PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Khatir Afridi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taiki Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taiki Aoki is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Afridi
vs
Aoki

167 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
35
156 lbs
24 - 13 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Khatir Afridi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Taiki Aoki!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Sosuke Kotani and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Afridi walks into a stiff left hand from Aoki.
Aoki misses with a body punch
and Afridi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Afridi fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Afridi's corner calls for a 1-2. Afridi obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Aoki shoots in and drives through. Afridi sprawls well.
Afridi looks to score with a jab to the body but Aoki is just out of range.
Aoki swings for the body but Afridi moves out of range.
Afridi is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aoki uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Afridi.
Aoki drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Afridi defends it well.
Afridi just misses with a punch to the body.
And Aoki tries to counter it with a takedown but Afridi pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Afridi lands with a nice body punch.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Afridi stuffs the takedown attempt from Aoki. Aoki gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice uppercut lands for Afridi. That snapped Aoki's head back.
Afridi looks to throw a body kick

and Aoki counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Afridi!
Afridi is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki working the ground and pound from side control.
Afridi tries to improve position but can't.
Afridi struggling a bit here.
Aoki lands a few punches from side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Afridi tries to improve position but can't.
Afridi is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Aoki off and has taken his back!
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Afridi slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Aoki is really stuck here.
Afridi trying to control momentarily.
Afridi gets his hands free as Aoki looks to control.
Aoki rolls, trying to escape but Afridi keeps control of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aoki looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Afridi is hanging on to Aoki's back as he tries to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Aoki tries to escape but Afridi has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Aoki keeps trying to improve his position.
Afridi really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Aoki.
Aoki is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Afridi controls the action.
Aoki can't escape the position.
Aoki felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Aoki is still trying to improve position.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Aoki tries to escape but Afridi has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Afridi catches Aoki with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Afridi takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Afridi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Aoki lands a head shot.
Afridi throws a nice outside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Afridi tries to clinch but Aoki moves away

so Aoki counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Aoki is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Afridi is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Aoki is aware though and is defending well.

Afridi has his foot on Aoki's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Aoki works his way back into a safe position though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aoki slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Afridi had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Aoki defends it easily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Aoki's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Afridi controls Aoki momentarily but Aoki frees himself.
Aoki connects with a couple of short punches.

Afridi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Aoki working some strikes from top position.
Aoki has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Aoki connects with a couple of short punches.

Afridi looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Aoki passes into side control.
Afridi is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Aoki's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Afridi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Aoki pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Aoki winds up and cracks Afridi with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Aoki scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Aoki trying to control from half guard but Afridi is working away.

Afridi looking for submissions off his back.

Afridi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Aoki pulls his head out easily.
Aoki is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Afridi is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Aoki scores with a couple of nice shots.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Aoki connects with a nice short shot to Afridi's temple.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Aoki is trying to control. Afridi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Afridi trying to hold on to Aoki's head to control him but Aoki postures up.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Aoki lands a nice short elbow.
Nice strikes from Aoki there.
Aoki lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Aoki wants to take a breather but Afridi is having none of it.

Afridi looking for submissions off his back.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Aoki lands a nice short elbow.

Aoki is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Afridi is just riding it out for now. Aoki eventually gives up the hold.
Aoki looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Afridi won't allow Aoki to pass to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Afridi is refusing to be controlled, as Aoki sits in half guard.

Aoki is working for a submission of some sort.
Aoki lands strikes from half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Aoki connects with a nice short shot to Afridi's temple.
Aoki working over Afridi with some ground and pound. Afridi looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Afridi actively working from the bottom here.
Aoki is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Afridi!
Aoki lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Afridi hang on?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Afridi regains half guard.

Afridi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Aoki pulls his head out easily.
Afridi has hold of Aoki's hands but Aoki slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taiki Aoki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Aoki fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Aoki ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Aoki tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Afridi was well out of range. Poor timing from Aoki.
Afridi wants to clinch but Aoki slips to the side

and Aoki counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Afridi!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Afridi manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Aoki slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Aoki keeping moving, preventing Afridi from controlling successfully.

Aoki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Afridi trying to control the position from guard on top but Aoki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Aoki has an active guard here but Afridi has managed to pass into half guard.
Afridi sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Afridi has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Afridi wants to control but Aoki is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Afridi is controlling the pace.
Aoki missing with punches from the bottom.
Afridi stalling away here and it's allowed Aoki to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Aoki has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Afridi 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.
Aoki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Afridi is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki keeping moving, preventing Afridi from controlling successfully.
Afridi is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Aoki is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Afridi rather than just go for the knockout.
Aoki takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

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 dives in for a single leg takedown but Afridi sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Khatir Afridi is winning the standup battle so far.
Afridi throws a leg kick

and Aoki counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Aoki looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Afridi with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Aoki is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Afridi actively working from the bottom here.

Afridi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aoki looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Afridi with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Afridi is not content to let Aoki control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taiki Aoki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taiki Aoki!
A relieved looking Taiki Aoki thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.