PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Archer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Its Ono (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Archer
vs
Ono

188 cm
29
210 lbs
18 - 13 - 0

187 cm
23
212 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Aaron Archer!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Its Ono!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Chad Campbell and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Archer lands with an uppercut that bounces Ono off the cage and back into range.
Ono sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
A looping hook to the body misses from Archer. Ono does a little dance to reset his feet.
Archer swings away with a body shot that misses
and Ono counters with a low kick, right behind Archer 's knee.
A looping hook to the body misses from Archer. Ono does a little dance to reset his feet.
Archer throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Archer looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ono is fending him off so far but Archer persists. Nope, Ono circles away and we're back to standing.
We've been hearing reports that Archer has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Archer swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ono tries to work over Archer's front leg with a kick but Archer checks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Archer misses with a body shot

and Ono counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Archer!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ono scoring with punches and elbows.
Archer tries to buck Ono off but Ono is having none of it.
Archer managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Ono.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ono wants to stand but Archer has his arm trapped.
Archer tries to improve position but can't.
Archer is trying to control Ono's posture but Ono avoids it.
Archer tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Archer seems a little lost for a moment, as Ono dominates the positioning.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Archer can't do much from the bottom here.

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.
Ono grinds an elbow into Archer's temple.
Ono working away.
Archer parries the strikes from Ono easily there. Ono is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Archer to escape.
Archer can't do much from the bottom here.
The ground and pound from Ono seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Archer is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Ono misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ono controls the position.
Ono is continuing to stall.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Aaron Archer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Archer tries a head kick but it misses.
Ono misses with a left hand

and Archer counters with a takedown into side control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Archer in side control lands a decent elbow.
Ono can't do much from the bottom here.

Archer is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ono has escaped the position, nice work there.
Archer laying and praying for a moment but Ono takes advantage and regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ono is trying to control but Archer manages to pass to mount!
Ono is trying desperately to improve position.
Ono tries to hold on but Archer postures up.
Ono is looking to get to half guard.
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 Aaron Archer will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ono ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ono on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Archer throws a hook to the side of Ono's head but Ono sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Archer closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Ono tries to bench press Archer off him but Archer keeps the position.
Ono is not content to let Archer control the position.
Ono manages to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ono wants to control but Archer is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Archer wants to control but Ono is keeping him busy.
Ono felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ono regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ono wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ono is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ono wants to sweep here but Archer controlling him for the moment.
Ono looking to control.
Archer working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ono wants to stand but Archer is controlling the position.
Ono not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ono tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ono keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jab by Archer.
Its Ono is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ono walks into a straight right hand from Archer.
Archer fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ono.
Archer swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ono moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A clash of legs there as Ono blocks the low kick.
Archer fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Ono checks it well.
Ono moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Archer lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Archer just misses with a punch to the body.
Archer with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Archer jabs Ono right on the nose. Ono blinks but takes it well.
No joy there for Archer, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Archer misses with an uppercut. Ono saw that one coming.
Archer sizes up Ono with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Nice sprawl there from Ono as Archer shoots in.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Archer.
Archer paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Archer fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ono manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Archer throws out a loose jab but Ono uses good head movement to avoid it.
Archer throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Archer fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Ono is out of range.
Archer ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Archer throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ono.
Aaron Archer is winning the standup battle so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Archer shoots in for a double leg but Ono sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aaron Archer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ono fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Archer is out of range.
Archer misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Archer throws a poor cross that misses

and Ono counters with a nice double leg into side control. Archer won't be happy with that.
Archer struggling a bit here.
Ono in side control, throwing shots but Archer defends.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Archer dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Archer takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Archer lands with a nice body punch.
Archer will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ono throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Archer tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ono was well out of range. Poor timing from Archer.
Archer tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ono was well out of range. Poor timing from Archer.
Archer avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Archer with a jab.
Ono avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Archer fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ono.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ono avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Archer works the jab nicely.
Archer is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ono can do to turn this around?
Ono takes one on the button.
Ono on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Archer thuds a left hand into Ono's body.
Archer shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ono defends it nicely.
Ono misses with a hook

