PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Daryl Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Aldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ward
vs
Aldo

170 cm
25
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

172 cm
23
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Daryl Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Jose Aldo!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Daniel Bishop and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aldo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Aldo misses with a series of wild punches.
No joy there for Aldo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Aldo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ward circles away quickly and effectively.
No joy there for Aldo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Aldo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Aldo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ward misses with a jab, cross combination.
No joy there for Aldo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A combination from Aldo does no damage.
Ward fails in his attempt to clinch.

Ward moves into the clinch successfully.
Ward is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Aldo avoiding damage as Ward throws knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aldo tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ward just stands there and leans against the cage.
Aldo is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Aldo takes an elbow to the temple.
Ward slowing the pace effectively.
Ward lands an elbow inside.
Aldo looking for a takedown.
Daryl Ward has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jose Aldo.
Aldo jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ward walks away with a smile on his face. Aldo gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Ward takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Aldo moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Aldo misses with a wild combination.
Aldo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A leg kick checked by Aldo.
Ward is looking to clinch but Aldo is avoiding it.
Aldo swats away the attempt to clinch by Ward.
Ward tries to close the distance and clinch up but Aldo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Aldo misses with a few strikes there.
Daryl Ward seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ward doesn't manage to clinch there - Aldo circles away.
Aldo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ward fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ward wants to clinch up but Aldo keeps it at a distance.
Danga de danga de dang - Aldo scores with a four punch combination!

Ward moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward prevents a takedown attempt there.

Ward breaks the clinch.
Aldo throws a right and a left that both miss.
A punch combination from Aldo misses.
Aldo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ward.
Aldo throws a combination that misses

and Ward counters by clinching up.
Nice elbow from Ward.
Aldo wants to get back to striking at distance but Ward won't allow it.
Ward tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Aldo avoids it.
Aldo letting Ward take a breather here.
Aldo has a couple of punches blocked by Ward.
Ward misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Aldo.
Aldo wants a takedown.
Aldo looks gassed!
Nice elbow from Ward.

Ward breaks from the clinch.
Aldo falls off balance throwing a combination

and Ward counters by moving into the clinch.
Ward utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Ward lands an elbow that stopped Aldo in his tracks for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ward gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Ward breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Aldo misses with a double jab
and Ward counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ward looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ward misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Ward fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Aldo, pushing him back against the cage.

Ward breaks from the clinch.
Ward wants to clinch up but Aldo keeps it at a distance.
Aldo checks a low kick from Ward.
Ward tries to clinch but Aldo moves out of range.
Aldo throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Ward counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ward.
Ward landing knees to the head.
A knee to the head by Ward.
Ward lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Ward keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Aldo's efforts to push away.

Ward's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Aldo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ward tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ward throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Aldo.

Ward moves into the clinch.
Aldo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ward is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Aldo takes a knee right on the jaw!
Ward lands a damaging elbow.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Ward.
Stalling in the clinch from Ward.
Aldo drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ward gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Ward unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Ward pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ward doesn't manage to clinch there - Aldo circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daryl Ward dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Some wild striking there from Ward.
Aldo throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ward counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Aldo moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Aldo throws a right and a left that Ward avoids nicely.
Aldo misses with a two punch combination.
Aldo throws out a powerful jab.
Daryl Ward is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Aldo lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Aldo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ward tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Aldo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Aldo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ward circles away quickly and effectively.

Ward gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Aldo goes for a takedown attempt but Ward pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ward tries to clinch up.
Aldo is breathing heavily.

Ward takes the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Ward.
Ward unloads a knee to the mid-section. Aldo lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Ward throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Aldo blocks it with crossed arms.
Ward lands a knee to the body.
Ward landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Ward lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Ward with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Ward lands an elbow inside that Aldo shrugs off.
Ward landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Ward is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Ward breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ward is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Ward drives through and clinches with Aldo against the cage.

