PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Amir Verdune (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shawn Aria Sr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Verdune's entrance music is Remember the name. A fine choice. Aria Sr has chosen . as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Verdune
vs
Aria Sr

187 cm
26
203 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

200 cm
28
205 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Very strong

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Amir Verdune!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Shawn Aria Sr!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Alec Ball and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Aria Sr. Verdune does a little dance to reset his feet.
A jab from Aria Sr misses.
Verdune displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Aria Sr throws out the jab.
Aria Sr is trying hard to land a takedown here. Verdune sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Aria Sr looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Aria Sr swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Aria Sr throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Verdune has closed the distance and engaged Aria Sr in a clinch.
Verdune digs a right hand underneath Aria Sr's ribcage. Aria Sr let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Verdune with a knee to the head.
Verdune lands a right hand.
Aria Sr jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Verdune walks away with a smile on his face. Aria Sr gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Amir Verdune has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shawn Aria Sr.
Verdune tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Aria Sr shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Aria Sr jabs at Verdune's body.
Aria Sr misses the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verdune avoids the body shot from Aria Sr.
Aria Sr swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Aria Sr misses with a wild body shot.
Aria Sr throws a big shot that misses.
Aria Sr wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Verdune is looking to clinch but Aria Sr is avoiding it.
Verdune tries to clinch but Aria Sr is having none of it.
Aria Sr shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Verdune defends it nicely.
Verdune is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Jab from Aria Sr.
Decent striking displayed by Aria Sr there.
Nice straight punches there by Aria Sr. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Aria Sr.
Aria Sr misses with a looping right.
Verdune stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A swing and a miss from Aria Sr.
Verdune tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Aria Sr scores with a jab to the head.
Nice defenses there by Verdune.
Verdune slips under a jab.
Aria Sr works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aria Sr fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Verdune manages to avoid it.
Aria Sr looks to throw the jab but Verdune is out of range.
Aria Sr is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Aria Sr scores with a one two! Verdune had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Aria Sr fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Verdune manages to avoid it.
Aria Sr takes a swing at Verdune's ribcage but misses.
Aria Sr fails to land the takedown.
Verdune defending well as Aria Sr loads up on a big left hand.
Verdune defending well as Aria Sr loads up on a big left hand.
Verdune uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Aria Sr.
Aria Sr shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Verdune as he jumps to the side.

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.
Verdune swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Aria Sr counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Verdune thinking.
Aria Sr jabbing away but nothing is landing.
The crowd cheers as Aria Sr lands an impressive looking overhand right. Verdune doesn't seem phased though.
Aria Sr shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Verdune pinned against the cage. Verdune gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Aria Sr misses with a looping right.
Verdune fails with an attempt to clinch.
Verdune uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Aria Sr.
Verdune darts in trying to clinch
and Aria Sr counters with a straight right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Shawn Aria Sr will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Aria Sr misses the jab.
Aria Sr bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Verdune's head backwards.
Verdune throws a series of punches but Aria Sr moves out of range.
Verdune slips under a jab.
Verdune ducks under a wild hook from Aria Sr.
Aria Sr works Verdune's body with a nice hook.
Aria Sr pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Verdune slips under a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Verdune wants to clinch up but Aria Sr keeps it at a distance.
Verdune keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Verdune takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verdune tries to clinch up.
Verdune swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Aria Sr thows a body shot but no joy.
A shot to the liver by Aria Sr. Beautiful body shot.
Aria Sr throws a combination that misses

and Verdune counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Verdune.
Verdune blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Aria Sr has had enough of the clinch but Verdune keeps him there for the moment.
Verdune blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Verdune misses with a body punch.
Verdune looking to throw knees to the head but Aria Sr is blocking nicely.
Aria Sr scores with a shot to the side of Verdune's head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Verdune.
Verdune throws a knee to the head but misses.
Verdune with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A right hook to the body lands for Aria Sr.
Aria Sr scores with a shot to the side of Verdune's head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Aria Sr.
Aria Sr with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Aria Sr lands a shoulder strike.
Aria Sr blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Verdune tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Aria Sr throws an elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verdune misses with a knee strike.
Aria Sr looking to throw knees to the head but Verdune is blocking nicely.
Aria Sr is looking to control Verdune's arms but Verdune gets an underhook and turns him. Now Aria Sr has his back to the cage.
Verdune scores with a shot to the side of Aria Sr's head.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Aria Sr misses with an elbow over the top.
A right hand to the body from Aria Sr.
Verdune's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Aria Sr avoiding damage as Verdune throws knees to the body.
Verdune takes a shot to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Verdune.
Aria Sr tries to land knees in the clinch but Verdune avoids the damage to the body.
Aria Sr gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Aria Sr lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Verdune takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Amir Verdune has been cut.
A short right from Verdune.

Aria Sr pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Verdune walks into a jab.

Aria Sr decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Aria Sr not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Aria Sr is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Aria Sr working Verdune over with strikes.
Verdune on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Verdune tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aria Sr trying to control from half guard but Verdune is working away.
Verdune might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Verdune regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Aria Sr.
Aria Sr advances position into side control!
Aria Sr misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Verdune regains half guard, as Aria Sr was trying to land strikes.
Aria Sr has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Verdune moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Verdune knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Aria Sr on the ground.
Aria Sr throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aria Sr cracks Verdune with a solid left hand.
Aria Sr postures up in Verdune's guard and throws a big left but Verdune blocks it.
Aria Sr in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Aria Sr postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Verdune working a defensive guard here.
Aria Sr working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Aria Sr throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Verdune works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Aria Sr missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Verdune utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Aria Sr trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Verdune seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shawn Aria Sr showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Amir Verdune's cut.
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. And we move into the final round!

A big left from Aria Sr misses.
Aria Sr lands a jab to the head.

Verdune gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Verdune working a defensive guard here.
Aria Sr sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Verdune's guard.
Verdune wants to get back to his feet.
Aria Sr missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Aria Sr throwing shots but Verdune is blocking nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Aria Sr is keen to just control but Verdune is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verdune wants to control but Aria Sr is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Aria Sr frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Verdune is trying desperately to improve position.
Aria Sr working Verdune over with strikes here.
The referee warns Verdune that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Verdune tries to buck Aria Sr off but he can't manage it.

Aria Sr working for a submission but Verdune is keeping him at bay.
Aria Sr in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Aria Sr jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Verdune manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verdune tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Aria Sr wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Aria Sr is putting a hurting on Verdune here, landing some big shots from side control.
The strikes coming from Aria Sr are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Aria Sr working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Aria Sr advances to full mount.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Aria Sr lands a big elbow.
Aria Sr landing punches.
Shawn Aria Sr has got the better of the ground game so far.
Aria Sr unloads with some shots from mount but Verdune bucks and avoids them well.
Verdune tries to hold on but Aria Sr postures up.
Verdune tries to reverse the position but Aria Sr maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aria Sr working the ground and pound effectively.
Aria Sr connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
A nice elbow there by Aria Sr.
Aria Sr with the ground and pound from mount.
Aria Sr landing punches.
Aria Sr postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Verdune looks a forlorn figure.
Aria Sr fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aria Sr looking to finish Verdune with some ground and pound. This is bad for Verdune!
Aria Sr landing shots from mount.

Amir Verdune's cut is getting worse.
Aria Sr working Verdune over with strikes here.

Amir Verdune's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aria Sr looking to control but Verdune is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Aria Sr is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Verdune can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Jeez, Amir Verdune's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Amir Verdune's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Shawn Aria Sr!