PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jose Aldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Derek Moriga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Jose Aldo has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Aldo
vs
Moriga

170 cm
27
145 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

167 cm
23
145 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 - 4 - 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, Derek Moriga!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Leandro Rodrigues and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Moriga lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Aldo circles away quickly and effectively.
Nice jab there from Aldo.
Moriga misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Aldo thows a leg kick but Moriga checks it

and Moriga counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Aldo!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Moriga misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Aldo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Aldo tries to get out of the position.
Moriga misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Aldo defending against the ground and pound.
Aldo struggling a bit here.
Aldo regains half guard, as Moriga was trying to land strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aldo moves into full guard.
Moriga wants to pass the guard but Aldo is keeping the position.
Moriga is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moriga advances to half guard.
Moriga throws a strike but Aldo avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Moriga postures up.
Aldo looking for a sweep. Not yet Aldo, not yet.
Moriga pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Aldo is keeping the position for now.

Aldo has his foot on Moriga's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Moriga works his way back into a safe position though.
Moriga chips away with some ground and pound.
Aldo trying to control the position.
Moriga missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moriga in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Aldo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Aldo can't keep his opponent in guard - Moriga advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Moriga throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Aldo is breathing heavily.
Moriga works his way into side control.
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!
Moriga advances to mount.
Aldo in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Moriga connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Aldo is in a horrible position here. Moriga smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Moriga landing shots from mount.
Moriga has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moriga working the ground and pound effectively.
Moriga scoring with strikes but Aldo is staying in there.
Moriga landing punches.
Moriga landing punches.
Moriga lands a big elbow.
Moriga dominating with strikes here.
Moriga cracks Aldo with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Moriga raining down hammerfists from mount.
Aldo tries to lock up and control but Moriga gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Moriga unloading with bombs!
Moriga scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Aldo?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moriga lands a big shot there that rocks Aldo but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
A nice elbow there by Moriga.
Moriga with a couple of short strikes.
Moriga with the ground and pound from mount.
A nice elbow there by Moriga.
Moriga putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Moriga scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Moriga lands a couple of good shots and Aldo has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Moriga lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Moriga is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Moriga gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Moriga gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Moriga apologises and we restart here on the feet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Moriga shoots for a takedown but Aldo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Moriga shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Aldo manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Moriga lands a couple of decent looking shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derek Moriga dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Moriga jabs Aldo to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Jose Aldo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Moriga jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Aldo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Aldo jabs Moriga to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Aldo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Aldo.
Aldo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Moriga has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The fight stays on the outside here - Moriga looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Aldo looks for a takedown but Moriga sprawls well.
Moriga closes the distance and clinches up with Aldo, looking for a takedown. Moriga pushes Aldo against the cage but Aldo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Aldo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Moriga sprawls well. Moriga wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Aldo gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moriga shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Aldo as he avoids it easily.

Moriga drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
An elbow from Moriga crashes against the mat.
Moriga working away.
Moriga tries to advance to mount but Aldo denies him.
Moriga misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Moriga tries to advance to mount but Aldo denies him.
Aldo takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moriga throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Moriga tries to advance to mount but can't.
Aldo avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Moriga.
Moriga scoring with punches and elbows.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Moriga advances nicely into full mount.
Aldo is bucking up trying to escape but Moriga cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Moriga lands a big elbow.
Moriga landing shots from mount.
Moriga pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Moriga working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moriga punishing his opponent with strikes.
Moriga in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Moriga stands up from mount. Strange move.

Moriga gets a clinch.
Moriga tries for a takedown but Aldo manages to get underhooks.
Jose Aldo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Derek Moriga.

Moriga tightens his grip and picks Aldo up, before dumping him to the ground. Aldo manages to land in guard.
Moriga looking to pass the guard.
Moriga lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Aldo has Moriga pulled in close to control his posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Aldo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Moriga defends well.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Moriga accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moriga throws a big elbow that misses.
Moriga stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Aldo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Moriga with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Moriga trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Moriga is looking to work some ground and pound but Aldo has wrist control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Moriga advances position into side control!
Moriga is working Aldo over with some ground and pound from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derek Moriga showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Aldo tries to keep at a distance but Moriga has taken the fight into the clinch.
Aldo gets underhooks to prevent Moriga's takedown attempt.
Moriga wants a takedown but no success here.
Aldo stops a takedown attempt from Moriga.
Jose Aldo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Derek Moriga.
Aldo is pressed up against the cage. Moriga has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Aldo down to the mat. Aldo avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Aldo closes the distance and clinches up with Moriga, looking for a takedown. Aldo pushes Moriga against the cage but Moriga circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Aldo moves into range and clinches up with Moriga.
Moriga is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Aldo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Moriga drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Aldo gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Moriga has Aldo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Aldo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Aldo has had enough of the clinch but Moriga keeps him there for the moment.
Moriga takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Moriga.
Aldo has Moriga pressed against the cage.

Aldo jumps guard.

Aldo is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Moriga is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Aldo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Aldo tries a body shot but Moriga blocks it.

Moriga has Aldo pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Moriga pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Aldo tumbling to the mat - Moriga dives into Aldo's guard.
Moriga wants to pass the guard but Aldo is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aldo manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Moriga shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Aldo eats them both and turns towards Moriga to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aldo looks to throw a body kick

and Moriga counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Moriga prevents Aldo from getting back to his feet.

Aldo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Moriga wants to pass the guard but Aldo is keeping the position.
Aldo can't keep his opponent in guard - Moriga advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moriga wants to pass the guard but Aldo is defending well.
Moriga lands with a punch from half guard.
Moriga tries to pass the half guard into mount. Aldo knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Aldo wants to get back to full guard.
Moriga frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Moriga with the ground and pound from mount.
Moriga is landing with some decent strikes but Aldo is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Aldo is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Moriga.
Moriga is landing with some decent strikes but Aldo is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Moriga raining down hammerfists from mount.
Moriga lands a big shot there that rocks Aldo but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Moriga lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Aldo hang on?
Moriga breaks from Aldo's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Aldo taking shots to the head.
Moriga landing strikes, looking to finish!
BOOM! Moriga connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Moriga has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Aldo's face.
Moriga landing strikes from the mount.
Jose Aldo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Moriga with good strikes from the mount here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Derek Moriga comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Moriga 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Derek Moriga!