PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tatsuya Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xantos Aremis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aremis has chosen Infected Mushroom - Merlin as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Aoki
vs
Aremis

178 cm
39
181 lbs
39 - 24 - 1

178 cm
33
178 lbs
21 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 39 - 24 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Tatsuya Aoki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Xantos Aremis!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Elvis Blanc and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aremis fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Aoki looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Aoki walks into a left hand.

It looks like Tatsuya Aoki has been cut.
Aremis misses with a looping right.
Aremis misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Aremis throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Aremis throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A quick step to the side and Aoki tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Aremis moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Aremis fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Aoki sprawls well initially but Aremis persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Aremis not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Aremis working over Aoki with some ground and pound. Aoki looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The fighters are battling for position here. Aoki manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aremis scoring with punches to the head and body.

Aoki has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Aremis can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Aremis postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Aoki is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aremis stopping the sweep attempt from Aoki.
Aremis with a nice head shot there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Aremis accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Aoki looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Aoki bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Aremis's guard.

Aoki throws an elbow that misses. Aremis uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Aoki's guard. Nice move by Aremis!

Aremis postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Aremis won't allow Aoki to get back to his feet.
Aoki looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki keeping moving, preventing Aremis from controlling successfully.
Aremis won't allow Aoki to sweep him here.
Aremis scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Aoki looking for a sweep. Not yet Aoki, not yet.
Aoki controls Aremis momentarily but Aremis frees himself.
Aremis sitting in guard here, content to control.
Aremis scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Aremis postures up.
Aremis working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Aoki is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aoki manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Aremis manages to break the clinch.
Aoki avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Aoki was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Aoki blocks a leg kick.
Aremis stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Aremis wants it to stay on the feet.
Aremis misses with a wild combination.
Aoki uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Aremis.
Aremis throws the left hand but Aoki avoids the punch easily.
Aremis catches Aoki with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Aoki ducks under a wild hook from Aremis.
Aoki attempts a counter takedown but Aremis avoids it well and moves away.
Aremis throws a head kick that misses.
Aoki gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Aremis.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoki gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Aoki is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Aremis fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Aremis throws a shot to the body.
Aoki takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Aremis ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Aoki moves away.

Aremis has closed the distance and engaged Aoki in a clinch.
Aremis gets underhooks to prevent Aoki's takedown attempt.
Aoki prevents a body shot from Aremis.

Aoki escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Aoki takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Aoki slips under a jab.
Aoki is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Aremis wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Xantos Aremis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab lands there for Aoki.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xantos Aremis dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tatsuya Aoki's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Aoki misses with a two punch combination.
Aoki uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Aremis.
Aremis throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Aoki counters with a left and a right that stings Aremis.
Aremis rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Aoki counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Aremis thinking.
Aoki fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Aremis avoids it really well and circles away.
Xantos Aremis seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Aoki needs to keep his hands up - Aremis had a free shot at his head there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aoki takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
We've been informed that Aremis has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Aoki has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Aoki there as he acknowledges the shot.
Oh Aoki is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Aremis misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Aoki.
Aoki seems to have got his legs back now.
Aremis throws a sloppy head kick

and Aoki counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki throws a big right hand that misses.
Aoki throwing strikes but missing.
Aoki won't allow Aremis to sweep him here.
Aremis controlling the position.
Aoki chips away with some ground and pound.
Aoki throws an elbow that misses. Aremis uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Aoki's guard. Nice move by Aremis!

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 is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Aoki looking for a sweep. Not yet Aoki, not yet.

Aoki has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Aremis can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Aoki is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aremis distracts Aoki with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Aoki is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Aoki is looking to stall here but Aremis recovers full guard.
Aoki throwing strikes from guard but Aremis blocks nicely.
Aremis has Aoki pulled in close to control his posture.
We've been hearing that Aoki has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Aoki loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki throwing strikes from guard but Aremis blocks nicely.
Aoki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Aremis is keeping the position for now.
Aremis seems keen to control Aoki's posture.
Aoki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Aremis is keeping the position for now.
Aremis wants to sweep here but Aoki controlling him for the moment.
Aoki working some strikes from top position.
Aoki throws a big elbow that misses.
Aremis pulls Aoki in close to his closed guard and prevents Aoki from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Aremis manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Aoki manages to get himself to full guard.

Aoki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Aremis is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aremis is stalling in the full guard.
Aremis scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aoki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Aremis is one step ahead there.
Aoki controls Aremis momentarily but Aremis frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tatsuya Aoki dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tatsuya Aoki's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Good work by Aoki as he checks the leg kick.
Aoki thinks about countering with a head kick.
Nice defenses there by Aoki.
Aoki feinted with a counter takedown.
Aremis throws a shot from downtown. Aoki moves away and avoids it.
Aoki feinted with a counter takedown.
Aoki moves out of range of the body kick from Aremis.
Tatsuya Aoki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Aremis throws a half hearted mid kick.
Aoki jabs at Aremis's body.
Aremis has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Aremis misses with a takedown attempt
and Aoki counters with a left to the body.

Aremis gets a double leg takedown into Aoki's guard.
Aremis lands a couple of digs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aoki wants to sweep here but Aremis controlling him for the moment.
Aremis connects with a couple of short punches.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Aremis's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Aoki not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aremis won't allow Aoki to get back to his feet.
Aoki bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Aremis's guard.

Aoki tries to free his leg and advance position but Aremis is retaining full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Aremis holds on and takes a little breather.
Aoki postures up and lands a big shot to Aremis's brow.
Aoki postures up in Aremis's guard and throws a big left but Aremis blocks it.
Aremis keeping full guard, as Aoki tries to pass.
Aremis is trying to control the position but Aoki postures up.
Aremis looking to hit a scissor sweep but Aoki is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Aremis is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Aoki makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Aoki.
Aremis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Aoki looking for a sweep. Not yet Aoki, not yet.

Aoki escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Aremis gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Aremis chips away with some ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Aoki is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Aoki wants to control from the top but Aremis keeps moving.
Aremis is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Aoki postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Aoki in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Aoki lands a couple of elbows.
Aoki wants to control from the top but Aremis keeps moving.
Aoki seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Aremis looking for a sweep. Not yet Aremis, not yet.

That's four 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.
Aremis looking to control.
Aremis has his hands on Aoki's head, controlling the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Aoki lands a couple of elbows.
Aoki preventing the sweep.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Aremis holds on and takes a little breather.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aoki is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Aremis can't keep his opponent in guard - Aoki advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tatsuya 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tatsuya Aoki!
After winning the bout, Tatsuya Aoki thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.