PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tatsuya Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Skinner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Aoki
vs
Skinner

178 cm
42
181 lbs
43 - 29 - 1

179 cm
29
177 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Perkele!
Bullet Proof System

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 43 - 29 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Tatsuya Aoki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eric Skinner!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, William Peck and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Skinner throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Aoki's head.

It looks like Tatsuya Aoki has been cut.
Skinner lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Aoki takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Aoki avoids the head kick by Skinner.
Skinner lands a nice looking body shot.
Skinner dips to his left and cracks Aoki with an uppercut!
Skinner lands a nice shot to the body.
Skinner lands with a kick to the ribs.
Skinner clobbers Aoki with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Skinner cracks the inside of Aoki's front leg.
A slapping body kick lands there for Skinner.
Skinner ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Aoki moves away.
Skinner moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Eric Skinner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skinner dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Aoki. That did some damage!
Skinner pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Skinner scores with a jab to the body.
Aoki blocks a head kick by Skinner.
Aoki appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Skinner feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Aoki's calf.
Aoki getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Skinner misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A little feinted left hand from Aoki on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Aoki slips under a jab.
Aoki changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Aoki takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Skinner misses with a looping right.
Aoki takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
It looked like Aoki was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Skinner.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skinner has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Skinner there as he acknowledges the shot.
Skinner throws a right hand that misses
and Aoki counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice body kick from Skinner.
Skinner throws a leg kick that is checked

and Aoki counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Skinner!

Skinner throws Aoki to one side and escapes!
A head kick misses from Skinner.
Aoki tried to counter with a leg kick but Skinner avoided it.
Skinner connects with a good right hand that stumbles Aoki. Aoki circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Eric Skinner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A slapping body kick lands there for Skinner.
The fighters circling - Aoki throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Skinner looks to score with a jab to the body but Aoki is just out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Skinner. Aoki does a little dance to reset his feet.
Aoki drops down looking for a counter takedown but Skinner sprawls and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Aoki cracks Skinner with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Skinner.
An attempted straight right counter from Aoki misses the target.
Skinner lands a nice shot that snaps Aoki's head back.
Skinner lands a high kick!
Skinner misses with an uppercut.
Aoki feinted with a counter takedown.
Skinner missing with a left hand there. Aoki was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Skinner takes a swing at Aoki's ribcage but misses.
Skinner misses with a head kick.
Skinner throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Aoki.
Skinner lands a nice shot that snaps Aoki's head back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skinner fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Aoki is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Skinner throws a wild body kick that Aoki sees coming a mile off.
Aoki swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Oh Aoki is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Aoki needs to keep his hands up - Skinner had a free shot at his head there.
Skinner swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Skinner lands a head kick. Aoki smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Aoki swinging wildly here.
Skinner throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Aoki counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Aoki, right into the meat.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Skinner throws a nice inside leg kick.
Aoki seems to have got his legs back now.
A solid body kick from Skinner.
Skinner thumps Aoki with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Aoki takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Aoki will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Skinner fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Skinner throws a right and a left that Aoki avoids nicely.
Skinner with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Skinner loads up on a big right hand but Aoki slips the punch.
Aoki takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Skinner throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Aoki blocks the body kick.
Aoki drops down looking for a counter takedown but Skinner sprawls and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skinner fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Aoki is looking to counter punch.
Skinner delivers a nice body kick.
Skinner throws a lazy body kick

and Aoki counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Skinner trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Skinner keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Skinner is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Skinner trying to control from the bottom.
Skinner tries to kick Aoki off but Aoki keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Aoki slips a nice elbow through Skinner's hands, connecting with Skinner's forehead.
Aoki not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Skinner keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Skinner is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Tatsuya Aoki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Aoki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Skinner keeps working.
Skinner wants to control but Aoki is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Aoki trying to control from half guard but Skinner is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki stops Skinner from getting back to his feet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Aoki takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Aoki uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Skinner.
Skinner throws an overhand right that lands on Aoki's shoulder, as Aoki tries to avoid the shot.
Aoki throws a looping overhand right but Skinner ducks down to avoid it.
Skinner has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Skinner fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Aoki manages to avoid it.
Aoki was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Aoki takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Skinner lands a nice leg kick that just misses Aoki's sensitive parts.
Skinner lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Skinner misses with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A left and a right from Skinner both land. Nice combination.
Skinner is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Aoki.
A slow jab from Aoki misses its intended target.
Skinner misses with a wild body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A big left from Skinner misses.
Skinner swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Aoki was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Aoki takes one to the side of the head.
Skinner clobbers Aoki with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Aoki is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A punch lands to the side of Aoki 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Aoki blocks a head kick by Skinner.
Aoki quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Skinner jabs Aoki to the body, keeping him at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Skinner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tatsuya Aoki's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Skinner misses with a body shot.
Aoki appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Skinner throws a hook but Aoki blocks it.
Skinner misses with a body kick.
Aoki half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Skinner lands with a kick to the temple. Aoki shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Skinner connects with a solid leg kick.
Skinner throws a big shot that misses.
Skinner scores with a leg kick.
Aoki scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Skinner.

Skinner tries to sprawl but Aoki drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Aoki thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aoki thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki working over Skinner with some ground and pound. Skinner looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Skinner is not content to let Aoki control the position.
Aoki tries to pass the half guard into mount. Skinner knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Skinner is trying to control but can't.

Aoki seems to be looking for submissions.
Aoki tries to pass the half guard into mount. Skinner knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Skinner gets back to full guard.
Aoki stands up over Skinner, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Eric Skinner is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aoki drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Aoki jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Aoki throwing strikes but missing.
Aoki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Skinner wants to sweep here but Aoki controlling him for the moment.
Aoki throws a strike but Skinner rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Aoki has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Skinner can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Skinner trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Skinner is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skinner controlling from the top position.
Skinner stopping the sweep attempt from Aoki.
Skinner is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Skinner pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Aoki is keeping the position for now.
Skinner must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Aoki is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Skinner defends well.

Skinner stands up and waves to Aoki to follow him.

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.
Aoki slips under a jab.
Skinner lands a nice looking body shot.
Crunch! Skinner slams his shin into Aoki's torso.
Eric Skinner seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Aoki avoids a kick to the body.
Aoki appears to be looking for a big counter.
Skinner misses with a straight right.
Skinner moves forwards but Aoki connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Aoki sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Skinner scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Skinner throws a right hand that Aoki ducks under and follows up with a left that Aoki also avoids with ease.
Tatsuya Aoki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aoki avoids the head kick by Skinner.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eric Skinner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Skinner winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eric Skinner!
Eric Skinner bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.