PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Ribeiro (ranked 5331 p4p, 540 weight class) and Shinya Aoki (ranked 5390 p4p, 491 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ribeiro
vs
Aoki

164 cm
25
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

171 cm
25
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Very quick

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight 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, Marcus Ribeiro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Shinya Aoki!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Bart Greer and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ribeiro tries to move into range but Aoki moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Aoki should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Aoki shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Ribeiro is trying to defend but Aoki finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
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.
Ribeiro tries to get to full guard but Aoki has control of the leg.
Aoki throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Aoki wants to pass to mount but Ribeiro is defending the position.
Ribeiro is trying to maintain the position but Aoki is very close to passing his half guard.
Ribeiro is looking to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ribeiro is trying to maintain the position but Aoki is very close to passing his half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ribeiro moves into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ribeiro is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Aoki trying to control the position from guard on top but Ribeiro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ribeiro looking to control.

Ribeiro looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Aoki trying to control the position from guard on top but Ribeiro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ribeiro is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Aoki scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Aoki accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Aoki with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ribeiro looking to hit a scissor sweep but Aoki is one step ahead there.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Aoki with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Aoki lands a couple of digs.

Aoki thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Aoki wants to control from the top but Ribeiro keeps moving.
Ribeiro trying to keep a closed guard but Aoki is proving a slippery customer.
Aoki advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Ribeiro is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ribeiro trying to hold on to Aoki's head to control him but Aoki postures up.
Ribeiro 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!
Ribeiro is breathing heavily.
Aoki turns into Ribeiro and is now in his guard.
Aoki postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Aoki works over Ribeiro with some ground and pound from guard.
Aoki wants to control from the top but Ribeiro keeps moving.
Aoki slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Aoki looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro is looking for a sweep.
Ribeiro is not content to let Aoki control the position.
Ribeiro is working to avoid the ground and pound but Aoki connects with a decent elbow.

Aoki tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Aoki throws an elbow but Ribeiro slips to the side and avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinya Aoki dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ribeiro drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Ribeiro working away.
Aoki has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Aoki tries to buck Ribeiro off but Ribeiro is having none of it.
Aoki has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Aoki is still trying to improve position.

Ribeiro tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ribeiro has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Ribeiro trying to control the position but Aoki is working away.
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.

Ribeiro is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Aoki has escaped the position, nice work there.
Ribeiro in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Ribeiro is trying to get an arm triangle but Aoki is defending well.
Ribeiro working the ground and pound.
Ribeiro trying to control the action but Aoki is working from the bottom.
Aoki manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ribeiro's best efforts.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

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 is looking to control Ribeiro's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Aoki avoid being mounted?
Aoki is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ribeiro's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ribeiro's back!

Aoki is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Aoki has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Ribeiro tries to roll but Aoki sticks to his back.
Ribeiro trying to control the action but Aoki just sinks the hooks in.
Aoki somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro trying to control the hands but Aoki breaks the grip.
Aoki struggling to keep hold of the position.

Aoki is looking for the choke from the back position but Ribeiro is controlling his hands well.
Aoki has the hooks in. Ribeiro is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Aoki is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Ribeiro is defending well though. Aoki let's go of the attempt for now.
Aoki is not going to allow Ribeiro to sit and survive in this position.

Aoki working for a choke but Ribeiro reverses nicely into Aoki 's guard.

Aoki looking for a guillotine here but Ribeiro defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ribeiro's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ribeiro in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Aoki not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Aoki working for a triangle but Ribeiro defends it easily.
Ribeiro passes into half guard.
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 Marcus Ribeiro will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Ribeiro scores with a takedown into Aoki's guard.
Aoki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ribeiro wants to pass the guard but Aoki is keeping the position.
Aoki trying to control the position.
Aoki keeping moving, preventing Ribeiro from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aoki controls Ribeiro momentarily but Ribeiro frees himself.
Aoki keeping moving, preventing Ribeiro from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aoki is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ribeiro is aware though and is defending well.
Ribeiro stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Aoki swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Aoki looking to control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Aoki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ribeiro passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Ribeiro looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Aoki tries to bench press Ribeiro off him but Ribeiro keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki keeping his opponent close.
Ribeiro is looking to take a break and control but Aoki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Ribeiro swings around for an armbar but Aoki sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Ribeiro's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro keeping moving, preventing Aoki from controlling successfully.
Aoki won't allow Ribeiro to sweep him here.
Aoki with a nice head shot there.
Aoki tries to free his leg and advance position but Ribeiro is retaining full guard.
Shinya Aoki has got the better of the ground game so far.
Aoki working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Aoki wants to control from the top but Ribeiro keeps moving.
Aoki missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Ribeiro looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Aoki passes Ribeiro's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoki tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ribeiro knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Ribeiro is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ribeiro is staying active underneath Aoki, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Aoki sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ribeiro defending well though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Aoki looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Aoki is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ribeiro defends it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Marcus Ribeiro.
I think Ribeiro 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:29
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 29:28
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Marcus Ribeiro!
A very excited looking Marcus Ribeiro made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.