thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.