PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jeffson Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Masakazu Aoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes to the ring accompanied by Cliff Richard - Summer Holiday. Aoki has chosen Sandstorm by Darude as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Masakazu Aoki was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Gracie
vs
Aoki

160 cm
42
155 lbs
34 - 31 - 2

155 cm
46
147 lbs
43 - 30 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Spartan Nutrition

Spartan Nutrition
GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 34 - 31 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jeffson Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 43 - 30 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Masakazu Aoki!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Edson Gomes and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aoki cracks the inside of Gracie's front leg.
Aoki tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Aoki cracks Gracie with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Aoki lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Aoki throws a big shot that misses.
Gracie steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Aoki.
Aoki scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Aoki just misses with a punch to the body.
Aoki scores with a nice head shot.
Aoki throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Aoki scores with a hook.
Aoki misses the shot to the body.
Aoki throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
Jab, jab by Aoki - just one landing.
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 scores with a punch to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki misses with a right hand
and Gracie counters with a lovely straight right hand!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Aoki enables Gracie to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Aoki manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

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

Aoki is looking for a triangle but Gracie pushes his legs off easily.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Aoki is keeping the position for now.
Aoki tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki wants to improve his position but instead Gracie has moved into half guard.
Aoki wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy.
Aoki is looking to improve his position.

Aoki actively working from the bottom here.
Aoki is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Aoki avoid being mounted?
Gracie passes to side control.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Gracie trying to control the action but Aoki is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki parries the strikes from Gracie easily there. Gracie is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Aoki to escape.
Gracie working away.
Aoki tries to bench press Gracie off him but Gracie keeps the position.
Aoki is trying to work for a sweep but Gracie has mounted him!
Aoki regains half guard.
Aoki tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.
Aoki is pressing down on Gracie's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Gracie preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Aoki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aoki avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gracie preventing the sweep.
Gracie wanted to stand there but Aoki had control of the position.
Aoki bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gracie's guard.

Aoki wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
My spies in The Warehouse inform me that Aoki has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Aoki gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.
Aoki distracts Gracie with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Masakazu Aoki dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Aoki lands a really nice looking cross but Gracie seems unphased.
Aoki has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Aoki waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gracie.
Aoki pivots, looking for a leg kick but Gracie is out of range and Aoki settles back down.
Gracie slips a jab from Aoki.
Gracie tries to counter with a takedown but Aoki is quick to defend against it.
Aoki throws a head kick that misses.
Aoki throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Masakazu Aoki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aoki misses with a straight left.
Aoki lands a jab.
Masakazu Aoki seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Aoki connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donk. Aoki catches Gracie right on the button with a cross.
Aoki lands with an overhand left.
Gracie blocks a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Aoki looks to land a left hand but Gracie moved out of range nicely.
An attempted straight right counter from Gracie misses the target.
Aoki just misses with a punch to the body.
Aoki wants to land a leg kick but Gracie is out of range.
It looked like Gracie wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Aoki misses with a hook. Gracie ducked under it nicely.
Gracie scores with a punch to the head.
Aoki is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Aoki throws a lazy right hand but Gracie sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Aoki pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Aoki uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gracie.
Aoki throws out a counter right but Gracie avoids it with no problem.
Aoki lands a head shot.
Aoki lands with a good body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Aoki throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
Aoki on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Aoki connects with a good right hand that stumbles Gracie. Gracie circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Gracie avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Aoki. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Gracie shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Aoki defends it nicely.
Aoki lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Jab from Aoki.
A telegraphed right hand from Aoki misses the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Aoki throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gracie slips under a jab.
Gracie throwing a counter right hand but Aoki manages to avoid it.
Aoki scores with a jab. Gracie acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Aoki throws a wild body kick that Gracie sees coming a mile off.
Gracie lands with a cross.
Aoki throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Gracie counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Aoki throws a body punch but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie is looking for a counter combo.
Aoki fails with the takedown.
A big left from Aoki misses.
Aoki throws a body punch but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aoki throws a shot from downtown. Gracie moves away and avoids it.
Aoki connects with a single shot there.

Gracie has closed the distance and engaged Aoki in a clinch.
Gracie misses with a knee to the head.
Aoki managing to block the knees to the body from Gracie.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A right hand to the body from Aoki.
Gracie wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Aoki tries a knee to the head but Gracie blocks it.
Gracie missing with knees to the body.
Aoki throws an elbow but it misses.
Aoki goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Gracie with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Aoki tries to stall but Gracie uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Gracie tries a knee to the head but Aoki blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Masakazu 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 ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Aoki misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gracie.
Jab, jab by Aoki - just one landing.
Aoki scoring well with a low kick there.
Aoki throws a jab when Gracie was well out of range.
Gracie was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Aoki scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A big right from Gracie misses.
Gracie takes one to the side of the head.
A telegraphed right hand from Aoki misses the target.
Gracie tries to counter with a takedown but Aoki is quick to defend against it.
Horrible takedown attempt by Gracie or perhaps it was just good defense by Aoki, which made it look bad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aoki just misses with a punch to the body.
It looked like Gracie was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Aoki.
Aoki looks to score with a jab to the body but Gracie is just out of range.

Aoki looking to score a takedown here. Gracie is defending well but Aoki drives through and ends up in Gracie's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Gracie working for a triangle but Aoki defends it easily.
Aoki works over Gracie with some ground and pound from guard.
Aoki is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Aoki from controlling successfully.
Aoki is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Jeffson Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We've been hearing good reports from Gracie's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Aoki not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Aoki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Masakazu Aoki is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gracie.
Aoki takes a swing at Gracie's ribcage but misses.
Some wild striking there from Aoki.

Aoki shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aoki content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Gracie is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Aoki trying to control but Gracie postures up.
Aoki is not content to let Gracie control the position.
Aoki trying to control here.
Aoki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Aoki wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to pass to full mount but Aoki defends it.
Aoki is trying to control but Gracie manages to pass to mount!
Aoki has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
Aoki wants to control his opponent's hands but Gracie gets his hands free.
Gracie throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Gracie trying to control momentarily.
Aoki rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Gracie is working for a kimura but Aoki is defending it quite comfortably.

And that's the end of the fight!
Masakazu Aoki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Aoki winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Masakazu Aoki!
Masakazu Aoki seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.