PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Paul Williams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Masakazu Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Williams comes to the cage accompanied by All the Above- Maino ft. T-Pain. Aoki has chosen Sandstorm by Darude as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Williams
vs
Aoki

185 cm
50
140 lbs
51 - 34 - 5

155 cm
50
147 lbs
49 - 35 - 3

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 51 - 34 - 5, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paul Williams!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 49 - 35 - 3, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Masakazu Aoki!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Edson Gomes and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aoki takes a swing at Williams's ribcage but misses.
Aoki jabs at Williams's body.
Aoki slips under a jab.
Williams slips under a jab from Aoki.
Williams is looking to counter with a body kick.
Williams has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Williams throws the left hand but Aoki avoids the punch easily.
Aoki wants to counter with a clinch but Williams pushes him away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Donk. Aoki catches Williams right on the button with a cross.
Williams connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Aoki momentarily.
Aoki jabs at Williams's body.
Williams scores with a shot to the body.
Aoki throws a low kick, looking for Williams's leg but Williams calmly moves out of range.
A shot to the body from Williams misses
and Aoki counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Williams plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Aoki with a lazy takedown attempt
and Williams counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Aoki takes one to the chin there.

Aoki has Williams up against the cage in a clinch.
Good body shot from Aoki.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Williams avoids it.
Williams wants to break free but Aoki has control.
Aoki misses with a punch to the body.
Aoki is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Williams is defending well for now.
Williams letting Aoki take a breather here.
Williams on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Aoki trying to land knees to the body.
Williams really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Aoki misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Williams.
Williams avoiding damage as Aoki throws knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki missing with knees to the body.
Aoki missing with knees to the body.
Aoki avoiding damage.
Williams looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Williams managing to block the knees to the body from Aoki.
Aoki controlling the action here for a moment.
Aoki keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Williams's efforts to push away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Aoki has him pressed against the cage.
Aoki tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Williams's elbow.
Aoki keeps control of Williams as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Williams's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Aoki throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Williams.
Williams lands a nice hook to Aoki's body. Aoki takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Aoki wants to clinch.
Aoki bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Aoki with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams takes a swing at Aoki's ribcage but misses.

Aoki darts in and clinches Williams up against the cage.
Williams has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Aoki is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Aoki prevents Williams from breaking the clinch.
Williams tries to break free but Aoki pushes him back against the cage.
Aoki is pushing Williams 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 escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Masakazu Aoki dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Aoki throws a quick inside leg kick.
Williams cracks Aoki with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Aoki closes the distance and clinches.
Aoki with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Aoki is pushing Williams 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 lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Williams backwards.
Williams working hard to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Williams managing to block the knees to the body from Aoki.
Aoki taking a breather.
Williams can't break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams can't break the clinch.
Aoki has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Williams avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Williams avoiding damage as Aoki throws knees to the body.
Williams is trying to break the clinch but Aoki has him pressed against the cage.
Aoki controlling the action here for a moment.
Aoki blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Aoki manages to break the clinch.

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.
Aoki looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Williams slips under a jab.
Aoki tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Williams counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Williams lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Williams throws a lazy head kick
and Aoki counters with a nice low kick that buckles Williams's knee momentarily.
Williams takes a swing at Aoki's ribcage but misses.
Paul Williams is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Williams uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Aoki.
Aoki has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Williams avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Williams was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Williams defending well as Aoki loads up on a big left hand.
Aoki takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Aoki throws a body punch but Williams moves out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Williams wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Aoki stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Masakazu Aoki seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Williams wants to break free but Aoki has control.
Aoki misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Williams.
Aoki blocks a body shot from Williams.

Williams escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Williams throws a looping overhand right but Aoki ducks down to avoid it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Aoki! But no joy.

Aoki darts in and clinches Williams up against the cage.
Aoki stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams swings wildly with an uppercut but Aoki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Williams is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Aoki working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Williams's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Williams wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Williams is looking to break free of the clinch but Aoki has double underhooks.
Aoki tries to land knees in the clinch but Williams avoids the damage to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Williams has had enough of the clinch but Aoki keeps him there for the moment.
Aoki misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Williams.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Masakazu Aoki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Williams thuds his right hand into Aoki's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Williams takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Paul Williams is winning the standup battle so far.
Aoki misses with a lunging right hand
and Williams counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Aoki thinking.
Williams moves out of range as Aoki strikes.
Aoki scores with a head kick.
Williams is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Aoki shoots in for a takedown but Williams shows good takedown defense.
A little feinted left hand from Williams on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Nice defenses there by Aoki.
Williams misses with the combination.
Williams with a jab.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Aoki misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Aoki keeps control of Williams as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki can't find room to land a body shot as Williams controls the action.
Aoki misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Williams.
Aoki lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Williams.
Williams is trying to push Aoki away but Aoki has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Aoki stalling the fight.
Come on Aoki - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Aoki receives a warning from the referee for stalling.

Williams breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Aoki misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Williams.
Aoki misses with an uppercut. Williams saw that one coming.

Aoki moves into the clinch.
Aoki is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki leaning against his opponent.
Aoki keeps control of Williams as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Aoki breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Aoki throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Williams is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

Aoki shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Williams makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Masakazu Aoki is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning 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!
Williams throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Aoki is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Aoki keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Williams.
Aoki scores with a jab. Williams acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Aoki swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Williams buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki fails in his attempt to clinch.
An inside leg kick lands from Aoki.
A looping hook to the body misses from Williams. Aoki does a little dance to reset his feet.
Aoki throws a nice looking combination but Williams bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Williams scores with a shot to the body.
Aoki takes one to the chin there.
Aoki drops his hands momentarily and Williams takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Aoki fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Aoki shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Williams counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Paul Williams has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Masakazu Aoki.
Aoki on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Williams misses with a body punch
and Aoki counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Williams thinking.
Aoki tries to clinch but Williams moves out of range.
Williams misses with the body kick
and Aoki counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Aoki is looking to clinch but Williams is avoiding it.
Williams was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

Aoki takes the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Aoki avoiding damage.
Aoki misses with a hook to the ribs.

Aoki breaks the clinch.
Aoki ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Williams moves away.

Aoki shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Williams manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Aoki wants to control from the top but Williams keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Paul Williams.
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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Masakazu Aoki!
Masakazu Aoki thanked the fans post fight for their support.