PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jose Aldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Houdini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Aldo
vs
Houdini

175 cm
18
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

172 cm
22
152 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jose Aldo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alex Houdini!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Seu Braga and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Houdini changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Aldo looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Aldo looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Houdini tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Aldo parries the strikes from Houdini easily there. Houdini is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Aldo to escape.
Houdini tries to advance to mount but Aldo denies him.
Aldo can't do much from the bottom here.
Houdini wants to lay and pray for a moment but Aldo keeps working.

Houdini wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Aldo, who protects the arm well.
The referee asks Houdini politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Houdini prefers to stall for the moment though.
Houdini wants to lay and pray for a moment but Aldo keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houdini throws a strike aimed at the side of Aldo's head but Aldo avoids it well.
Houdini moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Houdini tries for a kimura but Aldo is defending well.
Houdini taking a breather here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Houdini in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Houdini wants to lay and pray for a moment but Aldo keeps working.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Houdini advances to full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Houdini throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Houdini looking to ground and pound but Aldo is blocking nicely.
Houdini throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

Houdini has hold of Aldo's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Aldo manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Houdini tries to control but Aldo wriggling away.
Houdini tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo 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.
Aldo tries to roll but Houdini sticks to his back.

Aldo is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Houdini gets his way!
Houdini missing with strikes.

Houdini working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Aldo covering up well under a series of strikes from Houdini.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aldo rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Houdini is working for a kimura but Aldo is defending it quite comfortably.

Aldo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Houdini in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Aldo tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Houdini!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5:01 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Alex Houdini!