PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hakin Aoki (ranked 6087 p4p, 574 weight class) and Lucas Pablo (ranked 7184 p4p, 605 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Aoki
vs
Pablo

190 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
195 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Hakin Aoki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lucas Pablo!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Peter Branson and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Aoki closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Pablo trying to stall but Aoki improves his position.

Aoki breaks from the clinch.
Pablo shoots in but no luck this time.
Pablo is looking to clinch.
Aoki misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Aoki gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Pablo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Aoki has him pressed against the cage.
Pablo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Aoki is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Aoki decides to pull guard.
Aoki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pablo passes Aoki's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Aoki is staying active underneath Pablo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Pablo might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Aoki haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
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.
Pablo stops Aoki from getting back to his feet.
Pablo thows a huge punch but Aoki dodges it nicely.
Pablo is keen to just control but Aoki is a slippery customer.
Aoki keeping control of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aoki is staying active underneath Pablo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Pablo with a poor takedown
enabling Aoki to counter with a crisp jab.
Hakin Aoki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucas Pablo.
Pablo shoots for a double leg takedown but Aoki sprawls well. He's pushed Pablo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Aoki wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki moves out of range of the body kick.

Aoki fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Pablo, pushing him back against the cage.
Aoki lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Aoki.
Aoki lands a right hand.
Pablo has Aoki pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Aoki manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Pablo can't find room to land a body shot as Aoki controls the action.
Aoki has Pablo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Pablo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Aoki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Aoki fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Pablo, pushing him back against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Aoki.
Aoki lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Pablo backwards.
Aoki jumps guard but Pablo stands there with Aoki around his waist. Aoki gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Aoki pulls guard effortlessly.
Aoki trying to keep a closed guard but Pablo is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pablo trying to control the position from guard on top but Aoki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pablo pushes down on Aoki's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Aoki has one foot on Pablo's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Aoki shoots in but Pablo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Pablo throws a fast counter high kick but Aoki manages to duck under it in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Pablo misses

and Aoki counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Aoki.

Pablo pulls guard effortlessly.
Aoki throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pablo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Pablo is working an open guard so Aoki takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Aoki has managed to clinch.
Pablo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Aoki smiles and moves away.
Pablo's coach down at ELITE Island Gym - All Elite Coaches was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Pablo's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Pablo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Aoki defends it nicely.

Aoki drives through and clinches with Pablo against the cage.
A short uppercut from Aoki.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pablo is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Aoki to keep the fight standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hakin Aoki dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A head kick misses from Aoki.

Aoki has taken the fight to the clinch.
Aoki is trying to pull guard but Pablo has him pressed against the cage.
Aoki lands a knee to the head.
Pablo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Aoki prevents a takedown attempt there.
Pablo has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Aoki after a bit of a struggle.
Hakin Aoki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucas Pablo.
Aoki lands an elbow inside.
Aoki pushes Pablo back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aoki wants to take the fight to the mat but Pablo manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Aoki is trying to drag Pablo to the mat but Pablo just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Aoki lands with a right to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki avoids the elbow strike from Pablo, against the cage.

Aoki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pablo. Aoki does a little dance to reset his feet.

Aoki rushes Pablo and presses him up against the cage.
Pablo can't break the clinch.
Pablo is trying to drag Aoki to the mat but Aoki just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Pablo is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Aoki to keep the fight standing.
Aoki tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Aoki tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Pablo is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Aoki to keep the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aoki escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Aoki moves into range and clinches up with Pablo.
Pablo jumps guard but Aoki stands there with Pablo around his waist. Pablo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Aoki pulls guard successfully.
Aoki has Pablo pulled in close to control his posture.
Pablo trying to control the position from guard on top but Aoki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pablo looking to pass the guard.
Aoki is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pablo can do to turn this around?
Aoki is trying to keep Pablo in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pablo wants to stand but Aoki has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Pablo landing some decent shots from guard.
Aoki is looking to stand up but Pablo isn't so interested in that idea.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Pablo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Aoki as he jumps to the side.

Pablo clinches with his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Pablo tries to pull guard but Aoki forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Aoki escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Aoki clinches up with Pablo and pushes him back against the cage.

Aoki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Aoki.
Hakin Aoki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Aoki wants a takedown but no success here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Aoki breaks the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aoki scores with a jab to the head.

Aoki moves into range and clinches up with Pablo.
Pablo jumps guard but Aoki turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Aoki breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hakin Aoki dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Aoki moves into range and clinches up with Pablo.
Aoki lands an elbow inside.
Aoki stalling the fight.
Aoki lands a good knee to the midsection. Pablo won't want to take too many of those.
Aoki gets through Pablo's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Aoki pulls guard effortlessly.
Pablo trying to stand up but can't free himself from Aoki's guard.
Pablo trying to control the position from guard on top but Aoki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki wants to stand but Pablo is controlling the position.
Pablo trying to control the position from guard on top but Aoki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Aoki has taken the fight to the clinch.
Pablo utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

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.
Pablo is trying to pull guard but Aoki has him pressed against the cage.
Aoki is working Pablo over against the cage.
Pablo lands with a left to the head.
Aoki lands a right hand.
Aoki with a knee to the head.

Aoki breaks from the clinch.

Aoki has taken the fight to the clinch.

Aoki breaks the clinch.

Aoki gets a clinch.
Aoki throws a head punch that misses.
Pablo is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Aoki tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Pablo smiles and moves away.

Aoki forces Pablo back against the cage and clinches.

Pablo ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Pablo no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Aoki sitting in guard here, content to control.
Aoki has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Pablo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pablo looking for a sweep. Not yet Pablo, not yet.

Aoki has gone for a leg lock! Pablo slips out almost immediately though and dives into Aoki's guard.

Aoki pulls Pablo in close to his closed guard and prevents Pablo from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pablo gets to his feet - Aoki follows without any prompting.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Pablo.
Pablo closes the distance and clinches up with Aoki, looking for a takedown. Pablo pushes Aoki against the cage but Aoki circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
As Pablo looks to move away, Aoki throws a big counter combo but Pablo just gets out of the way.
Hakin Aoki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucas Pablo.
Aoki with a poor takedown

and Pablo counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Pablo.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pablo trying to control the position but instead, Aoki has worked for underhooks and has pushed Pablo into the cage.
Aoki misses with a hook to the ribs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hakin Aoki showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Aoki, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hakin Aoki!
In defeat, Lucas Pablo stepped up to the mic, saying 'Puta!'.