MMA 101

The year 2012 finished in Japan in a way that it has been for more than a decade: with a major show involving mixed martial arts and kickboxing.

This year, it was a co-promoted effort between Dream and Glory Sports International, the owners of kickboxing promotion GLORY. Both Dream and GLORY would hold shows at Saitama Super Arena with Dream going first.

Shinya Aoki finished Antonio McGee in a fashion that is very familiar to Aoki's fights: submission. The difference in this case is that it was a submission by punch.

After a first round that was mostly on the canvas, Aoki began the second round by unloading with a right to McGee's face that sent him partially through the ropes. McGee submitted while still between the ropes. The shot may have landed right on McGee's left eye as that is where one of his hands went right after the shot landed.

McGee's lone bright spot was having a guillotine choke on Aoki during the final 30 seconds of the first round, but it didn't appear serious and seemed more like a way to neutralize Aoki than defeat him. The rest of the opening round was Aoki wearing McGee down with takedowns, takedown attempts, or from the defense he would exhibit when McGee was in top position on the canvas.