PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Aoki Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eigi Takagi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aoki kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Baka Survivor. Takagi has chosen Welcome to the Jungle as his entrance music. Eigi Takagi will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Aoki
vs
Takagi

180 cm
21
170 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

177 cm
20
166 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Venom Combat Sports

Pit Bull Development

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Aoki Aoki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Eigi Takagi!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, John Kavanagh and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Takagi misses.
Aoki takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Takagi misses with a two punch combination.
Aoki drops down looking for a counter takedown but Takagi sprawls and moves away.
Aoki goes for a double leg but Takagi avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Takagi continues to drive forward.
A punch combination from Takagi misses.
Aoki shoots and misses
and Takagi counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Aoki slips a jab from Takagi.
Takagi jabs Aoki to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Takagi stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Aoki shoots in looking for a takedown but Takagi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Aoki's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aoki Aoki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Aoki has his takedown stuffed
and Takagi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Takagi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Takagi lands with a good body shot.
Aoki throws the left hand but Takagi avoids the punch easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takagi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Takagi misses with a wild combination.
Takagi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Aoki.
Aoki throws a shot from downtown. Takagi moves away and avoids it.
Aoki fails with a takedown attempt.
Aoki gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A big right from Takagi misses.
Aoki changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Takagi scores with a body shot.
Takagi misses with a double jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Takagi tries to sprawl but Aoki drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Aoki wants to control but Takagi is keeping him busy.
Takagi is trying to maintain the position but Aoki is very close to passing his half guard.
We've been hearing that Aoki has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Takagi is looking for a sweep. Aoki is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Takagi has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Takagi controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

Aoki is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Takagi wants to control but Aoki is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aoki is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Aoki wants to take a breather but Takagi is having none of it.
Takagi won't allow Aoki to pass to mount.
Takagi trying to control here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Aoki Aoki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Aoki gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Takagi to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Takagi trying to control but Aoki is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Aoki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Takagi drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Aoki manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Takagi has Aoki in his guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Takagi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Aoki is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eigi Takagi dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Aoki feints and as Takagi raises his hands in defense, Aoki changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Aoki in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Aoki missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Takagi is trying to control the position but Aoki postures up.
Aoki trying to control but Takagi is working from the bottom.
Aoki with a nice head shot there.
Takagi controls Aoki momentarily but Aoki frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Aoki postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Takagi is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Aoki, into his guard.

Takagi wants to control from the top but Aoki keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takagi scoring with punches to the head and body.

Aoki looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Takagi passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Aoki tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Takagi is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Aoki knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Aoki is looking to regain half guard here but Takagi keeps moving and retains side control.
Takagi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki wants to control but Takagi postures up.
Aoki is looking for a sweep.
Aoki manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Aoki is looking to advance position but Takagi won't allow it.
Takagi manages to get to full guard.
Takagi wants to sweep but no luck.
Aoki Aoki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki trying to move into half guard but instead Takagi has managed to sweep!

Takagi lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Aoki is trying to keep Takagi in close.
Takagi trying to control the position from guard on top but Aoki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Aoki working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Takagi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Takagi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Aoki looking for a guillotine here but Takagi defends easily.
Takagi lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Aoki looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
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 is looking for a triangle but Takagi pushes his legs off easily.
Takagi trying to control the position from guard on top but Aoki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Aoki looking for subs off his back but Takagi has passed one foot through into half guard.
Takagi slips a nice elbow through Aoki's hands, connecting with Aoki's forehead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Eigi Takagi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Takagi lands a jab to Aoki's midsection.
Aoki gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Takagi counters with a stiff right hand.
Aoki slips under a jab.
Aoki on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Takagi misses with a few strikes there.
Takagi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Takagi wants it to stay on the feet.
A combination from Aoki does no damage.

Aoki dives in and scores a takedown into Takagi's guard.
Aoki showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Aoki trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Takagi manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki keeping moving, preventing Takagi from controlling successfully.
Aoki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Takagi is one step ahead there.
Takagi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Takagi wants to control from the top but Aoki keeps moving.
Aoki manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Takagi manages to get himself to full guard.

Aoki trying to control the position from guard on top but Takagi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Eigi Takagi 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.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Takagi controlling Aoki's posture.
Aoki wants to control from the top but Takagi keeps moving.
Takagi working a defensive guard here.
Aoki wants to control from the top but Takagi keeps moving.
Aoki missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takagi wants to sweep but no luck.
Aoki looking to pass the guard.
Takagi is pulling down on Aoki's head. It's preventing any offense from Aoki, at least for the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nice straight punches there by Takagi. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Takagi.
Aoki shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Takagi pinned against the cage. Takagi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aoki Aoki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Aoki ducks under a wild hook from Takagi.
A big left from Takagi misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoki bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Aoki is defended easily by Takagi.
Aoki Aoki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Aoki gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Aoki fails to pull guard.
Aoki is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Takagi gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Aoki tries to pull guard but Takagi forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Aoki goes for a takedown attempt but Takagi pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Aoki shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Takagi as he avoids it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eigi Takagi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Takagi 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eigi Takagi!
An out of breath Eigi Takagi thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.