PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dominick Aldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Dodson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dodson comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Cant be touched kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Aldo
vs
Dodson

178 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

161 cm
18
143 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dominick Aldo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Dodson!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Wesley Smith and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aldo shoots in looking for a takedown. Dodson tries to sprawl out of it but Aldo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Dodson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Aldo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Aldo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dodson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Aldo tries to clinch up.
Aldo shoots in but no luck this time.
Aldo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dominick Aldo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dodson stalks Aldo and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Aldo's face. Aldo staggers backwards, shaken.
Dodson looks to land a body kick but Aldo moved away.
Dodson looks to land a body kick but Aldo moved away.
Aldo moves away from the strike by Dodson.
Dodson looks to land a body kick but Aldo moved away.
Dodson throws a body punch but Aldo moves out of range.
Aldo tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Dodson counters with a body kick.
Aldo really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Aldo avoids the body shot from Dodson.
Dodson tries a low kick but Aldo avoids it.
Dodson loads up on a big right hand but Aldo slips the punch.
Aldo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dodson paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dodson throws out a loose jab but Aldo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dodson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Aldo.
Dodson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Aldo.
Aldo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Aldo tries to clinch but Dodson moves away
and Dodson makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Dominick Aldo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Aldo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dodson misses with a wild body shot.
Aldo moves out of range of the body kick from Dodson.
Aldo moves away from the strike by Dodson.

Dodson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Aldo to the ground. Dodson is now in Aldo's guard.
Aldo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Dodson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dodson passes Aldo's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dodson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Aldo's head.
Dodson trying to control from half guard but Aldo is working away.
Dodson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dodson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Dodson is looking to advance position but Aldo won't allow it.
Dodson is just content to waste time from the top position. Aldo takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Dodson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dodson tries to free his leg and advance position but Aldo is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dodson wants to control from the top but Aldo keeps moving.
Dodson looking to pass the guard.
Aldo wants to stand up but Dodson is controlling him.
Aldo keeping moving, preventing Dodson from controlling successfully.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Dodson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Dodson looking to pass the guard.
Dodson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aldo wants to stand but Dodson is controlling the position.
Aldo is breathing heavily.
Dodson postures up and lands a big shot to Aldo's brow.
Dodson wants to pass the guard but Aldo is keeping the position.
Dodson sitting in guard here, content to control.

Dodson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Aldo is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Dodson, into his guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Dodson has his feet on Aldo's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Dodson dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Aldo tries to clinch there but Dodson circles away.
Dodson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Aldo was well out of range. Poor timing from Dodson.
Aldo tries to clinch but Dodson is having none of it.
Aldo tries to clinch but Dodson moves out of range.
Dodson scores with a punch to the head.
Aldo moves out of range of the body kick from Dodson.
Aldo moves out of range of the body kick from Dodson.
Dodson fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Dodson swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Aldo holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Aldo throws an elbow but it misses.
Aldo is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Dodson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Aldo has him pressed against the cage.
Dodson managing to block the knees to the body from Aldo.

Aldo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dodson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Dodson showed some decent athleticism there.
Dodson working over Aldo with some ground and pound. Aldo looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Dodson trying to pass the guard but Aldo defending well.

Aldo has one foot on Dodson's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Dodson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Aldo moves out of range of the leg kick from Dodson.
Aldo tries to clinch but Dodson moves away
and Dodson counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Aldo tries to close the distance and clinch but Dodson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aldo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Aldo wants to clinch up but Dodson keeps it at a distance.
Aldo moves in looking to clinch but Dodson pushes him off.

Dodson gets tackled into the cage by Aldo. Aldo maintains the clinch.
Aldo unloads a knee to the mid-section.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Aldo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dodson connects with a nice looking jab.
Dodson misses with a body shot.
Aldo swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Dodson counters with a good, hard body kick but Aldo shrugs it off.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Aldo shoots for a takedown but Dodson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Dodson.
Dodson tries a low kick but Aldo avoids it.
Aldo needs to keep his hands up - Dodson had a free shot at his head there.
Dodson swings for the body but Aldo moves out of range.
Dodson throws a body punch but Aldo moves out of range.
John Dodson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Aldo throws a jab when Dodson was well out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dodson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Aldo.
Aldo tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Dodson counters with a shoot takedown. Aldo fights it but they end up in guard.
Aldo trying to control the position.
Dodson postures up in Aldo's guard and throws a big left but Aldo blocks it.

Dodson is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Aldo 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.
Dodson trying to control but Aldo is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dodson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Aldo's head.
Dodson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Dodson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Aldo wants to stand but Dodson is controlling the position.
Dodson wants to control from the top but Aldo keeps moving.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Dodson stays in close to Aldo's body and controls the position.
Dodson wants to control from the top but Aldo keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Dodson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Dodson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Aldo shoots in but no luck this time.
Aldo tries to clinch up but Dodson circles away and keeps his distance.
Aldo checks the leg kick nicely there.
Aldo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Dodson.
Aldo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dodson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Aldo takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Aldo moves in looking to clinch but Dodson pushes him off.

Dodson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Aldo to the ground. Dodson is now in Aldo's guard.
Dodson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Dodson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Aldo is on top in guard.
Dodson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Aldo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Dodson looking for a guillotine here but Aldo defends easily.
John Dodson has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dodson looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Aldo passes into half guard.
Aldo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dodson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Dodson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Dodson gets full guard.
Dodson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Aldo's guard.
Aldo is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dodson is controlling him.
Dodson trying to control but Aldo is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dodson throws and elbow that misses. Aldo uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Dodson's guard. Nice move by Aldo!

Dodson throws his legs up looking for a submission but Aldo uses it to pass to side control.

Aldo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Dodson is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Aldo off and has taken his back!

Dodson is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Aldo is defending well though. Dodson let's go of the attempt for now.
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!

Dodson has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo just trying to survive but Dodson is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Dodson wants to control but Aldo is keeping busy.

Dodson is working for the choke. I would put my money on him to finish from this position. He's rolled onto his back and has dragged Aldo with him. Aldo is trying to defend but Dodson has an arm under the chin now! Aldo grimaces and is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). John Dodson!