Ward breaks the clinch.
Aldo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Ward forces Aldo back against the cage and clinches.
Ward misses with a knee strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aldo fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A bit of stalling here from Ward.
Ward lands an elbow inside that Aldo shrugs off.
Aldo is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Daryl Ward has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jose Aldo.
Aldo jumps guard but Ward stands there with Aldo around his waist. Aldo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ward leaning against his opponent.
Ward landing knees to the head.

Ward breaks from the clinch.
Ward tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Aldo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Aldo misses with a few strikes there.

Ward gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ward landing knees to the body.
Ward lands a damaging elbow.
Ward trying to land knees to the body.
Ward prevents the takedown attempt.
Aldo fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Ward obliges.
Knees to the body from Ward.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo can't get the takedown.
Aldo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Ward.
Aldo is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ward gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Aldo has Ward pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ward manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Aldo drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ward lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Ward stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Aldo is working for takedown but Ward is calmly controlling the position for now.
Ward lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Ward displaying some good clinch control by pressing Aldo up against the cage.
Ward scores a nice knee to the body.
Aldo avoiding damage as Ward throws knees to the body.
Ward wants to break the clinch but can't.
Aldo is trying to drag Ward to the mat but Ward just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Daryl Ward has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Ward misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Aldo.
Aldo is working for takedown but Ward is calmly controlling the position for now.
Aldo drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ward gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Aldo takes a knee to the side of the body.
Ward unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Ward gets underhooks to prevent Aldo's takedown attempt.
Ward creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Aldo's defenses.
Ward using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Ward landing knees to the head.
Ward lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Aldo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ward is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Ward stops a takedown attempt from Aldo.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Ward takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Ward gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Aldo.
Ward throws a knee to the head but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daryl Ward dominated that second round.
That's time! Ward's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Ward attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Aldo throws a right hand that Ward ducks under and follows up with a left that Ward also avoids with ease.
Ward tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Aldo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Aldo misses with a wild combination.
Ward tries to clinch but Aldo moves out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Aldo. Those never looked like landing.
Ward tries to clinch but Aldo moves out of range.
Ward is looking to clinch.
Some wild striking there from Aldo.
Ward throws a head kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward tries to clinch but Aldo moves out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Aldo misses with a two punch combination.
Aldo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Aldo lands a nice shot that snaps Ward's head back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Aldo - just one landing.
Aldo throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Ward counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ward.
Aldo is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ward pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Knees to the body from Ward.
Ward is struggling to control the position.
Nice elbow from Ward.
Ward controlling the action here for a moment.
Ward lands an elbow just above Aldo 's eye.
Aldo takes an elbow to the temple.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Ward gets underhooks to prevent Aldo's takedown attempt.
Ward lands an elbow just above Aldo 's eye.

Ward breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Ward pushes Aldo up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward lands a nice elbow.

Ward's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ward doesn't manage to clinch there - Aldo circles away.
Ward is looking to clinch.
Aldo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ward moves in looking to clinch but Aldo pushes him off.
Aldo throws a series of punches but Ward avoids them all with ease.
Ward swings for the body but Aldo moves out of range.
Aldo throws a combination that misses
and Ward counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Ward takes the fight into the clinch.
Aldo is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ward gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Daryl Ward has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jose Aldo.
Aldo looking for a takedown.
Ward using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Ward obliges.

Ward breaks the clinch.
Ward is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ward tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Aldo fails to land with a series of punches.
Ward tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Aldo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ward tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Aldo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ward slips a jab and a cross from Aldo.
Ward moves in looking to clinch but Aldo pushes him off.
Aldo scores with a hook to the body. Ward takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Aldo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ward tries to clinch up.
Ward moves in looking to clinch but Aldo pushes him off.
Jose Aldo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aldo has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Aldo swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ward counters with a series of strikes. Aldo will be more careful next time no doubt.
Daryl Ward is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Aldo swats away the attempt to clinch by Ward.
Ward is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Aldo misses with a double jab.
Aldo throws a nice looking combination but Ward bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Aldo circles away from the clinch attempt.

Ward rushes Aldo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Aldo is trying to drag Ward to the mat but Ward just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Ward gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Aldo.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A bit of stalling here from Ward.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daryl Ward showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ward, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daryl Ward!