PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jimi Aldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William McDougal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Aldo
vs
McDougal

155 cm
29
150 lbs
6 - 11 - 0

176 cm
26
150 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 6 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Jimi Aldo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, William McDougal!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Donald Grub and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from McDougal is defended easily by Aldo.
Aldo fails with the takedown.

Aldo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Aldo ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Aldo no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Aldo wants to sweep but no luck.
Aldo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McDougal stopping the sweep attempt from Aldo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aldo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Aldo has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. McDougal 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 Aldo.
Aldo gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo trying to control but McDougal postures up.
McDougal thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Aldo's head.
Aldo is looking to improve his position.
McDougal takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Aldo gets back to full guard.
Aldo is controlling McDougal's posture.

Aldo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McDougal can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Aldo controls McDougal momentarily but McDougal frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
McDougal landing with the ground and pound.
McDougal is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Aldo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Aldo is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because McDougal is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Aldo looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but McDougal puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Aldo wants to control but McDougal is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

McDougal stands up out of the half guard.
McDougal attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Aldo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Aldo trying to control the position from guard on top but McDougal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aldo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo throws an elbow that misses. McDougal uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Aldo's guard. Nice move by McDougal!

Aldo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Aldo is working hard here to advance position.
Aldo throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Aldo tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Aldo pushes McDougal off and gets back to his feet.

McDougal feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Aldo has his feet on McDougal's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aldo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but McDougal circles away quickly and effectively.

Aldo fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging McDougal to the ground. Aldo is now in McDougal's guard.
Aldo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

McDougal throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Aldo throws an elbow that misses. McDougal uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Aldo's guard. Nice move by McDougal!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aldo looking to hit a scissor sweep but McDougal is one step ahead there.

Aldo looking for a guillotine here but McDougal defends easily.
McDougal told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
McDougal preventing the sweep.
Aldo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
McDougal wants to get up but he can't break Aldo's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimi Aldo dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Aldo dives in and grabs McDougal's left leg, looking for a takedown. McDougal pushes down on Aldo's head and hops out.
Jimi Aldo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

McDougal looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Aldo!

Aldo throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Aldo takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Horrible takedown attempt by Aldo or perhaps it was just good defense by McDougal, which made it look bad.
McDougal misses with a takedown attempt - Aldo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Jimi Aldo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Aldo is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in McDougal's half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Aldo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Aldo wants to free his trapped foot but McDougal is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDougal is refusing to be controlled, as Aldo sits in half guard.
Aldo looks to land a strike but McDougal avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
McDougal trying to keep a closed guard but Aldo is proving a slippery customer.
Aldo trying to control the position from guard on top but McDougal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Aldo drops back, looking for a kneebar! McDougal looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. McDougal looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from McDougal!

McDougal working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
You can see the frustration on Aldo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDougal wants to control but Aldo is keeping him busy.
McDougal is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

McDougal has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Aldo darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Aldo looking for a submission but McDougal manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McDougal is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Aldo drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but McDougal manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Aldo has McDougal in his guard.

Aldo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
McDougal won't allow Aldo to sweep him here.
Aldo keeping full guard, as McDougal tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
McDougal missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
McDougal sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Aldo's guard.
Aldo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from McDougal.

Aldo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Aldo moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
McDougal lands a couple of elbows.

Aldo is looking for a triangle but McDougal pushes his legs off easily.
McDougal preventing the sweep.
Aldo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but William McDougal 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!

McDougal wants to clinch up but Aldo keeps it at a distance.
No luck for Aldo with that takedown attempt.

McDougal pushes Aldo up against the cage in a clinch.

Aldo breaks from the clinch.
McDougal shoots in for a takedown but Aldo shows good takedown defense.
Aldo stuffs the takedown.
Aldo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Aldo is defended easily by McDougal.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jimi Aldo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aldo tries to score a power double leg takedown but McDougal sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Aldo somewhat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Aldo shoots in and drives through. McDougal sprawls well.
A nice side step and McDougal releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Aldo enables McDougal to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Aldo manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Aldo manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aldo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Aldo shoots in for a takedown but McDougal shows good takedown defense.
McDougal misses the shot to the body.
McDougal shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Aldo manages to get an easy takedown there - catching McDougal on his heels. He'll look to pass McDougal's guard now, I'm sure.

McDougal has his feet on Aldo's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Aldo leaves McDougal with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
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!
Aldo keeps the fight on the outside.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Aldo is defended easily by McDougal.
McDougal tries to close the distance and clinch up but Aldo swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Aldo gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aldo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McDougal shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Aldo as he jumps to the side.
McDougal misses with a wild combination.
Aldo appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
McDougal misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
McDougal keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
McDougal throws a sloppy head kick and Aldo moves out of range easily.
Aldo was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

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

Aldo is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
McDougal is staying active underneath Aldo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDougal makes his way to full guard. A much better position for McDougal.
Jimi Aldo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McDougal wants to sweep here but Aldo controlling him for the moment.
Aldo postures up in McDougal's guard and throws a big left but McDougal blocks it.

Aldo drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and McDougal dives on top into guard.

Aldo looking to hit a scissor sweep but McDougal is one step ahead there.

Aldo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. McDougal gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDougal wants to control from the top but Aldo keeps moving.
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.

Aldo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Aldo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. McDougal doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. McDougal manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

McDougal gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

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 Jimi Aldo.
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 Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... William McDougal!
Jimi Aldo spoke after the fight, saying 'Props to him for winning, I just couldn't do what I set out to do.'.