PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jose Aldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Ribiero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aldo comes to the cage accompanied by Parado Na Esquina. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Aldo
vs
Ribiero

170 cm
27
145 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

178 cm
20
147 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jose Aldo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Paul Ribiero!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ribiero swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Ribiero feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Ribiero tries to free his leg and advance position but Aldo is retaining full guard.
Ribiero showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
It looks like Ribiero might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Paul Ribiero hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Ribiero tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Aldo shoots for a takedown but Ribiero saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aldo gets caught flat footed, as Ribiero shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Ribiero's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Ribiero looking to pass the guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Paul Ribiero was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Aldo fails with the takedown

and Ribiero holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Ribiero breaks from the clinch.
Ribiero throws a right and a left that Aldo avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ribiero feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Ribiero's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Paul Ribiero wasn't active enough on the ground.

Ribiero shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Ribiero was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ribiero raining down hammerfists from mount.
Aldo holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Ribiero tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Ribiero controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Ribiero has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

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.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Paul Ribiero hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Ribiero closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Aldo did well to prevent Ribiero getting side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Ribiero dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ribiero fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Aldo, pushing him back against the cage.
Ribiero is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Ribiero gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Aldo regains guard.
Ribiero is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Paul Ribiero hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Ribiero misses with a double jab

and Aldo counters with a shoot takedown. Ribiero fights it but they end up in guard.
Aldo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ribiero lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Aldo!
Ribiero tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ribiero swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Aldo is now in Ribiero's guard. A big mistake from Ribiero there, giving up the dominant position!
Ribiero looking to hit a scissor sweep but Aldo is one step ahead there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Aldo has gone for a leg lock! Ribiero slips out almost immediately though and dives into Aldo's guard.
Ribiero sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Paul Ribiero.

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

Ribiero decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Aldo, up you get!

Ribiero has closed the distance and engaged Aldo in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ribiero pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Ribiero closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Ribiero's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jose Aldo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ribiero shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ribiero lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Ribiero has gone for a leg lock! Aldo slips out almost immediately though and dives into Ribiero's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ribiero pulls Aldo in close to his closed guard and prevents Aldo from doing any damage or advancing position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Ribiero 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!

Ribiero looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Aldo!
Ribiero takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Ribiero moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Aldo has worked his arm free - good work by Aldo!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo is being controlled here.
Ribiero tries to move into full mount but can't pass Aldo's legs.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Ribiero goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Aldo rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Ribiero's guard! Nice work there by Aldo!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ribiero had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Aldo defends it easily.
Ribiero trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Ribiero pulls Aldo in close to his closed guard and prevents Aldo from doing any damage or advancing position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Aldo has gone for a leg lock! Ribiero slips out almost immediately though and dives into Aldo's guard.
Aldo has a closed guard, preventing Ribiero from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Paul Ribiero was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Aldo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ribiero counters with a nice double leg into side control. Aldo won't be happy with that.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Ribiero is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Aldo has escaped the position, nice work there.

Ribiero thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aldo prevents Ribiero from moving into mount.
Ribiero is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Jose Aldo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Paul Ribiero is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ribiero is trying to ground and pound but Aldo uses the momentary lack of control by Ribiero to regain half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Ribiero comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ribiero 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 26:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 26:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Ribiero!