PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hyun Kim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tatsuya Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kim comes to the cage accompanied by To the Top. Hyun Kim could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Tatsuya Aoki's chin.

Kim
vs
Aoki

176 cm
29
170 lbs
21 - 7 - 0

178 cm
27
181 lbs
14 - 10 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hyun Kim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Tatsuya Aoki!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Ren Mimura and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Aoki feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Aoki scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kim looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Aoki works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Kim is trying to maintain the position but Aoki is very close to passing his half guard.
Aoki wants to control but Kim is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aoki missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Aoki is trying to work for a kimura but Kim is defending well.
Kim tries to roll over but Aoki keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kim is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Aoki's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Aoki's back!
Aoki is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Aoki covering up well and avoiding damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Aoki is working to get back to half guard.
Aoki is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Aoki trying desperately to get to his feet.
Kim avoids the attempt from Aoki to control.
Aoki regains half guard.
Aoki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Aoki manages to get to full guard.
Kim trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kim is one step ahead there.
Kim in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kim stops Aoki from standing up.
Kim trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Aoki not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kim postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Kim got a little sloppy there for a moment and Aoki has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kim has managed to get both his arms back between Aoki's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kim is one step ahead there.
Kim pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Aoki is keeping the position for now.
Aoki keeping moving, preventing Kim from controlling successfully.
Aoki has momentary wrist control but Kim slips an elbow through the middle.
Kim stopping the sweep attempt from Aoki.
Kim throwing strikes from guard but Aoki blocks nicely.

Aoki working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kim doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kim manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kim throwing strikes but missing.

Aoki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Aoki tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kim postures up in Aoki's guard and throws a big left but Aoki blocks it.
Aoki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kim has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Aoki is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Aoki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Aoki is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
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!
Kim is not content to let Aoki control the position.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Aoki might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Kim kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Aoki passes to full mount!
Kim keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Aoki landing shots from mount.
Kim tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Aoki trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Aoki landing strikes from the mount and Kim is in trouble!
Aoki unloading with bombs!
Kim working to try and regain half guard.
Kim tries to hold on but Aoki pushes him away.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Aoki controlling from mount.

Aoki looking to secure an arm triangle but Kim defends it well.
Aoki connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Aoki goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Kim turns into him and now he's in Aoki's guard.
Kim loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kim lands a couple of digs.
Kim throwing strikes from guard but Aoki blocks nicely.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Kim wants to control from the top but Aoki keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Aoki is on top in guard.
Aoki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kim is keeping the position for now.

Kim is looking for a triangle but Aoki pushes his legs off easily.

Kim is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kim keeping moving, preventing Aoki from controlling successfully.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Kim has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Aoki can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Aoki passes Kim's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Aoki scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kim is staying active underneath Aoki, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kim slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Aoki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kim is keeping the position for now.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Aoki trying to control but Kim is working from the bottom.
Aoki with a nice head shot there.
Aoki forces his way into half guard.

Kim actively working from the bottom here.
Kim has hold of Aoki's hands but Aoki slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kim trying to control but Aoki postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aoki wants to take a breather but Kim is having none of it.
Kim wants to improve his position but Aoki is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tatsuya Aoki dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! 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.

Aoki misses with a two punch combination.
Kim shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Aoki closes the distance and clinches up with Kim, looking for a takedown. Aoki pushes Kim against the cage but Kim circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kim swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Aoki lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kim circles away quickly and effectively.

Kim gets a double leg takedown into Aoki's guard.
Kim postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Aoki tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Aoki is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Aoki preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Aoki trying to keep a closed guard but Kim is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aoki looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kim won't allow Aoki to sweep him here.
Tatsuya Aoki has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kim won't allow Aoki to get back to his feet.
Aoki wants to sweep but no luck.
Kim trying to control but Aoki is working from the bottom.
Aoki preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kim preventing the sweep.
Aoki wants to stand but Kim is controlling the position.
Aoki is breathing heavily.
Kim scoring with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kim landing some decent shots from guard.
Aoki wants to stand but Kim is controlling the position.
Kim throws a big elbow that misses.

Aoki escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kim gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Aoki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Aoki trying to control the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Aoki wants to sweep but no luck.
Aoki avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Kim manages to pass to side control.
Kim is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Kim scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Aoki wants to get back to full guard.
Aoki is trying to stand up here but Kim is controlling him well.
Aoki on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Aoki wants to get back to his feet.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kim connects with a nice short shot to Aoki's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Kim there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Kim is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Aoki has managed to free his arm - good work.
Aoki tries to get to full guard but Kim has control of the leg.
Kim seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Aoki moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kim is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Aoki is trying to keep Kim in close.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Aoki manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Kim tries to hold on but Aoki postures up.
Kim is working to get back to half guard.
Aoki landing shots from mount.
Aoki with a couple of short strikes.
Aoki punishing his opponent with strikes.
Aoki working Kim over with strikes here.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Kim is trying to reverse the position but instead Aoki has taken his back - oops!
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!
Aoki not allowing Kim to control his hands.

Aoki is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Kim has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Aoki tightening his grip on Kim, looking for the choke.
Aoki softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Aoki lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.

Aoki is working for the choke. It looks like he might have got it... has he...? Yes! Kim is tapping out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 7:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Tatsuya Aoki!
During a confident post fight interview, Tatsuya Aoki thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.