PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Takeshi Aoki (ranked 6111 p4p, 528 weight class) and Riley Sykes (ranked 24899 p4p, 610 weight class). Sykes is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Bouncing Souls - Ole. Riley Sykes has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Aoki
vs
Sykes

180 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Inexperienced

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Takeshi Aoki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Riley Sykes!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Tiny Johnson and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sykes closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Aoki quickly recovers to half guard.

Aoki manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Sykes closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Aoki to the mat! Aoki manages to get full guard.
Sykes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sykes looking to sit in guard and control but Aoki gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sykes is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Sykes wants to hit a switch here but Aoki passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Sykes there!
Sykes wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykes tries to lock up and control but Aoki gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sykes has given up his back here.
You can see the frustration on Sykes's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Aoki trying to control.
Sykes looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Aoki trying to control momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sykes trying to control but not successfully.
Sykes tries to escape the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A lull in the action here.
Sykes looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aoki has Sykes's back but decides to stand back up... Obviously he fancies his chances in the standup department!
Aoki misses with a head kick.
Aoki throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Left hook, right uppercut from Sykes.
Sykes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sykes looks winded!
Aoki lands a head kick. Sykes smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

It looks like Riley Sykes has been cut.
Aoki moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Aoki misses with a head kick.
Sykes tries to land a leg kick but Aoki saw it coming and moves away.

Sykes rushes Aoki and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Aoki as Sykes shoots in.
Takeshi Aoki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A head kick from Aoki lands but Sykes takes it in his stride.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Aoki throws a head kick that misses.
Aoki scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Aoki lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Sykes is rocked!
Aoki looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Aoki throws a sloppy head kick and Sykes moves out of range easily.

Aoki tries to sprawl but Sykes drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Aoki manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Sykes blocks a head kick by Aoki.
Aoki plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Aoki misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Aoki lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Aoki blocks a head kick by Sykes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takeshi Aoki dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Riley Sykes's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Aoki throws a sloppy head kick

and Sykes counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Aoki is refusing to be controlled, as Sykes sits in half guard.
Sykes trying to control from Aoki's half guard. Aoki has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sykes throws an elbow that misses. Aoki uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sykes's guard. Nice move by Aoki!

Sykes wants to hit a switch here but Aoki passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Sykes there!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sykes can do anything to dispel that myth.
Sykes is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykes is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Aoki stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Aoki fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sykes.

Aoki gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sykes to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Aoki has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Sykes is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sykes jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Aoki walks away with a smile on his face. Sykes gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A solid body kick from Aoki.
A head kick misses from Aoki.
Aoki lands a head kick. Sykes smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Aoki thows a body kick. Sykes tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Aoki tries a head kick but it misses.
Aoki throws a head kick but Sykes moves out of range.
Aoki connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Aoki connects with an inside leg kick.
Aoki lands with a slapping head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Aoki. Sykes shrugs it off though.
Aoki throws a head kick but Sykes moves out of range.
Aoki scores with a head kick. Sykes tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Aoki is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sykes can do to turn this around?
Aoki throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Sykes's head.
Sykes is looking to clinch.
Aoki keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Takeshi Aoki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sykes takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Sykes manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Aoki on his heels. He'll look to pass Aoki's guard now, I'm sure.

Aoki scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sykes takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Aoki.

Sykes has taken the fight to the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Aoki's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Aoki blocking some punches.
Aoki is pressed up against the cage. Sykes has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Aoki down to the mat. Aoki avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Takeshi Aoki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Riley Sykes.
Aoki scores with a head kick. Sykes tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Aoki lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A good leg kick by Aoki.
Sykes takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Takeshi Aoki is winning the standup battle so far.
Aoki throws a sloppy head kick

and Sykes counters with a takedown into side control.

Aoki sneaks out the side door and pushes Sykes away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takeshi Aoki dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Riley Sykes's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Aoki.
Aoki lands with a kick to the temple. Sykes shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Sykes drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Aoki is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
I was talking to Aoki's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sykes trying to land knees to the body.
Come on Sykes - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Aoki is trying to break free.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sykes drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki prevents the takedown attempt.
Sykes looking for a takedown.
Takeshi Aoki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Riley Sykes.

Aoki breaks from the clinch.
An inside leg kick lands from Aoki.
Aoki throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Sykes's head.
That kick from Aoki tenderised Sykes's leg. Sykes is trying to keep his angry face on.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Aoki, right into the meat.
Aoki throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki lands with a kick to the temple. Sykes shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Sykes has a takedown stuffed.
Sykes just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromAoki.
Riley Sykes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sykes blocks a head kick by Aoki.
That kick from Aoki tenderised Sykes's leg. Sykes is trying to keep his angry face on.
A head kick by Aoki misses

and Sykes counters with a nice double leg into side control. Aoki won't be happy with that.

Aoki explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sykes fails to land the takedown.
Sykes on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Sykes's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Sykes shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Aoki sprawls well. Aoki wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sykes gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki scores with a head kick.
A lazy body kick from Aoki

and Sykes counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Aoki is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Aoki managing to block the knees to the body from Sykes.
Aoki wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sykes is trying to pull guard but Aoki has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoki avoiding damage as Sykes throws knees to the body.
Aoki wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sykes keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Aoki's efforts to push away.
Aoki is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Sykes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sykes has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Aoki.
Sykes has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Aoki.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Sykes crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Aoki - the referee stops the clock and Sykes gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Aoki. Sykes manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Riley Sykes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Takeshi Aoki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Aoki scores with a head kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Takeshi 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Takeshi Aoki!
A very excited looking Takeshi Aoki 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.