PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Aldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark MacLeod (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Antonio Aldo could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Mark MacLeod's chin.

Aldo
vs
MacLeod

180 cm
24
153 lbs
5 - 9 - 0

179 cm
25
155 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Good gas tank

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 5 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Aldo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mark MacLeod!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Seu Braga and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

MacLeod scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
MacLeod trying to mount his opponent but Aldo defends it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
MacLeod controlling the action here.
MacLeod misses with a head shot. Aldo uses the momentum to regain guard.
Aldo being controlled here, momentarily.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacLeod is stalling in the full guard.
MacLeod throwing strikes but missing.
MacLeod trying to control the position from guard on top but Aldo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
MacLeod sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
MacLeod trying to control the position from guard on top but Aldo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
MacLeod is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Despite being in the dominant position, Mark MacLeod just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
MacLeod throws a series of punches but Aldo avoids them all with ease.
MacLeod will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
MacLeod throws a one two combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

MacLeod closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Aldo is looking to improve his position.
Well, if MacLeod is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Aldo won't allow MacLeod to pass to mount.
MacLeod performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
MacLeod throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aldo is refusing to be controlled, as MacLeod sits in half guard.
MacLeod trying to control the pace.
MacLeod looks to land a strike but Aldo avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Aldo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
MacLeod controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark MacLeod dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Aldo with a poor takedown

and MacLeod counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Aldo!
Aldo bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

MacLeod working for a triangle but Aldo defends it easily.
MacLeod controls Aldo momentarily but Aldo frees himself.
Aldois looking to pass into half guard but MacLeod pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now MacLeod is in guard.
MacLeod stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Aldo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
MacLeod wants to control from the top but Aldo keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacLeod is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Despite being in the dominant position, Mark MacLeod just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

MacLeod shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
MacLeod is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
MacLeod tries to free his leg and advance position but Aldo is retaining full guard.
MacLeod trying to control but Aldo is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aldo can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as MacLeod controls the pace.
MacLeod looking to pass the guard.
MacLeod passes into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

MacLeod is working for a submission of some sort.
Aldo keeping hold of MacLeod's head, controlling as best he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacLeod is figuring out what he wants to do next.
MacLeod has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Aldo is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, MacLeod cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The referee warns Aldo that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
MacLeod controlling the pace for now.
Aldo is squirming around, avoiding MacLeod's attempts to control the action.
Aldo tries to reverse the position but MacLeod maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark MacLeod showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

MacLeod misses with a few strikes there.
An inside leg kick from MacLeod misses.
MacLeod throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A punch combination from MacLeod misses.
MacLeod connects with a nice looking jab.
MacLeod fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

MacLeod shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than MacLeod was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Aldo tries to hold on but MacLeod postures up.
MacLeod thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
MacLeod trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacLeod is landing with some decent strikes but Aldo is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
MacLeod tries to control but Aldo wriggling away.
MacLeod might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Aldo kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
MacLeod looking to control and managing it successfully.
MacLeod lands a nice shot to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aldo is squirming around, avoiding MacLeod's attempts to control the action.
MacLeod wants to take his opponent's back but Aldo doesn't allow it.
MacLeod prevents Aldo from getting the reversal.
MacLeod controlling from the full mount.
Aldo has given up his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacLeod really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Aldo.

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

Despite being in the dominant position, Mark MacLeod just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
MacLeod misses with a head kick.
Antonio Aldo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aldo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Aldo takes one on the chin but seems OK.

MacLeod shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
MacLeod moves nicely into side control.
MacLeod has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Mark MacLeod is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
MacLeod takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark MacLeod comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well MacLeod has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark MacLeod!