PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jose Aldo (ranked 4831 p4p, 438 weight class) and Tusing Pocc (ranked 3866 p4p, 368 weight class). Jose Aldo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Aldo
vs
Pocc

170 cm
21
145 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

165 cm
30
150 lbs
10 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Powerful

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jose Aldo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tusing Pocc!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yuuki Gou and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aldo displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Pocc.
Aldo is looking to counter with head kicks.
Aldo tries to clinch but Pocc moves out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Aldo as Pocc shoots in.
Aldo thows a leg kick but Pocc checks it

and Pocc counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Pocc is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Aldo trying to hold on to Pocc's head to control him but Pocc postures up.
Pocc throwing shots but Aldo is blocking nicely.
Aldo trying to control but Pocc postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aldo manages to get to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aldo looking for a sweep. Not yet Aldo, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pocc postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Aldo had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Pocc defends it easily.
Aldo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pocc wants to control from the top but Aldo keeps moving.
Aldo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pocc.
Pocc working some strikes from top position.
Pocc trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Pocc working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Pocc content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Aldo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pocc postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pocc is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Aldo keeping moving, preventing Pocc from controlling successfully.
Aldo has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Pocc landing with the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Aldo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Pocc defends well.
Pocc is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pocc wants to control from the top but Aldo keeps moving.
Aldo wants to sweep but no luck.
Pocc sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Aldo's guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Pocc lands a nice short elbow.

Pocc is looking for a kimura but Aldo is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Pocc to get the leverage.

Aldo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Aldo trying to hold on to Pocc's head to control him but Pocc postures up.

Pocc is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Pocc is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pocc working over Aldo with some ground and pound. Aldo looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Pocc throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Aldo to regain full guard.
Aldo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Pocc looking to sit in guard and control but Aldo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Pocc working for a triangle but Aldo defends it easily.

Pocc is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Pocc is looking for a triangle here but Aldo uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tusing Pocc dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Aldo clinches up with Pocc and pushes him back against the cage.
Aldo wants to take the fight to the mat but Pocc manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Aldo lands a takedown into guard.

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

Pocc working for a triangle but Aldo defends it easily.
Aldo won't allow Pocc to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pocc throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Aldo passes Pocc's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Aldo trying to pass the guard but Pocc defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pocc is trying to control but Aldo passes into side control!

Aldo is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Pocc knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Tusing Pocc has got the better of the ground game so far.
Aldo moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Pocc is trying to improve his position.
Pocc manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Aldo is trying to work for a kimura but Pocc is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Aldo seems content to control.

Pocc looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Pocc punching from the bottom.
Pocc trying to control here.

Aldo is looking for a kimura here.

Pocc looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo is trying to control. Pocc wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Aldo tries to pass to full mount but Pocc defends it.

Pocc looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Aldo is trying to control. Pocc wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Aldo is thwarting Pocc's attempts to control the position.
Aldo is trying to control the action in half guard but Pocc is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Aldo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Aldo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Aldo wants it to stay on the feet.
Pocc tries to clinch there but Aldo circles away.

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.
Aldo doesn't manage to clinch there - Pocc circles away.

Aldo tries to sprawl but Pocc drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Aldo has hold of Pocc's hands but Pocc slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Pocc winds up and cracks Aldo with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Aldo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Pocc.
Aldo makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Aldo.

Aldo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Aldo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aldo keeping moving, preventing Pocc from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Aldo dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Aldo throws a leg kick that misses.
Pocc shoots in for a takedown but Aldo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Tusing Pocc seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Pocc shoots in and gets a takedown into Aldo's guard.
Aldo is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Pocc dives into side control.

Aldo is looking for a sweep.
Aldo wants to get back to his feet but Pocc drags him back down.

Pocc swings around for an armbar but Aldo sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Pocc's guard.

Aldo stands up from Pocc's guard - Aldo perhaps looking for a knockout.
Aldo looks for a takedown but Pocc sprawls well.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Pocc.

Aldo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Aldo can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jose Aldo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Aldo manages to pull guard.
Aldo keeping moving, preventing Pocc from controlling successfully.
Aldo has momentary wrist control but Pocc slips an elbow through the middle.
Pocc throwing strikes from guard but Aldo blocks nicely.
Pocc lands a couple of elbows.
Pocc trying to control but Aldo is working from the bottom.

Aldo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Aldo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pocc.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pocc with a flurry of punches that miss.
Aldo keeping moving, preventing Pocc from controlling successfully.
Pocc keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Aldo's head.
Aldo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pocc.

Aldo looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Pocc passes into half guard.

Pocc seems to be working for a kimura but Aldo defends the submission attempt.
Pocc trying to control from Aldo's half guard. Aldo has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Pocc is controlling him.

Aldo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Aldo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Aldo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pocc.
Pocc scoring with some ground and pound.

Aldo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Pocc is aware though and is defending well.
Pocc working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pocc looking to sit in guard and control but Aldo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

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

Pocc throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Pocc is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Aldo is aware though and is defending well.
Pocc takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Pocc has his foot on Aldo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Aldo works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Aldo is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Aldo not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

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 Jose 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jose Aldo!
Jose Aldo seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.