PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Taiki Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Strummer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Strummer has chosen The Stranglers- Nice N' Sleazy as his entrance music. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Aoki
vs
Strummer

170 cm
36
156 lbs
27 - 14 - 1

168 cm
32
159 lbs
17 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Taiki Aoki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Strummer!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shirou Masuda and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Strummer.

Aoki scores with a takedown into Strummer's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Aoki accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Strummer looking to hit a scissor sweep but Aoki is one step ahead there.
Strummer keeping moving, preventing Aoki from controlling successfully.
Aoki tries to free his leg and advance position but Strummer is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Strummer throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Aoki escapes and throws Strummer's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Aoki content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strummer is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aoki taking a breather here.
Aoki works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Aoki is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Strummer is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Strummer taking punishment in the form of punches.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aoki landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Strummer tries to improve position but can't.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Strummer taking punishment in the form of punches.
Aoki wants to control but Strummer is keeping him busy.
Strummer tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Aoki working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strummer is not content to let Aoki control the position.
Aoki wants to control for a moment but Strummer uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Strummer is not content to let Aoki control the position.
Aoki scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Aoki is looking to advance position but Strummer won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Strummer is pressing down on Aoki's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Aoki postures up.
We've been hearing good reports from Aoki's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Strummer keeping moving, preventing Aoki from controlling successfully.
Aoki passes Strummer's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Aoki is keen to just control but Strummer is a slippery customer.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Aoki in particular looking to stall.
Strummer wants to improve his position but Aoki is controlling well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taiki Aoki dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Aoki misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Strummer.
Strummer uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Aoki.
No luck for Aoki with that takedown attempt.
Strummer misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Horrible takedown attempt by Aoki or perhaps it was just good defense by Strummer, which made it look bad.
Aoki is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Strummer can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Aoki fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Strummer sprawls well initially but Aoki persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Strummer won't allow Aoki to pass to mount.

Aoki is working for a kimura but Strummer is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Strummer is not content to let Aoki control the position.
Aoki is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Strummer is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Strummer looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Aoki throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Aoki lands strikes from half guard.

Aoki is working for a kimura but Strummer is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Aoki looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Strummer with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Aoki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Strummer keeps working.
Ground and pound from Aoki.
Aoki scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Aoki is trying to control the action in half guard but Strummer is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Nice strikes from Aoki there.
Aoki wants to take a breather but Strummer is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strummer has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Aoki is working away from the top position though.
Aoki is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
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.
Strummer works his way to full guard. Good work.
Aoki working some strikes from top position.
Aoki lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Strummer has Aoki pulled in close to control his posture.
Aoki chips away with some ground and pound.
Taiki Aoki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Strummer trying to control the position.
Aoki stopping the sweep attempt from Strummer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoki sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Strummer is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Aoki stopping the sweep attempt from Strummer.

Strummer looking for a guillotine here but Aoki defends easily.
Aoki is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taiki Aoki dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Aoki checks a leg kick.
Aoki attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Aoki shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Strummer as he jumps to the side.
Aoki throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Strummer's waist but Strummer gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Aoki off to one side.
Strummer is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Aoki checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Aoki shoots in for a double leg but Strummer sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Taiki Aoki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strummer displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Aoki.
Strummer changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Aoki closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Strummer quickly recovers to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aoki is working for a kimura but Strummer is defending it quite comfortably.
Aoki scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Strummer is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Aoki's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Aoki's back!
Aoki breaks Strummer's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Strummer avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Aoki postures up and lands a big shot to Strummer's brow.
Aoki works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Aoki is pressing down on Strummer's thigh, looking to free his foot. Strummer is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strummer moves into full guard.
Aoki scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Strummer working a defensive guard here.
Aoki scoring with punches to the head and body.

Strummer has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Aoki can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Strummer keeping moving, preventing Aoki from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki stands and throws Strummer's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Aoki working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Aoki wants to control but Strummer is keeping him busy.
Strummer gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Nice strikes from Aoki there.
Aoki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Strummer keeps working.
Aoki perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoki trying to control from half guard but Strummer is working away.
Strummer trying to hold on to Aoki's head to control him but Aoki postures up.

Strummer is looking to regain full guard. He's left an arm up in the air though and Aoki has latched onto it... Big trouble! Aoki pivots for an armbar - it's in tight and it Strummer is tapping in no time flat! Great counter grappling there from Aoki!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Taiki Aoki!
During a confident post fight interview, Taiki Aoki thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
Joe Strummer spoke after the fight, saying 'Big deal, you beat a dead guy.'.