PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Maurício Aurelio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jody Felterbush (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Aurelio
vs
Felterbush

177 cm
23
165 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

176 cm
25
168 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Maurício Aurelio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jody Felterbush!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aurelio lands a right hook to the body.
Felterbush staying out of range there.
Jody Felterbush seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Felterbush scores with a hook.
Aurelio moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Felterbush has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

Aurelio is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Felterbush's half guard.

Aurelio is trying to work for a kimura but Felterbush is defending well.
Aurelio looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Felterbush flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aurelio works his foot free and advances to mount.
Felterbush tries to lock up and control but Aurelio gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Felterbush throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Aurelio prevents Felterbush from getting the reversal.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Aurelio controlling the position easily from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Felterbush tries to lock up and control but Aurelio gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Aurelio looking for a guillotine from mount but Felterbush is having none of it.
Felterbush working to try and regain half guard.
Aurelio with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Felterbush wants to hold on but Aurelio pushes him away.
Felterbush really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Felterbush throws some wild strikes from the bottom.
Felterbush tries to reverse the position but Aurelio maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Felterbush tries to improve his position but instead Aurelio has taken his back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Felterbush tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Felterbush wants to hold on but Aurelio pushes him away.
Aurelio blocks Felterbush's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Felterbush is wriggling around trying to escape.
Aurelio with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.

Aurelio looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Aurelio with shots to the head and body - Felterbush looks very uncomfortable down there.
Felterbush tries to improve his position but instead Aurelio has taken his back!
Aurelio wants to control but Felterbush is keeping busy.

Aurelio working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Aurelio controlling well, preventing Felterbush from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Felterbush is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Aurelio gets his way!
Felterbush trying to control the action but Aurelio just sinks the hooks in.

Aurelio is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Felterbush knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Felterbush for a finish.
Felterbush trying to control the hands but Aurelio won't let him.
Felterbush tries to escape the position.
Aurelio is trying to stick to Felterbush's back but Felterbush is turning into Aurelio. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Aurelio's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Felterbush.

Aurelio is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Felterbush trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Felterbush chips away with some ground and pound.
Aurelio looking for a sweep. Not yet Aurelio, not yet.
Felterbush makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Felterbush trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Felterbush distracts Aurelio with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Felterbush working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Aurelio's head.
Felterbush content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Felterbush trying to control the position from guard on top but Aurelio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Felterbush postures up and lands a big shot to Aurelio's brow.
Felterbush must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Aurelio not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maurício Aurelio dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Aurelio misses with a body kick.
Nice body kick from Felterbush.
Felterbush is looking to chop away at Aurelio's legs.
Aurelio uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Felterbush has time to react.

Aurelio looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Aurelio passes the guard and advances to mount!
Felterbush is trying to escape the mount.
Aurelio controlling from the full mount.
Felterbush is desperately trying to improve his position but Aurelio has a good base and remains in mount.
Maurício Aurelio overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Aurelio tries to control but Felterbush wriggling away.
Felterbush slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aurelio controlling the pace.

Felterbush looking for submissions off his back.
Aurelio is looking to take a break and control but Felterbush is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Aurelio is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Felterbush is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Felterbush trying to hold on to Aurelio's head to control him but Aurelio postures up.
Aurelio trying to control from half guard but Felterbush is working away.
Felterbush has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Aurelio is working away from the top position though.

Aurelio is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Felterbush defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Aurelio is keen to just control but Felterbush is a slippery customer.
Felterbush wants to get back to full guard.
Aurelio trying to control the pace.
Felterbush tries to roll over but Aurelio keeps him under control.

Aurelio is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Felterbush sees it coming and defends easily.

Aurelio is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Felterbush defends it well.

Felterbush looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Felterbush is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Aurelio pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Felterbush is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Aurelio is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Felterbush doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Aurelio.
Aurelio is thwarting Felterbush's attempts to control the position.
Felterbush missing with punches from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Felterbush is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Aurelio pulls his head out easily.
Felterbush punching from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Felterbush shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Aurelio napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Aurelio struggling a bit here.
Aurelio is looking to regain half guard here but Felterbush keeps moving and retains side control.

Felterbush is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Aurelio has escaped the position, nice work there.
Felterbush creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Aurelio sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Aurelio avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Felterbush.
Aurelio is trying to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aurelio manages to get back to half guard.
Aurelio is not content to let Felterbush control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Maurício Aurelio will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Aurelio looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Felterbush drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Aurelio tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Aurelio looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Aurelio working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Felterbush doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Felterbush manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Felterbush is in close to Aurelio's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Felterbush cracks Aurelio with a solid left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Felterbush throws a big elbow that misses.
Felterbush trying to control the position from guard on top but Aurelio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Felterbush content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Felterbush postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aurelio keeping moving, preventing Felterbush from controlling successfully.
Aurelio looking for a sweep. Not yet Aurelio, not yet.
Felterbush throws a strike but Aurelio rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Felterbush had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Aurelio defends it easily.

Felterbush has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Aurelio is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Felterbush.
Felterbush tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Aurelio has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Felterbush!
Felterbush regains half guard.
Aurelio wants to lay and pray for a moment but Felterbush keeps working.
Jody Felterbush has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aurelio looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Aurelio is looking to take a break and control but Felterbush is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Aurelio frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Felterbush really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Aurelio trying to control but Felterbush is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Felterbush is wriggling around trying to escape.
Felterbush is squirming around, avoiding Aurelio's attempts to control the action.
Felterbush working to try and regain half guard.
Aurelio blocks Felterbush's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Aurelio takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
Felterbush is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Aurelio looking for the choke from the back.
Felterbush tries to escape the position.

Felterbush defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Aurelio's arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aurelio is trying to stick to Felterbush's back but Felterbush is turning into Aurelio. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Aurelio's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Felterbush.
Aurelio preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Felterbush lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Felterbush is looking to work some ground and pound but Aurelio has wrist control.
Felterbush is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Felterbush postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Felterbush is looking to work some ground and pound but Aurelio has wrist control.

Felterbush got a little sloppy there for a moment and Aurelio has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Felterbush has managed to get both his arms back between Aurelio's legs - danger averted.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aurelio looking to hit a scissor sweep but Felterbush is one step ahead there.
Felterbush landing some decent shots from guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Maurício Aurelio.
Well Aurelio has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maurício Aurelio!
Maurício Aurelio decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.