PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jose Aldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Vbahi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Matt Vbahi was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Aldo
vs
Vbahi

170 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
19
140 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jose Aldo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matt Vbahi!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Leandro Rodrigues and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aldo throws a leg kick but Vbahi checks it.
Aldo throws a chopping leg kick but Vbahi manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Aldo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Aldo motions for Vbahi to come forward. Aldo throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Aldo throws a jab when Vbahi was well out of range.
Aldo misses with a wild combination.
Vbahi is looking to chop away at Aldo's legs.
Aldo scores with a leg kick.
Aldo tries a head kick but it misses.

Vbahi closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Vbahi lands in his opponent's guard.
Vbahi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Aldo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Vbahi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Vbahi decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Vbahi checks a low kick from Aldo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vbahi blocks a head kick by Aldo.
Aldo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Aldo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Vbahi on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Aldo. Aldo obviously looking to wear him down.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Aldo.
Aldo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Aldo is breathing heavily.

Vbahi clinches up against the cage.

Vbahi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Vbahi pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Vbahi clinches up against the cage.
Aldo tries to break the clinch but Vbahi is controlling the position.
A short right from Vbahi.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aldo misses with a head kick.
Vbahi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Vbahi takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Vbahi has Aldo up against the cage in a clinch.

Vbahi has hold of one of Aldo's legs. Aldo is fighting the takedown attempt but Vbahi gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
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!
Vbahi is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Vbahi looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Vbahi chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vbahi wants to control from the top but Aldo keeps moving.
Vbahi postures up in Aldo's guard and throws a big left but Aldo blocks it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aldo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Aldo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Vbahi decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Aldo, up you get!
Aldo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Jose Aldo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aldo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jose Aldo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Aldo scores with a spinning back kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vbahi closes the distance and pushes Aldo back into the cage.

Vbahi ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Vbahi no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Vbahi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Vbahi trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Vbahi wants to sweep but no luck.
Vbahi lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Aldo!
Aldo is bucking up trying to escape but Vbahi cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vbahi looking to finish Aldo with some ground and pound. This is bad for Aldo!
Vbahi breaks from Aldo's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Vbahi pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Vbahi dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Vbahi ducks under a wild hook from Aldo.
Aldo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Vbahi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Aldo finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Vbahi manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Aldo won't allow Vbahi to sweep him here.

Vbahi manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Vbahi clinches up with Aldo and pushes him back against the cage.

Vbahi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Aldo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Aldo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Aldo throws a right hand that Vbahi ducks under and follows up with a left that Vbahi also avoids with ease.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Vbahi drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Aldo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Vbahi on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vbahi gets to mount! Aldo was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

Vbahi is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Aldo is surviving well by controlling Vbahi's body position as best he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vbahi looking to control but Aldo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Vbahi sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Vbahi landing shots from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vbahi is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Aldo can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Aldo tries to hold on but Vbahi postures up.
Vbahi trying to control but Aldo is having none of it.

Vbahi is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Aldo is surviving well by controlling Vbahi's body position as best he can.
Aldo is trying to stand.
Aldo tries to lock up and control but Vbahi gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vbahi fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Aldo is trying to stand.

Vbahi working for a submission but Aldo is keeping him at bay.
Vbahi punishing his opponent with strikes.
Aldo is trying to reverse the position but instead Vbahi has taken his back - oops!

Aldo defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Aldo tries to roll but Vbahi sticks to his back.

Vbahi is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Aldo knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Aldo for a finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vbahi gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Vbahi is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Vbahi working for a choke but Aldo is defending well.

Vbahi tightening his grip on Aldo, looking for the choke.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Vbahi is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Aldo knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Aldo for a finish.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Vbahi 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! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Vbahi closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Aldo to the mat! Aldo manages to get full guard.
Vbahi trying to control the position from guard on top but Aldo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Vbahi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Vbahi passes Aldo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Aldo looks like he's trying to stand up.
Vbahi scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Vbahi postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Aldo to stand up.
A head kick misses from Aldo.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vbahi throws a right and a left that both miss.
No joy there for Aldo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Vbahi avoids the head kick by Aldo.
Aldo throws a head kick but Vbahi moves out of range.

Aldo tries to keep at a distance but Vbahi has taken the fight into the clinch.

Vbahi ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Vbahi no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Vbahi lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Aldo!

Vbahi looking to secure an arm triangle but Aldo defends it well.
Vbahi lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vbahi looking to control and managing it successfully.
Vbahi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Vbahi putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Matt Vbahi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Vbahi controlling from mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Vbahi looking to secure an arm triangle but Aldo defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vbahi looking to finish Aldo with some ground and pound. This is bad for Aldo!
Vbahi lands a nice shot to the head.

Vbahi looking to secure an arm triangle but Aldo defends it well.
Vbahi postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Aldo looks a forlorn figure.
Jose Aldo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vbahi cracks Aldo with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aldo is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Vbahi controlling from the full mount.
Aldo is trying to stand but he's just given Vbahi his back.
Vbahi keeps control of the position easily here as Aldo tries to buck him off.
Vbahi lands with a hammerfist to the side of Aldo's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aldo is covering up but some of the strikes from Vbahi are getting through and doing damage.
Matt Vbahi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Vbahi really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Aldo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Vbahi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Vbahi winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Vbahi!