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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Taiki Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Umberto Sotto Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!
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| 170 cm
34
156 lbs
24 - 13 - 0 |
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176 cm
37
146 lbs
25 - 24 - 1 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine |
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Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed |
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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
24 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Taiki Aoki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
25 - 24 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Umberto Sotto Jr!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aoki shoots for a takedown but Sotto Jr saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Left hook, right uppercut from Sotto Jr.
Aoki blocks a head kick by Sotto Jr.
Aoki half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Aoki throws a shot to the body.
Aoki closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sotto Jr to the mat! Sotto Jr manages to get full guard.
Aoki chips away with some ground and pound.
Aoki throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sotto Jr works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Aoki keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sotto Jr's head.
Aoki chips away with some ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aoki stopping the sweep attempt from Sotto Jr.
Aoki throws a big right hand that misses.
Aoki throws a big right hand that misses.
Sotto Jr is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Sotto Jr bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Aoki's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sotto Jr stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Aoki swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Aoki controlling Sotto Jr's posture.
Sotto Jr postures up.
Aoki has momentary wrist control but Sotto Jr slips an elbow through the middle.
Sotto Jr trying to control but Aoki is working from the bottom.
Aoki is looking for a triangle but Sotto Jr pushes his legs off easily.
Aoki tries to land a sweep but no joy.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Aoki looking for subs off his back but Sotto Jr has passed one foot through into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Aoki looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Aoki wants to get back to full guard.
Sotto Jr is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Aoki doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sotto Jr.
Aoki trying to control from the bottom.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki strikes from the bottom but Sotto Jr passes into mount!
Aoki is trying desperately to improve position.
Aoki sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Aoki is refusing to be controlled, as Sotto Jr sits in half guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoki is looking for a sweep. Sotto Jr is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sotto Jr is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Sotto Jr lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Aoki hang on?
Aoki bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Aoki with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Aoki working some strikes from top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aoki trying to control the position from guard on top but Sotto Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aoki is really struggling to control Sotto Jr but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Sotto Jr trying to keep a closed guard but Aoki is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Taiki Aoki will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Sotto Jr throws a right and a left that Aoki avoids nicely.
Sotto Jr pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Umberto Sotto Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sotto Jr misses with a kick to the body.
Sotto Jr throws a hook but Aoki blocks it.
Sloppy strikes from Sotto Jr. Those never looked like landing.
Aoki is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
A jab lands there for Sotto Jr.
Aoki checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Aoki drops down looking for a counter takedown but Sotto Jr sprawls and moves away.
Sotto Jr misses with a body shot.
Aoki attempts a counter takedown but Sotto Jr avoids it well and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aoki fails with a takedown attempt.
Aoki throws a body shot but no joy.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sotto Jr is fending him off so far but Aoki persists. Nope, Sotto Jr circles away and we're back to standing.
Sotto Jr misses with a straight right.
Sotto Jr throws a wild body kick that Aoki sees coming a mile off.
Umberto Sotto Jr is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sotto Jr throws a leg kick but Aoki checks it.
Sotto Jr throws a right hand that misses
and Aoki counters with a nice double leg into guard.
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 postures up and lands a big shot to Sotto Jr's brow.
Aoki throwing strikes from guard but Sotto Jr blocks nicely.
Aoki with a nice head shot there.
Sotto Jr keeping full guard, as Aoki tries to pass.
Aoki content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Aoki pushing down on Sotto Jr's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Aoki lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sotto Jr sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Aoki is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Sotto Jr has hold of Aoki's hands but Aoki slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Aoki with the ground and pound but Sotto Jr uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Aoki working some strikes from top position.
Sotto Jr looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sotto Jr utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Aoki is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Aoki postures up in Sotto Jr's guard and throws a big left but Sotto Jr blocks it.
Aoki throws a strike but Sotto Jr rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sotto Jr trying to control the position from guard on top but Aoki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aoki striking off his back but it's not causing Sotto Jr any problems.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Sotto Jr working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Aoki is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Aoki keeping moving, preventing Sotto Jr from controlling successfully.
Aoki tries to strike from the bottom.
Aoki wants to improve his position but instead Sotto Jr has moved into half guard.
Sotto Jr is looking to take a break and control but Aoki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
That's four 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 is trying to maintain the position but Sotto Jr is very close to passing his half guard.
Sotto Jr perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Aoki makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Aoki.
Aoki bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sotto Jr's guard.
Aoki has gone for a leg lock! Sotto Jr slips out almost immediately though and dives into Aoki's guard.
Aoki tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Aoki keeping moving, preventing Sotto Jr from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close second round but I would say that Taiki Aoki will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!
Aoki avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sotto Jr throws a hook but Aoki avoids it easily.
Sotto Jr misses with a body kick.
Aoki pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Aoki takes a jab right on the kisser.
Sotto Jr displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Aoki.
Sotto Jr throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Aoki changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sotto Jr chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Aoki will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
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.
Aoki takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sotto Jr throws a hook but Aoki avoids it easily.
Sotto Jr cracks Aoki with an open hand slap.
Sotto Jr fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Aoki.
Aoki checks the leg kick.
Aoki feinted with a counter takedown.
Aoki keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Aoki appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Sotto Jr lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Aoki lands a nice hook to Sotto Jr's body. Sotto Jr takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Sotto Jr misses with a left hand
so Aoki counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Aoki content to stall in guard here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sotto Jr is on top in guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sotto Jr throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Aoki throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Sotto Jr escapes and throws Aoki's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Sotto Jr tries to move to mount but Aoki blocks the move with his legs.
Aoki throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Aoki wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Sotto Jr is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Aoki is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Umberto Sotto Jr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki is trying to get back to half guard.
Aoki struggling a bit here.
Aoki is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Sotto Jr's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Taiki Aoki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Aoki wants to control but Sotto Jr is keeping busy and won't allow it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Aoki is looking for a sweep. Sotto Jr is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Aoki wants to control but Sotto Jr is keeping busy.
Aoki is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Sotto Jr prevents Aoki from improving his position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Aoki is working hard here to advance position.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sotto Jr throws a leg kick
and Aoki counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sotto Jr won't be happy with that.
Aoki wants to control but Sotto Jr is keeping him busy.
And that's the end of the fight!
Umberto Sotto Jr comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:29
The fight is ruled a draw!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
39% |
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