PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Niklas Aho (ranked 2338 p4p, 5843 weight class) and Tobias Ball (ranked 293 p4p, 577 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Aho
vs
Ball

184 cm
24
177
6 - 6 - 0

184 cm
23
169
1 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

HELLBENT

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Niklas Aho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Tobias Ball!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Richard Clark and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aho pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Ball! But no joy.
Aho throws a wild body kick that Ball sees coming a mile off.
Aho backing away here, and Ball unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Ball looks to land a left hand but Aho moved out of range nicely.
Aho scores with a push kick.
Aho lets loose with a powerful body kick. Ball will feel that in the morning.
Ball throws a leg kick

and Aho decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ball's guard.
Aho stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ball swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Aho being controlled here momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aho looking to pass the guard.
Aho is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aho tries to free his leg and advance position but Ball is retaining full guard.
Aho is working hard here to advance position.
Aho wants to control from the top but Ball keeps moving.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Ball misses with a wild combination.
Ball swings for the body but Aho moves out of range.
Aho half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Ball has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Aho.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ball throws a leg kick that is checked

and Aho counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Aho advances position into side control!
Aho trying to control the action but Ball is working from the bottom.
Ball stops Aho from passing to mount.

Aho is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ball has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aho looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Aho is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ball knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Aho is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ball has escaped the position, nice work there.
Ball gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aho seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Ball is holding on tight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ball is squirming around, avoiding Aho's attempts to control the action.

Aho swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Ball is now in Aho's guard. A big mistake from Aho there, giving up the dominant position!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Niklas Aho dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ball jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Aho misses with a head kick.
Aho slips under a jab from Ball.
A nice inside leg kick there by Ball. That's going to slow Aho down.
Ball swings for the body but Aho moves out of range.
Ball with the inside leg kick.
Aho tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ball swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aho keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ball lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Aho stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ball.
Aho has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Ball.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ball connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Ball with a hook.
Aho checks a low kick from Ball.
Aho on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A low kick from Aho misses
and Ball counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Aho thows a leg kick but Ball checks it
and Ball connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Donk. Ball catches Aho right on the button with a cross.

Ball drops Aho with a nice combination! Ball dives into Aho's guard, looking to finish!

Aho is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Aho working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Ball has passed into half guard!
Oh Aho is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Aho is looking to improve his position.

Aho is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ball pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aho tries to get to full guard but Ball has control of the leg.
Aho seems to have got his legs back now.

Aho actively working from the bottom here.
Aho manages to get to full guard.

Aho is looking for a triangle but Ball pushes his legs off easily.
Ball working some strikes from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aho looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Ball avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ball has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ball won't allow Aho to sweep him here.

Aho had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ball defends it easily.
Ball connects with a couple of short punches.

Ball got a little sloppy there for a moment and Aho has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ball has managed to get both his arms back between Aho's legs - danger averted.
Ball won't allow Aho to sweep him here.

That's four 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.
Aho manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ball manages to get himself to full guard.

Ball pulls Aho in to control the position.
Aho tries to free his leg and advance position but Ball is retaining full guard.

Aho is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ball is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ball has escaped and now he's on top!

Ball trying to control but Aho is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tobias Ball showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Aho's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Ball just misses with a punch to the body.
Ball throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Aho clinches with his opponent.
Ball lands a body shot in the clinch.
Ball swings wildly with an uppercut but Aho uses good head movement to avoid it.

Aho pulls guard effortlessly.

Aho throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Aho is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Niklas Aho overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ball content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aho is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ball defends well.

Aho throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ball working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Aho's head.
Ball landing with the ground and pound.

Aho is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ball is aware though and is defending well.
Ball trying to control but Aho is working from the bottom.
Ball pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Aho is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ball trying to control the position from guard on top but Aho is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ball makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ball must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ball's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Aho looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Aho is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Aho controls Ball momentarily but Ball frees himself.
Ball keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Aho's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aho working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ball doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ball manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ball postures up and lands a big shot to Aho's brow.
Ball postures up and lands a big shot to Aho's brow.
Ball lands a couple of elbows.
Aho looking for a sweep. Not yet Aho, not yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ball throws a poor cross that misses

and Aho counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Ball seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Aho pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ball is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aho wants to control from the top but Ball keeps moving.
Ball is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Aho slips nicely into half guard.
Aho trying to pass the guard but Ball defending well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Aho stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
Niklas Aho showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Aho has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Niklas Aho!