PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between James Assange (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Aldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Assange comes to the cage accompanied by Eddie Van Halen - Eruption. Aldo has chosen Run This Town as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Assange
vs
Aldo

176 cm
28
155 lbs
18 - 5 - 0

170 cm
27
155 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

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 18 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Assange!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jose Aldo!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Robert Twigg and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Assange with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Assange scores with a jab.
Aldo moves out of range of the strikes.
Assange fails in his attempt to clinch.
Aldo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Assange.
Aldo takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A jab from Assange misses.
Assange thuds his right hand into Aldo's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Assange is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A hook to the body from Aldo.
Assange swings wildly with an uppercut but Aldo uses good head movement to avoid it.
A right hook to the body lands for Aldo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Aldo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Assange tries to work over Aldo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Aldo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Assange's elbow.
Assange tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Aldo's elbow.
Aldo blocks an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short left from Assange.
Aldo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Assange lands a left hand that snaps the head of Aldo backwards.
Aldo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Assange.
Aldo throws a punch but it's blocked by Assange.
Aldo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Aldo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Assange cracks Aldo with a nice body shot.

Aldo has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Assange clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Aldo controls the action.
Assange rolls, trying to escape but Aldo keeps control of the position.
A lull in the action here.
Assange turns into Aldo and is now in his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aldo is trying to control the position but Assange postures up.
Assange missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
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.
Assange trying to control the position from guard on top but Aldo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Assange with a flurry of punches that miss.
Assange throwing strikes but missing.
Aldo is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Assange throws a big elbow that misses.

Aldo looking for a guillotine here but Assange defends easily.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Aldo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Assange can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
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.
Assange trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Assange working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Assange throwing strikes from guard but Aldo blocks nicely.

Assange gets to his feet. Aldo looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Aldo wants to land a leg kick but Assange is out of range.
Aldo does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Assange misses with a jab, cross combination.
Assange misses with a body shot.
Assange connects with a single shot there.
The fight stays on the outside here - Assange looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Assange moves into range and clinches up with Aldo.
Assange lands a body shot in the clinch.
Aldo landing knees to the head.
Aldo blocks a body shot from Assange.
Aldo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Aldo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Assange has him pressed against the cage.
Assange misses with a hook to the ribs.
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!
Assange blocks a body shot from Aldo.
Aldo's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Aldo.
Aldo prevents a body shot from Assange.
Aldo lands with a right to the head.

Aldo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Both fighters circling a little - Aldo finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Assange checks the leg kick.
Aldo throws a head kick but Assange moves out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Assange misses the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that James Assange will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Assange lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Assange looks to score with a jab to the body but Aldo is just out of range.
A good leg kick by Aldo.
Aldo moves away from the strike by Assange.
Aldo shoots in looking for a takedown but Assange manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Aldo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Assange blocks a head kick by Aldo.
A jab from Assange finds it's way through Aldo's defenses.
Assange swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Aldo counters with a shoot takedown. Assange fights it but they end up in guard.
Assange is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Aldo is controlling him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Assange looking to hit a scissor sweep but Aldo is one step ahead there.
Aldo trying to control the position from guard on top but Assange is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aldo prevents Assange from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Assange's guard.
Aldo seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Aldo is looking to advance position but Assange won't allow it.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Aldo in particular looking to stall.
Assange works his way to full guard. Good work.
Aldo prevents Assange from getting back to his feet.
Assange working a defensive guard here.
Aldo trying to control but Assange is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aldo stands and throws Assange's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Aldo looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Assange pushes Aldo away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Aldo gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Assange tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Aldo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Assange is trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Assange is trying to control Aldo's posture but Aldo avoids it.
Aldo has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Aldo throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Assange wants to hold on but Aldo pushes him away.
Aldo controlling from mount.
Assange is working to get back to half guard.
Aldo trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Assange tries to reverse the position but Aldo maintains control.
Assange is working hard here to advance position.
Assange regains half guard.
Aldo thows a huge punch but Assange dodges it nicely.
Jose Aldo has got the better of the ground game so far.

Aldo is working for a kimura but Assange is defending it quite comfortably.
Assange is looking for a sweep. Aldo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aldo trying to control from half guard but Assange is working away.
Assange pushes Aldo off looking to stand but Aldo dives back in and keeps control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jose Aldo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Assange misses with a hook. Aldo ducked under it nicely.
Aldo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Aldo scores with a kick to the body.
Aldo just misses with a punch to the body.
Aldo wants to slow Assange down by chopping away at his legs.
Assange stuffs the takedown attempt from Aldo. Aldo gets slowly back to his feet.
Assange throws a good cross that connects.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Aldo - that will leave a mark!
Assange wants to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Aldo throws a leg kick but Assange sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Aldo throws a leg kick but Assange sees it coming and moves out of range.
Assange thows a left - swing and a miss!
Aldo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Assange tries to close the distance and clinch but Aldo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Assange connects with a right hand. Aldo shakes it off.
Jose Aldo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aldo avoids the body shot from Assange.
Assange looks to throw the jab but Aldo is out of range.
Aldo tries to clinch up but Assange circles away and keeps his distance.
A cross from Aldo lands.
Aldo tries a head kick but it misses.
Some wild striking there from Assange.
Aldo shoots in for a takedown but Assange shows good takedown defense.
Assange scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Aldo throws a nice looking combination but Assange bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Assange misses the jab.
James Assange is winning the standup battle so far.
Aldo scoring well with a low kick there.
Aldo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Assange circles away.
James Assange has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jose Aldo.
Assange throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Assange swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Assange throws the left hand but Aldo avoids the punch easily.
Aldo throws a leg kick
and Aldo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
An inside leg kick from Aldo misses.
Assange stalks Aldo and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Aldo's face. Aldo staggers backwards, shaken.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Assange moves into the clinch.

Aldo is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Assange can't fight it off and eventually Aldo manages to take the fight to the floor. Assange looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Aldo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Assange controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Aldo works his way into full mount!
Aldo with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Aldo manages to capitalize on a mistake by Assange to take his back!

Aldo is looking for the choke from the back position but Assange is controlling his hands well.

Aldo patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Aldo looking to hold on to the position here but Assange rolls and ends up regaining guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aldo looking to sit in guard and control but Assange gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Aldo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Aldo wants to sweep but no luck.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aldo trying to keep a closed guard but Assange is proving a slippery customer.
Assange loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Assange gets to his feet. Aldo looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Aldo on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Aldo drives through and clinches with Assange against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aldo blocking some punches.
Aldo tries to land a knee to the head but Assange blocks with his arms.
Aldo is looking for a takedown.
Aldo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Aldo has a couple of punches blocked by Assange.
Assange works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jose Aldo.
I think Aldo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jose Aldo!
A relieved looking Jose Aldo thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.