and Archer counters with a takedown into side control.
Ono parries the strikes from Archer easily there. Archer is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Ono to escape.
Archer in side control, throwing shots but Ono defends.
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!
Ono stops Archer from passing to mount.
Archer is looking to take a break and control but Ono is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ono manages to get back to half guard.
Archer tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ono knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Archer is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ono missing with punches from the bottom.
Ono is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Archer's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Archer's back!
Ono gets his hands free as Archer looks to control.
I really don't envy Archer right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Archer turns into Ono and is now in his guard.
Archer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ono swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Archer postures up in Ono's guard and throws a big left but Ono blocks it.
Ono wants to sweep but no luck.
Archer scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Archer cracks Ono with a solid left hand.
Archer trying to control the position from guard on top but Ono is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ono is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Archer trying to control the position from guard on top but Ono is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Archer cracks Ono with a solid left hand.
Ono has control of Archer's left arm, preventing Archer from doing any damage.
Ono manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Archer manages to get himself to full guard.

Ono controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Ono working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Archer's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Archer clearly takes that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Archer throws a body kick that misses.
Archer just misses with a punch to the body.
Archer swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Ono.
Archer pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Archer misses with a hook.
Archer misses with a looping left.
Archer looks to land a right hand but Ono moved out of range.
Ono ducks under a wild hook from Archer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ono on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Ono connects with a body shot that sends Archer's belly button to the back.
Archer just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Archer fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Ono has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Archer throws a hook but Ono blocks it.
Archer throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Ono counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Ono engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Ono looking to sit in guard and control but Archer gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Ono working for a triangle but Archer defends it easily.
Its Ono has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ono has momentary wrist control but Archer slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ono wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Archer is now in half guard.
Ono wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ono manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Ono lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Ono wants to control from the top but Archer keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ono with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ono postures up.
Ono trying to control the position from guard on top but Archer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ono stopping the sweep attempt from Archer.
Ono throwing strikes but missing.
Ono trying to control the position from guard on top but Archer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ono loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ono slips under a jab.
Archer throws a shot to the body.
Archer displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Archer throws a leg kick that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Archer connects with a solid leg kick.
Archer misses with a straight right.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Archer had his way with Its Ono in that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Ono slaps away a takedown attempt from Archer, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Archer misses with a hook.
A left and a right from Archer both land. Nice combination.
Archer throws a leg kick that misses.
Nice defenses there by Archer.
Archer with a nice cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Archer throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Ono counters with a shoot takedown. Archer fights it but they end up in guard.
Ono wants to control from the top but Archer keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ono missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ono with a flurry of punches that miss.
Archer looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ono is one step ahead there.
Archer working a defensive guard here.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Archer wants to sweep here but Ono controlling him for the moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

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.
Archer swinging wildly here.
Ono throws a nice outside leg kick.
Archer shoots in for a takedown but Ono shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Archer fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aaron Archer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Archer swings for the body but Ono moves out of range.
Its Ono has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Archer moves out of range of the leg kick from Ono.
A shot to the liver by Archer. Beautiful body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ono uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Archer.
Archer pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Archer's corner calls for a 1-2. Archer obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Archer throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Ono's head.
Archer closes the distance and clinches up with Ono, looking for a takedown. Archer pushes Ono against the cage but Ono circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Archer lands a really nice looking cross but Ono seems unphased.
Archer throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A looping hook to the body misses from Archer. Ono does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ono has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Archer.
Archer throws a series of punches but Ono avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Archer pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Archer shoots in looking for a takedown. Ono tries to sprawl out of it but Archer keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ono manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Archer lands a right hook to the body.
Archer tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ono sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Archer somewhat.
Ono displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Archer.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ono blocks a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aaron Archer showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Archer, 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 50:45
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 50:45
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 50:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aaron Archer!
Aaron Archer is the new light heavyweight champion!
An out of breath Aaron Archer thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.