PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Anselmo Harris (ranked 1397 p4p, 197 weight class) and Aoki Aoki (ranked 2155 p4p, 278 weight class). Aoki is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Baka Survivor. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Harris
vs
Aoki

184 cm
38
184 lbs
24 - 13 - 2

180 cm
30
170 lbs
17 - 11 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition
Kimura Klothing

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 24 - 13 - 2, fighting out of New York, Anselmo Harris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Aoki Aoki!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aoki takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Harris tries to close the distance and clinch up but Aoki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Harris walks forward, straight into a front kick from Aoki.
Harris swings widly with a right hand
and Aoki counters with a straight right hand.
Aoki moves away from the strike by Harris.
A cross from Aoki lands.

Harris closes the distance and pushes Aoki back into the ropes.
Harris misses with a hook to the ribs.
Harris misses with a punch on the inside.

Aoki jumps into guard, dragging Harris to the mat.

Harris got a little sloppy there for a moment and Aoki has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Harris has managed to get both his arms back between Aoki's legs - danger averted.
Harris stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Aoki swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Harris controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki wants to sweep here but Harris controlling him for the moment.
Harris trying to control the position from guard on top but Aoki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Harris postures up.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Harris wants to pass the guard but Aoki is keeping the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Aoki tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Harris closes the distance and clinches.

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.
Harris misses with a punch to the body.
Aoki prevents a body shot from Harris.
A shot in the inside from Harris.
Harris swings wildly with an uppercut but Aoki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Harris pushes Aoki back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
Aoki takes a shot to the head.
We've been informed that Aoki has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Harris goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Aoki tries for a takedown. No joy.
Aoki fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Harris stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Harris tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Harris tries a body shot but Aoki blocks it.
Harris lands an uppercut.
Harris can't find room to land a body shot as Aoki controls the action.
Harris prevents a takedown attempt there.
Anselmo Harris has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aoki Aoki.
Harris swings wildly with an uppercut but Aoki uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anselmo Harris dominated that round.
That's time! Harris's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Harris throws the left hand but Aoki avoids the punch easily.
Harris tries to clinch but Aoki moves out of range.
Aoki throws a half hearted mid kick.
Aoki listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Aoki swats away the attempt to clinch by Harris.
Anselmo Harris seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Harris lands a nice shot to the body.
Harris takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Harris is looking to clinch.
Harris with a lazy takedown attempt
and Aoki counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A shot to the body from Harris misses
and Aoki counters with a lovely straight right hand!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harris takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Harris looks to score with a jab to the body but Aoki is just out of range.
Harris tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Aoki counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Harris gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A body shot lands from Harris.
Harris lands a hook that snaps the head of Aoki backwards.
Aoki has Harris pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Harris manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Harris has a couple of punches blocked by Aoki.
Harris gets underhooks to prevent Aoki's takedown attempt.
Aoki is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the ropes enables Harris to keep the fight standing.
Anselmo Harris has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aoki Aoki.
Aoki's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Harris misses with a punch on the inside.
Aoki tries to pull guard but Harris won't allow it.
Aoki is trying to drag Harris to the mat but Harris just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
Aoki drops down looking for an ankle pick but Harris pulls his leg out and moves away.
The fighters circling - Harris throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Aoki connects with a jab.
Harris wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harris looks to score with a jab to the body but Aoki is just out of range.
A countering left hand to the body from Aoki misses.
Aoki throws a jab when Harris was well out of range.
Harris tries to clinch but Aoki moves out of range.
Harris wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Aoki misses the jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Harris swings and misses with a hook to the body.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Harris.

Harris fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Aoki, pushing him back against the ropes.
Harris tries to throw a body punch but Aoki avoids it by throwing Harris back against the ropes.
Harris pushes Aoki back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Aoki tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Harris just stands there and leans against the ropes.
Harris throws a punch but it's blocked by Aoki.
Harris pushes Aoki back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Harris fails to land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anselmo Harris dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Harris missing with a left hand there. Aoki was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Harris is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Aoki can do to turn this around?
Aoki looks to land a left hand but Harris moved out of range nicely.
That kick from Aoki tenderised Harris's leg. Harris is trying to keep his angry face on.
Harris swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Harris has taken the fight to the clinch.
Harris swings wildly with an uppercut but Aoki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Harris misses with a punch on the inside.
Harris misses with a body punch.
Aoki jumps guard but Harris turns him against the ropes and keeps the fight standing.

Harris has picked Aoki up - he's going for a ride! Harris dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Aoki wants to get back to full guard.
Harris is keen to just control but Aoki is a slippery customer.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Aoki tries to roll over but Harris keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Harris sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Aoki defending well though.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Aoki Aoki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anselmo Harris is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Harris controlling the action here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Harris fails in his attempt to clinch.
Aoki replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Harris blocks it well.
Aoki misses with a looping right.
Aoki loads up on a big right hand but Harris slips the punch.
Harris wants to clinch up but Aoki keeps it at a distance.
Aoki throws a hook to the side of Harris's head but Harris sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Harris tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Aoki manages to circle out of the way.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Harris.
A big right from Aoki misses.
Aoki fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Harris avoids it really well and circles away.
Harris is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Harris moves out of range as Aoki strikes.
Harris waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Aoki.
Aoki throws a hook but Harris blocks it.
Harris lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Harris moves in looking to clinch but Aoki pushes him off.
Aoki throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Harris connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Aoki's hands.
Aoki looks to throw the jab but Harris is out of range.
Harris slips a jab from Aoki.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anselmo Harris showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Harris, 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight for Anselmo Harris!
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight for Anselmo Harris!
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Anselmo Harris!

Anselmo Harris wins by unanimous decision!
During a confident post fight interview, Anselmo Harris thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.