PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jose Aldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aldo kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Rough Rida. Thompson has chosen Yo Yo Scrape by Skinny Puppy as his entrance music. Jose Aldo has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Aldo
vs
Thompson

180 cm
25
179 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

165 cm
28
170 lbs
19 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jose Aldo!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tom Thompson!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Elvis Blanc and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thompson avoids the body shot from Aldo.
Thompson fails with the takedown.
Thompson dives in and grabs Aldo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Aldo pushes down on Thompson's head and hops out.
Aldo moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Thompson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Thompson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Thompson looking to control but Aldo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Aldo keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aldo is squirming around, avoiding Thompson's attempts to control the action.
Aldo tries to hold on but Thompson postures up.
Thompson controlling the position easily from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thompson jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Aldo manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Thompson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Aldo, who protects the arm well.

Thompson goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Aldo rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Thompson's guard! Nice work there by Aldo!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Thompson looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Aldo passes into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Aldo seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Aldo is working away from the top position though.
Thompson wants to improve his position but Aldo is controlling well.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Aldo looks to score with a jab to the body but Thompson is just out of range.
Aldo tries to bum rush Thompson with a series of wild strikes but Thompson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Aldo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thompson was well out of range. Poor timing from Aldo.
Aldo misses with a looping left.
Aldo throws a shot to the body.
Aldo throws a big shot that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo scores with a hook.
Thompson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jose Aldo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Thompson.
Thompson wants to clinch up but Aldo keeps it at a distance.
Aldo lands a jab.
Aldo wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Thompson fails with the takedown.
Thompson closes the distance and clinches up with Aldo, looking for a takedown. Thompson pushes Aldo against the cage but Aldo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Aldo lands a nice shot that snaps Thompson's head back.
Aldo scores with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aldo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Aldo looks to land a left hand but Thompson moved out of range nicely.
Jose Aldo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Aldo just misses with a punch to the body.
Thompson slips a jab from Aldo.
Aldo is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Thompson looks for a takedown but Aldo sprawls well.
Thompson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Aldo throws a jab but it's blocked by Thompson.
Aldo with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Aldo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Aldo stuffs the takedown.
Aldo connects with a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Aldo clobbers Thompson with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Aldo lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Thompson has a takedown stuffed.
Aldo throws a right hand that Thompson ducks under and follows up with a left that Thompson also avoids with ease.
Thompson shoots in but Aldo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Thompson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jose Aldo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Thompson.
Thompson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Aldo wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Aldo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo lands a nice hook to Thompson's body. Thompson takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Aldo throws a big shot that misses.

Aldo clinches.

Aldo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thompson dodges the punch combination from Aldo.
Aldo misses with a few strikes there.
Thompson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A combination from Aldo does no damage.
Thompson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Aldo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Thompson is defended easily by Aldo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aldo connects with a nice looking jab.
Thompson tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Aldo counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Aldo lands a slapping body shot.
Aldo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Thompson circles away quickly and effectively.
Thompson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Aldo's waist but Aldo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Thompson off to one side.
Thompson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Aldo counters with a series of strikes. Thompson will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Jose Aldo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Aldo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Aldo looks to score with a jab to the body but Thompson is just out of range.
Thompson misses with a takedown
and Aldo counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Aldo scores with a nice right hand.
Thompson avoids the body shot from Aldo.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Thompson is defended easily by Aldo.
Thompson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Aldo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aldo throws an overhand right that lands on Thompson's shoulder, as Thompson tries to avoid the shot.
Thompson needs to keep his hands up - Aldo had a free shot at his head there.
Thompson dodges the punch combination from Aldo.
Aldo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A jab from Aldo misses.
Thompson tries for a takedown but Aldo circles away easily
and Aldo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Aldo fails to land with a series of punches.
Thompson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Aldo dominated that second round.
That's time! Aldo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Aldo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thompson has his takedown stuffed
and Aldo makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Aldo throws a hook but Thompson avoids it easily.
Thompson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Aldo misses the jab.
Thompson tries to clinch up
and Aldo counters with a left and a right that stings Thompson.
Aldo throws a looping overhand right but Thompson ducks down to avoid it.
Thompson with a poor takedown
and Aldo counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Aldo thows a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Aldo.
Aldo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thompson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Aldo throws a hook but Thompson blocks it.
Jose Aldo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aldo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nice shot by Aldo.
Thompson misses with a takedown attempt
and Aldo counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Jose Aldo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Thompson.
Aldo scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Thompson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Aldo counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aldo slaps away a takedown attempt from Thompson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Aldo throws a series of punches but Thompson moves out of range.

Aldo takes the fight into the clinch.
Thompson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Aldo smiles and moves away.
Aldo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Thompson circles away quickly and effectively.

Aldo gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Thompson to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo wants to stand and escape but Thompson is having none of it.
Thompson trying to control the position from guard on top but Aldo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thompson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Aldo managing to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tom Thompson was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Aldo tries to bum rush Thompson with a series of wild strikes but Thompson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Thompson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Aldo counters with a stiff right hand.
Aldo misses with a hook.
Thompson misses with a takedown
and Aldo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Thompson tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Aldo counters with a three punch combo that has Thompson backing up. Thompson nods at Aldo to acknowledge the strikes.
Aldo misses with a straight right.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Aldo clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Thompson shoots and misses
and Aldo counters with a series of strikes. Thompson will be more careful next time no doubt.
Aldo throws a right and a left that Thompson avoids nicely.
Thompson has his takedown stuffed
and Aldo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Aldo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Thompson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Aldo is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Thompson tries to circle away but Aldo has him pinned against the cage.
Aldo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A right hook to the body lands for Aldo.
A short right from Aldo on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Aldo.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Aldo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson takes a shot to the head.
A hook to the body from Aldo.
Thompson is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Aldo lands a left hand.
Aldo cracks Thompson with a nice body shot.
A body shot lands from Aldo.
Aldo lands a hook that snaps the head of Thompson backwards.
Thompson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Aldo scores with a nice hook to the head.
Aldo working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Thompson is rocked!
Aldo lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Thompson is still on wobbly legs! Can Aldo finish him?
A short left from Aldo.

Aldo breaks from the clinch.
A right-left combo lands from Aldo.
Aldo paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Aldo drops Thompson with a straight left! Oh this is bad for Thompson! Aldo dives in and starts dropping bombs - the referee has no choice but to step in and save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (strikes). Jose Aldo!
Jose Aldo retains his welterweight title!