PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rickson Gracie (ranked 3383 p4p, 391 weight class) and Shinya Aoki (ranked 3715 p4p, 415 weight class). Gracie comes to the cage accompanied by Olha a Explosão. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gracie
vs
Aoki

173 cm
26
177 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

171 cm
26
176 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

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 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rickson Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Shinya Aoki!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Bart Greer and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aoki shoots in looking for a takedown but Gracie manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Aoki's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Aoki throws a lazy right hand but Gracie sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Aoki darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Gracie is defending against the submission attempts here by Aoki.

Aoki is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gracie is just riding it out for now. Aoki eventually gives up the hold.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aoki wants to work for an arm triangle but Gracie is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Gracie slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Aoki has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Gracie to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Aoki is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Gracie pulls down on the head and he's put Aoki to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:54 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Rickson Gracie!
An out of breath Rickson Gracie thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.