PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jose Aldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and thaigo alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying alves's choice of entrance music: sandstorm. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Aldo
vs
thaigo alves

171 cm
22
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
20
145 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, thaigo alves!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Mauricio Rocha and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aldo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Aldo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
alves looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Aldo is fending him off so far but alves persists. Nope, Aldo circles away and we're back to standing.
alves keeps the fight on the outside.
alves fails with the takedown.
Aldo checks the leg kick.
Jose Aldo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aldo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
alves throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Aldo's waist but Aldo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing alves off to one side.
Jose Aldo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of thaigo alves.

alves clinches.
Aldo slows down the pace here.
Aldo with a knee to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aldo lands on the inside with an uppercut.
alves wants to get back to striking at distance but Aldo won't allow it.
Aldo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
alves trying to land knees to the body.
Aldo is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Aldo tries a knee to the head but alves blocks it.
Aldo connects with a knee to the head.
alves goes for a takedown in the clinch but Aldo prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
alves tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Aldo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Aldo connects with a knee to the head.
Aldo can't get the takedown.
Aldo wants to break the clinch but can't.
Aldo landing knees to the head.
Aldo is looking to break free of the clinch but alves has double underhooks.
Aldo looking to throw knees to the head but alves is blocking nicely.
Aldo looking to throw knees to the head but alves is blocking nicely.
alves wants to break the clinch but can't.
Aldo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from alves.
Aldo scores with an uppercut up the middle.
alves fails to pull guard.
alves looks gassed!
Aldo lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Aldo scores with a knee to the head.

Aldo breaks from the clinch.
alves shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Aldo as he avoids it easily.

alves has closed the distance and engaged Aldo in a clinch.
Aldo prevents alves from breaking the clinch.
Aldo with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
alves tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Aldo smiles and moves away.
Aldo tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and alves counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Aldo tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and alves counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Aldo closes the distance but alves moves to the side

and alves counters by clinching up.
Aldo with a knee to the head.
Aldo looking to throw knees to the head but alves is blocking nicely.
A knee to the head by Aldo.
Aldo trying to stall but alves improves his position.
alves changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Aldo fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Aldo tries to clinch but fails miserably

and alves counters by moving into the clinch.
alves has had enough of the clinch but Aldo keeps him there for the moment.
Aldo unloads a knee to the mid-section. alves lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Aldo connects with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aldo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Aldo tries to clinch up

and alves holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Aldo makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Aldo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Aldo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but alves has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Aldo gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Aldo stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
alves shoots in but no luck this time.
alves takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Aldo wants to clinch but alves slips to the side

and alves counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Aldo wants the takedown. alves is fighting it off but Aldo persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in alves's guard against the cage.
alves looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Aldo decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Aldo darts in trying to clinch

and alves holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Aldo scores with a knee to the head.
alves drops down looking for an ankle pick but Aldo pulls his leg out and moves away.
A head kick by Aldo misses

and alves holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Aldo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but alves blocks it with crossed arms.
alves goes for a takedown in the clinch but Aldo prevents it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Aldo.
alves tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Aldo smiles and moves away.
Aldo closes the distance but alves moves to the side

and alves counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by alves.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aldo tries a knee to the head but alves blocks it.
Aldo misses with a knee strike.
Aldo tries a knee to the head but alves blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Aldo dominated that round.
That's time! Aldo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

alves drives through and clinches with Aldo against the cage.
Aldo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
alves fails to pull guard.
Aldo holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Aldo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but alves blocks it with crossed arms.
Aldo tries a knee to the head but alves blocks it.

alves breaks the clinch.
Aldo looks to clinch

and alves counters by moving into the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
alves fails to pull guard.
Aldo is trying to break the clinch but alves has him pressed against the cage.
Aldo with an attempt at a knee that misses.

alves breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nice takedown defense from Aldo. No joy for alves on that attempt.
Jose Aldo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of thaigo alves.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

alves gets a clinch.

alves manages to break the clinch.
Aldo closes the distance but alves moves to the side

and alves counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Aldo's guard now.
Aldo keeping full guard, as alves tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
alves looking to sit in guard and control but Aldo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
alves is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Aldo looking to pass the guard.
Aldo would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
alves can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Aldo controls the pace.

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

Aldo moves into the clinch successfully.
Aldo will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning alves up against the cage.
Aldo working aggressively here.
alves keeps control of Aldo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
alves is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

alves breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Aldo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by alves.
alves looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo closes the distance but alves moves to the side

and alves counters with a nice double leg into side control. Aldo won't be happy with that.
Aldo wants to control but alves postures up.
Aldo tries to escape but alves is in control.
alves tries to advance to mount but can't.
alves laying and praying for a moment but Aldo takes advantage and regains half guard.
alves wants to pass to mount but Aldo is defending the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
alves working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Aldo's thigh. Aldo counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Aldo wants to stand up but alves is controlling him.
Aldo pulls alves in close to prevent any damage.
Aldo wants to stand and escape but alves is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

thaigo alves showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Aldo tries to clinch up
and alves counters with a head kick.
alves tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Aldo swivels and escapes.
alves shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Aldo pinned against the cage. Aldo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Aldo tries to clinch but alves moves away

and alves holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Aldo landing knees to the head.
Aldo scores with a knee to the head.
Aldo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Aldo connects with a knee to the head.

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

Aldo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Aldo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Aldo wants to get up but he can't break alves's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
alves looking to hit a scissor sweep but Aldo is one step ahead there.
alves trying to keep a closed guard but Aldo is proving a slippery customer.
alves is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Jose Aldo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
alves is trying to control the position but Aldo postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

alves is looking for a triangle but Aldo pushes his legs off easily.
alves is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Aldo misses with a series of wild punches.
alves shoots in and drives through. Aldo sprawls well.
Jose Aldo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of thaigo alves.
Aldo stuffs the takedown.

alves rushes Aldo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Aldo tries a knee to the head but alves blocks it.
Aldo looking to throw knees to the head but alves is blocking nicely.
Aldo trying to control the position but instead, alves has worked for underhooks and has pushed Aldo into the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Aldo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo prevents the takedown attempt.
Aldo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
The referee calls for Aldo to work.
Aldo landing knees to the head.

Aldo gets control of alves's arms and successfully pulls guard. Aldo will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
alves chips away with some ground and pound.
Aldo wants to stand but alves is controlling the position.
alves must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Aldo has a closed guard, preventing alves from standing up.
Aldo is looking to stand up but alves isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
alves trying to control the position from guard on top but Aldo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aldo is trying to keep alves in close.
Aldo looking for a sweep. Not yet Aldo, not yet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

alves moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aldo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
alves is trying to break free.
Aldo is stalling here.
Aldo connects with a nasty looking knee right to alves's face.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jose Aldo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Aldo has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jose Aldo!