PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight 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. Masakazu Aoki has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Equinox
vs
Aoki

172 cm
46
147 lbs
61 - 30 - 1

155 cm
47
147 lbs
44 - 30 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Spartan Nutrition

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 61 - 30 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Equinox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 44 - 30 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Masakazu Aoki!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Luis Engracia and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aoki throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Equinox's head.
Equinox swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Aoki counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A looping hook to the body misses from Equinox. Aoki does a little dance to reset his feet.
Aoki misses with a low kick.
Equinox lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

It looks like Masakazu Aoki has been cut.
Equinox slips a jab and a cross from Aoki.
Aoki has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Equinox takes a kick to the side of the head.
Equinox has been working on his boxing with his coaches at The Warehouse in the buildup to the fight.
Equinox throws a jab when Aoki was well out of range.
Aoki catches Equinox with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Aoki scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Aoki forces Equinox back against the cage and clinches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Aoki blocking some punches.

Aoki manages to break the clinch.
Aoki getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Aoki misses with a low kick.
Equinox swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Masakazu Aoki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aoki keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Aoki.

Equinox is rocked!
Aoki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Oh Equinox is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Aoki pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Equinox seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Equinox seems to have got his legs back now.
Aoki scores with a nice head shot.
Aoki throws a looping overhand right but Equinox ducks down to avoid it.
It looked like Equinox was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Aoki slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Aoki misses with a low kick.
Equinox is looking to counter punch.
Aoki swats away the attempt to clinch by Equinox.
Aoki shoots in but no luck this time.
Equinox is looking to counter punch.
Aoki looks to throw the jab but Equinox is out of range.
Equinox swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Aoki's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Aoki duly obliges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
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!
Aoki throws the kick towards the body but Equinox avoids it.
Aoki misses the shot to the body.
Equinox seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Aoki shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Equinox's guard.
Equinox keeping moving, preventing Aoki from controlling successfully.
Equinox can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Aoki controls the pace.
Aoki is looking to work some ground and pound but Equinox has wrist control.
Aoki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Equinox is keeping the position for now.
Aoki trying to control the position from guard on top but Equinox is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Equinox being controlled here, momentarily.
Aoki trying to move into half guard but instead Equinox has managed to sweep!

Equinox works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Aoki makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Aoki.
Equinox has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Aoki is proving hard to escape from.
Equinox looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Equinox would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Aoki working a defensive guard here.
Equinox wants to stand but Aoki is controlling his posture from full guard.
Equinox postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Aoki preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Equinox stopping the sweep attempt from Aoki.
Equinox wants to stand but Aoki has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Aoki cracks Equinox with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Masakazu Aoki dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Masakazu Aoki's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Equinox blocks a jab.
Aoki throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
An inside leg kick lands from Aoki.
Aoki throws the kick towards the body but Equinox avoids it.
A little feinted left hand from Equinox on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Aoki shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Equinox pinned against the cage. Equinox gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Aoki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Aoki follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Aoki throws a wild body kick that Equinox sees coming a mile off.
Equinox wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aoki throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Equinox sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Aoki throws the left hand but Equinox avoids the punch easily.
A good leg kick by Aoki.
Aoki lands a leg kick that knocks Equinox off balance momentarily.
Equinox throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Aoki feints the counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki misses with a lunging right hand
and Equinox counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Equinox loads up on a big right hand but Aoki slips the punch.
Aoki misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Aoki looks for a takedown but Equinox sprawls well.
Equinox tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Aoki manages to circle out of the way.
Equinox misses with a jab, cross combination.
Aoki misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Equinox counters with a nice uppercut.
Equinox avoids a kick to the body.
Aoki throws a series of punches but Equinox avoids them all with ease.
Nice body punch from Equinox.
Aoki throws an off balance right hand
and Equinox counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Aoki throws a big shot that misses.

Equinox closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki blocking some punches.
Aoki blocking some punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Equinox working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Equinox lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Equinox lands a left hand.
Equinox blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Aoki trying to land knees to the body.
A short left from Equinox.
Aoki is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Equinox is defending well for now.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Aoki has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Equinox can't find room to land a body shot as Aoki controls the action.
A body shot lands from Equinox.
Aoki blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Aoki tries to throw a body punch but Equinox avoids it by throwing Aoki back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Equinox fails to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Equinox gets the underhooks and prevents it.
John Equinox has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Masakazu Aoki.

Aoki's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Equinox fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Aoki looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Aoki takes a swing at Equinox's ribcage but misses.
John Equinox is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Equinox avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Equinox lands with an overhand left.
Aoki keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Equinox.
Aoki throws a leg kick but Equinox sees it coming and moves out of range.

Equinox fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Aoki, pushing him back against the cage.
Equinox lands with a left to the head.
Equinox fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nice body punch from Equinox - that landed with a thud.
Aoki tries to land a knee to the head but Equinox blocks with his arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Equinox misses with some punches.
A nice left hand lands by Aoki.
Equinox is pushing Aoki up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Aoki is leaning against Equinox and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Aoki jumps guard but Equinox stands there with Aoki around his waist. Aoki gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Aoki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Aoki swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Aoki with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Equinox tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Aoki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Aoki throws an overhand right that lands on Equinox's shoulder, as Equinox tries to avoid the shot.
Equinox keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Equinox dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Masakazu Aoki's cut.
That's time! Equinox's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Equinox wants to clinch.
Equinox misses with a body shot.
Aoki throws out a loose jab but Equinox uses good head movement to avoid it.
Equinox misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jab from Aoki.
Aoki shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Equinox but Equinox pushes him off and we're back to square one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Equinox takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Aoki looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Equinox is fending him off so far but Aoki persists. Nope, Equinox circles away and we're back to standing.

Equinox moves into the clinch successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Equinox tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Aoki trying to land knees to the body.
Equinox is working Aoki over against the cage.
Aoki blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Equinox fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Aoki works on Equinox's body with a couple of short punches.
Equinox tries a body shot but Aoki blocks it.
Equinox misses with some punches.
Aoki blocks an uppercut.
Equinox working aggressively here.
Equinox lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Aoki breaks from the clinch.
Aoki shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Aoki misses the shot to the body.
Aoki lands a nice hook to Equinox's body. Equinox takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Aoki.
Aoki throws a series of punches but Equinox avoids them all with ease.
Equinox wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Aoki lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Equinox has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Equinox and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Aoki misses with a body kick.
As Aoki looks to move away, Equinox throws a big counter combo bu Aoki just gets out of the way.
Equinox throws a hook but Aoki blocks it.
Aoki scores with a sloppy right hand. Equinox should have avoided that one.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aoki misses with an uppercut.
Aoki misses with a looping right.
Aoki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Equinox lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Aoki has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Aoki and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Equinox lands a jab to Aoki's midsection.
Equinox blocks a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Equinox tries to close the distance and clinch up but Aoki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A jab from Aoki misses.
Equinox lands a head shot.
Nice jab there from Aoki.

Aoki shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Aoki showed some decent athleticism there.
Equinox is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Aoki is looking to take a break and control but Equinox is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Equinox trying to control from the bottom.
Aoki is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Equinox blocking the ground and pound.
Aoki tries to control but Equinox wriggling away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Masakazu Aoki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Aoki has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Masakazu Aoki!
Masakazu Aoki decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.