PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Helio Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Masakazu Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aoki has chosen Dream On by Aerosmith as his entrance music. Masakazu Aoki has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gracie
vs
Aoki

175 cm
24
140 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

155 cm
24
147 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Malicious Intent Fight Gear - The Pit Inc

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Helio Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Masakazu Aoki!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Chris Downing and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie circles away from the clinch attempt.
Aoki tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Aoki doesn't manage to clinch there - Gracie circles away.
A punch lands to the side of Gracie 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Gracie dodges the punch combination from Aoki.
Aoki tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Aoki tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Masakazu Aoki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie keeps the fight on the outside.
Aoki keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
The fight stays on the outside here - Aoki looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
No luck for Gracie with that takedown attempt.

Gracie drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gracie won't allow Aoki to sweep him here.
Gracie will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Aoki swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Aoki looking for a sweep. Not yet Aoki, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Aoki is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Aoki is on top in guard.

Gracie working for a triangle but Aoki defends it easily.

Gracie is looking for a triangle here but Aoki uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
The ground and pound from Aoki seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Gracie tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Aoki wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Aoki has hold of Gracie's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Gracie seems comfortable defending it but Aoki has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Gracie is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Gracie is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Aoki couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Masakazu Aoki!