PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Josh Saffy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jin Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saffy's entrance music is Still Unbroken. A fine choice. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Saffy
vs
Aoki

173 cm
18
148 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
24
157 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Josh Saffy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jin Aoki!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Anthony Taglia and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Saffy manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Aoki on his heels. He'll look to pass Aoki's guard now, I'm sure.
Saffy trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Saffy is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Saffy trying to control the position from guard on top but Aoki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saffy is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Josh Saffy.

Saffy gets a takedown into half guard.
Saffy is keen to just control but Aoki is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki is controlling Saffy's trapped leg to prevent Saffy from advancing to side control.
Saffy prevents Aoki from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saffy is trying to control. Aoki wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

We're going to have a standup here because Josh Saffy wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Saffy closes the distance and clinches.

Saffy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Aoki gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

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

Saffy tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Saffy has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Saffy trying to control the action but Aoki is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aoki is trying to improve his position.
Saffy working away.
Aoki is trying to get back to half guard.
Saffy controls the position.
Aoki wants to control but Saffy postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki is not content to let Saffy control the position.
Aoki sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Aoki looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Saffy looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Saffy is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Aoki has managed to free his arm - good work.
Aoki moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Aoki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Aoki working a defensive guard but Saffy manages to pass into side control anyway.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aoki is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Saffy dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Saffy closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Saffy lands in his opponent's guard.
Josh Saffy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Aoki looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Aoki being controlled here, momentarily.
Saffy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Aoki is keeping the position for now.
Saffy trying to control the position from guard on top but Aoki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saffy trying to move into half guard but instead Aoki has managed to sweep!
Aoki stops Saffy from standing up.
Saffy wants to sweep here but Aoki controlling him for the moment.
Saffy trying to keep a closed guard but Aoki is proving a slippery customer.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Saffy keeping full guard, as Aoki tries to pass.

We're going to have a standup here because Josh Saffy wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Saffy falls off balance throwing a combination

and Aoki counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Aoki wants to control from the top but Saffy keeps moving.
Aoki preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aoki is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Saffy is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Saffy has escaped and now he's on top!
Saffy has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Aoki tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Aoki controls Saffy momentarily but Saffy frees himself.

Aoki working for a triangle but Saffy defends it easily.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saffy passes Aoki's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Aoki is holding on to half guard well.

Aoki looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Saffy sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Aoki trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saffy is looking to advance position but Aoki won't allow it.
Saffy is looking to take a break and control but Aoki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Aoki looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Aoki looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Saffy is trying to control the action in half guard but Aoki is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jin Aoki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Aoki tries for a takedown but Saffy sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Saffy shoots in and bounces Aoki off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Saffy trying to control the position from guard on top but Aoki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saffy forces his way into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saffy is keen to just control but Aoki is a slippery customer.

Saffy looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Aoki trying to hold on to Saffy's head to control him but Saffy postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saffy wants to lay and pray for a moment but Aoki keeps working.
Aoki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Aoki flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's two 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 control Saffy's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Aoki avoid being mounted?
Aoki is not content to let Saffy control the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Saffy passes to side control.
Saffy trying to control the position but Aoki is working away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Saffy wants to control for a moment but Aoki uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Aoki trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saffy is working for a kimura but Aoki is defending it quite comfortably.
Aoki is looking to improve his position.
Aoki is staying active underneath Saffy, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Aoki actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saffy throwing shots but Aoki is blocking nicely.
Saffy wants to pass the guard but Aoki is defending well.
Aoki has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Saffy is working away from the top position though.
Saffy stalling away here and it's allowed Aoki to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Aoki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Saffy is one step ahead there.
Saffy trying to control but Aoki is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Saffy showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Saffy has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Saffy!
Josh Saffy bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.