PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Shinya Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Noah Spitler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Aoki
vs
Spitler

179 cm
22
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Shinya Aoki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Noah Spitler!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Aoki or perhaps it was just good defense by Spitler which made him look bad.
Aoki shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Spitler pinned against the cage. Spitler gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Spitler throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Aoki fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shinya Aoki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Aoki with that takedown attempt.
Some wild striking there from Spitler.
Aoki throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Spitler's waist but Spitler gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Aoki off to one side.
Aoki fails with the takedown.
Aoki is breathing heavily.
Aoki shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Spitler pinned against the cage. Spitler gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aoki shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Spitler as he avoids it easily.
Spitler looks to land a combination but Aoki avoids it well.

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

Spitler wants the takedown. Aoki is fighting it off but Spitler persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Aoki's guard against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spitler stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Aoki takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Spitler closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Aoki to the mat! Aoki manages to get full guard.

Spitler stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Spitler shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Aoki's guard.

Spitler gets to his feet. Aoki looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Spitler scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Spitler decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Aoki gets caught flat footed, as Spitler shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Aoki working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Spitler has passed into half guard!

Spitler decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Spitler thumps Aoki with a low kick.
Aoki fails with the takedown

and Spitler counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki trying to hold on to Spitler's head to control him but Spitler postures up.

Aoki actively working from the bottom here.

Spitler stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Aoki!
Aoki has his takedown stuffed

and Spitler counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Spitler has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Aoki is proving hard to escape from.

Aoki working for a triangle but Spitler defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spitler wants to stand but Aoki has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Aoki had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Spitler is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Aoki Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Spitler's back instead.

Aoki looking for the RNC.

Spitler defends a prolonged rear naked choke attempt and turns nicely into his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Spitler gets to his feet. Aoki looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Aoki fails with the takedown

and Spitler counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Spitler decides to stand and escape the position.
Aoki doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Spitler counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Aoki drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Spitler gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Spitler breaks the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Aoki has his takedown stuffed

and Spitler counters with a shoot takedown. Aoki fights it but they end up in guard.

Aoki working for a triangle but Spitler defends it easily.

Aoki has his foot on Spitler's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Spitler works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noah Spitler dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Aoki looks to land a combination. Spitler sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Aoki misses with a takedown attempt
and Spitler counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Aoki thinking.
Spitler throws a head kick that misses.
Spitler throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Aoki.
Spitler ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Spitler misses with a jab, cross combination.
No joy there for Spitler, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Spitler fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Aoki doesn't succeed with the takedown

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

Spitler is trying to trip Aoki. He has hold of a leg but Aoki is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Spitler persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Aoki looking for subs off his back but Spitler has passed one foot through into half guard.

Aoki with the active half guard here but Spitler passes nicely into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Spitler presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Aoki is looking to get to half guard.

Spitler is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Spitler lands with a nice body kick.
Spitler lands a jab to the nose.
Aoki fails with the takedown

and Spitler decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Aoki's guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shinya Aoki. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki working a defensive guard here.
Aoki looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Spitler puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Aoki looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Spitler moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Aoki.
Aoki tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Spitler decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Spitler counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Aoki's guard now.

Aoki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Spitler stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Spitler misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Aoki with a poor takedown
and Spitler counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Spitler has Aoki up against the cage in a clinch.
Aoki has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Spitler is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Spitler manages to break the clinch.
Aoki with a poor takedown

and Spitler counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Spitler.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Aoki has an active guard here but Spitler has managed to pass into half guard.
Aoki is looking for a sweep. Spitler is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spitler wants to get back to his feet.

Aoki looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Aoki regains full guard. Nicely done.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Aoki looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Spitler passes into half guard.
Spitler has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Spitler stands up from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noah Spitler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Aoki's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Aoki has his takedown stuffed

and Spitler counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Spitler stands up and waves to Aoki to follow him.

Spitler looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Spitler decides to stand up.
Aoki gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Spitler counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aoki tries to roll over but Spitler keeps him under control.

Spitler decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Spitler shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spitler decides to return to a standing position.
Aoki gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Spitler counters with a nice double leg into guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shinya Aoki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Spitler wants to stand but Aoki is controlling his posture from full guard.
Aoki managing to control the position.

Aoki throws his legs up looking for a submission but Spitler uses it to pass to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Spitler stands up from half guard.
Aoki tries for a takedown but Spitler circles away easily

and Spitler counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Aoki is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Aoki throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Spitler escapes and throws Aoki's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Aoki tries to bench press Spitler off him but Spitler keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki sneaks back into half guard.

Aoki has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Spitler escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Spitler!
Aoki tries to buck Spitler off but Spitler is having none of it.
Noah Spitler is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Aoki sneaks back into half guard.

Aoki looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Aoki trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Aoki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Spitler stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Aoki misses with a takedown

and Spitler counters with a takedown into side control.
Aoki trying to control but Spitler flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Aoki trying to control but not successfully.
Spitler keeps control of the position easily here as Aoki tries to buck him off.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Noah Spitler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Spitler has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 26:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 26:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Noah Spitler!