PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Taiki Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rich Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rich Junior has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Taiki Aoki's chin.

Aoki
vs
Junior

170 cm
33
156 lbs
23 - 12 - 0

175 cm
29
159 lbs
13 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Taiki Aoki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rich Junior!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Sam Margolis and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aoki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Junior tries to close the distance and clinch but Aoki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Junior closes the distance and pushes Aoki back into the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Junior fails to land.
Junior has a couple of punches blocked by Aoki.
Junior misses with a body punch.
Junior misses with a short punch on the inside.
Junior lands with a left to the head.
Aoki tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Junior's elbow.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Aoki.
Junior misses with the head strike.
Junior blocks a body shot from Aoki.
Aoki is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Junior gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Aoki blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Junior blocks a punch to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aoki lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Junior backwards.
Junior blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Junior misses with the head strike.
Aoki lands a shoulder strike.
Junior lands on the inside with an uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Junior throws a punch but it's blocked by Aoki.
Junior misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Aoki.
Junior working aggressively here.
Junior lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Aoki misses with the head strike.

Aoki gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Aoki lands with a punch from half guard.
Junior is trying to stand.

Aoki seems to be looking for submissions.
Aoki is looking to advance position but Junior won't allow it.

Aoki is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Junior defends it well.
Junior keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Aoki is looking to take a break and control but Junior is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Junior is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Junior tries to get to full guard but Aoki has control of the leg.
Aoki trying to control from half guard but Junior is working away.

Junior makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Aoki has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Mega Gym - Capacity 35 in the buildup to 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!
Junior tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Aoki paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Junior throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Aoki was covering up waiting for the punch and Junior finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Junior working some strikes from top position.
Aoki lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Junior is looking to stand up but Aoki isn't so interested in that idea.
Junior avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Aoki is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki stopping the sweep attempt from Junior.
Aoki lands a couple of elbows.
Aoki postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Aoki wants to control from the top but Junior keeps moving.
Aoki landing with the ground and pound.
Junior is adopting a defensive guard.
Junior wants to stand up but Aoki is controlling him.
Junior is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Junior wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Junior is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Aoki defends well.
Aoki throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Aoki wants to pass the guard but Junior is keeping the position.
Junior is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Aoki working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Junior's head.
Aoki scoring with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aoki throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Junior works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Junior escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Aoki gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Aoki content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rich Junior will probably get the nod.
That's time! Aoki's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Junior has managed to clinch.
Aoki tries to work over Junior's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Junior lands a nice uppercut.
Junior gets underhooks to prevent Aoki's takedown attempt.
Junior gets through Aoki's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Aoki tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Junior lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Junior digs a right hand into Aoki's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Aoki's gas tank.
Junior tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Aoki goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Aoki cracks Junior with a nice body shot.
Junior has a couple of punches blocked by Aoki.
Junior lands a shot to the body.
Junior misses with a punch to the body.
Aoki is looking to take this one to the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Junior is working Aoki over against the cage.
Aoki tries to work over Junior's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Junior lands a shoulder strike.
Junior can't find room to land a body shot as Aoki controls the action.
Junior has a couple of punches blocked by Aoki.
A hook to the body from Aoki.
Rich Junior seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Aoki misses with the head strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Junior.
Junior tries to throw a body punch but Aoki avoids it by throwing Junior back against the cage.
Aoki struggles to land a body shot inside as Junior controls his hands.
Junior has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Aoki lands a hook to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Junior.
Junior lands with a right to the head.
Junior working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Aoki prevents a body shot from Junior.
Junior lands with a left to the head.
Junior digs a right hand underneath Aoki's ribcage. Aoki let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Aoki is working Junior over against the cage.
Junior misses with a punch on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Junior creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Aoki is rocked!
Aoki swings wildly with an uppercut but Junior uses good head movement to avoid it.
Oh Aoki is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Junior tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Aoki seems to have got his legs back now.
Junior throws a punch but it's blocked by Aoki.
Junior lands with a short punch from the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Junior lands with a left to the head.
Aoki blocks a body shot from Junior.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Junior misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Aoki.
Aoki blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Junior is leaning against Aoki and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Aoki has a couple of punches blocked by Junior.
Junior swings wildly with an uppercut but Aoki uses good head movement to avoid it.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Junior creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Aoki blocking some punches.
A left hand lands to the body for Junior.
Junior scores with a shot to the side of Aoki's head.
Junior lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Aoki.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Junior.
Junior scores with a hook to the body.
A short uppercut from Junior.
Junior goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Junior has a couple of punches blocked by Aoki.
Junior working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Aoki blocks a body shot from Junior.
Junior swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Aoki misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junior lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Junior.
Aoki lands a hook that snaps the head of Junior backwards.
Junior tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Junior lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Aoki.
Junior lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Junior throws a head punch that misses.
Junior tries to throw a body punch but Aoki avoids it by throwing Junior back against the cage.
Junior lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Junior misses with the head strike.
Junior lands a nice shot to the body.
Junior blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Junior cracks Aoki with a nice body shot.
Junior lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Junior struggles to land a body shot inside as Aoki controls his hands.
Junior makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A left hand lands to the body for Junior.
Aoki misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Aoki can't find room to land a body shot as Junior controls the action.
Junior lands an uppercut in the clinch that drops Aoki to his knees! Junior keeps firing more shots against his stricken opponent and the referee jumps in to save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rich Junior!
A relieved looking Rich Junior thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.