PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Michael Aalto (ranked 1747 p4p, 4185 weight class) and Yellow Belt Casey (ranked 198 p4p, 388 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Aalto
vs
Casey

177 cm
21
149
3 - 0 - 0

168 cm
20
143
3 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Great low kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

HELLBENT
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael Aalto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Yellow Belt Casey!
The judges for this bout are Ben Hemmingworth, Skip Squint and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Casey misses with a hook. Aalto ducked under it nicely.
Aalto throws a half hearted mid kick.
Casey throws a sloppy body shot
and Casey takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Aalto throws a front kick aimed at Casey's knee but Casey avoids it well.
Casey tries to close the distance and clinch up but Aalto swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Aalto is looking to counter with head kicks.
Casey tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Aalto was well out of range. Poor timing from Casey.
Casey misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Aalto.
Casey swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Aalto looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
We've been hearing reports that Aalto has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

Aalto gets the takedown into side control.

Aalto tries for a kimura but Casey is defending well.
Casey is holding Aalto down, trying to stall.
Aalto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Casey keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Casey struggling a bit here.
Aalto tries to move to mount but Casey blocks the move with his legs.

Aalto thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Aalto has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Casey!
Aalto trying to control but Casey is having none of it.
Aalto is trying to take his opponent's back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aalto looking to control and managing it successfully.
Casey is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Aalto jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Casey manages to avoid the submission attempt.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Aalto tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Casey is trying to control Aalto's posture but Aalto avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Casey is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Aalto is staying active.
Casey gets back to half guard.
Casey has his hands clasped together around Aalto's back. He's all about the action.
Aalto trying to pass the guard but Casey defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Casey slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Casey trying to control the position.
Aalto trying to control the position from guard on top but Casey is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Aalto drops back looking for a leg! Casey is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Casey manages to kick Aalto off! Aalto jumps back into Casey's guard.

Casey is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Casey keeping moving, preventing Aalto from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Aalto dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Aalto tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Casey is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Aalto with a body shot.
Aalto bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Casey feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Aaltos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Aalto keeps the fight on the outside.

Aalto looking to score a takedown here. Casey is defending well but Aalto drives through and ends up in Casey's guard.
Aalto showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Aalto drops back looking for a leg! Casey is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Casey manages to kick Aalto off! Aalto jumps back into Casey's guard.
Aalto postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aalto wants to control from the top but Casey keeps moving.
Aalto is really struggling to control Casey but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Casey is controlling Aalto's posture.

Aalto thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Aalto tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A chopping leg kick lands by Aalto.
Aalto takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Casey lands a glancing blow to the side of Aalto's head.
Casey wants to clinch up but Aalto keeps it at a distance.
Aalto digs a good hook to Casey's body.
Casey scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Aalto doesn't seem bothered though.
Aalto on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Aalto looks to land a left hand but Casey moved out of range nicely.
Casey fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Aalto manages to avoid it.
Aalto scoring well with a low kick there.

Casey tries to sprawl but Aalto drives through with a takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Casey trying to control but Aalto postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Casey is concentrating on defense, preventing Aalto from advancing position.
Casey is continuing to stall.

Aalto is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Casey sees it coming and defends easily.
Aalto wants to free his trapped foot but Casey is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Casey trying to hold on to Aalto's head to control him but Aalto postures up.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Casey keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Aalto trying to advance position but Casey counters by regaining guard.
Aalto trying to control but Casey is working from the bottom.
Aalto not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Aalto is fighting to break Casey's control of his arms but Casey is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Aalto trying to control but Casey is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Casey shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Aalto tries a head kick but it misses.
Aalto shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Casey as he jumps to the side.
Casey throws a body punch but Aalto moves out of range.
Aalto is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Casey can do to turn this around?
Aalto lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Casey at a distance.

Aalto moves into range and clinches up with Casey.
Aalto tries to pull guard but Casey won't allow it.
Casey blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Casey misses with some punches.
Aalto tries to score a body lock takedown but Casey shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Aalto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Casey tries to throw a body punch but Aalto avoids it by throwing Casey back against the cage.
Aalto lands a nice uppercut.
Aalto is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Casey gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Casey gets underhooks to prevent Aalto's takedown attempt.
A short uppercut from Aalto.
Aalto misses with a hook from the clinch.
Aalto lands with a left to the head.
Casey tries to work over Aalto's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Aalto dominated that second round.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Aalto throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Casey dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Aalto fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Casey has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Casey tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Aalto was well out of range. Poor timing from Casey.
As Casey backs away, Aalto returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Casey is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Aalto rather than just go for the knockout.
Casey fails in his attempt to clinch.
A nice leg kick lands there from Aalto.
Casey drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Casey lands a right hook to the body.
Casey throws a shot from downtown. Aalto moves away and avoids it.
Casey misses with a wild body shot.
Casey swings for the body but Aalto moves out of range.
Aalto has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Aalto there as he acknowledges the shot.
Aalto takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Casey swings for the body but Aalto moves out of range.
Aalto looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Casey misses with a body shot.
Aalto shoots in but Casey avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Aalto dives in and grabs Casey's left leg, looking for a takedown. Casey pushes down on Aalto's head and hops out.
Casey is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aalto throws a wild body kick that Casey sees coming a mile off.
A looping hook to the body misses from Casey. Aalto does a little dance to reset his feet.
Casey tries to close the distance and clinch but Aalto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Casey fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Yellow Belt Casey seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Casey is looking to clinch but Aalto is avoiding it.
Casey bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Aalto's head.
Casey darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Casey keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Aalto looks to score with a jab to the body but Casey is just out of range.
Casey throws a jab when Aalto was well out of range.
Aalto throws a sloppy head kick and Casey moves out of range easily.
Casey jabs Aalto right on the nose. Aalto blinks but takes it well.
Casey fails in his attempt to clinch.
Casey throws a hook but Aalto avoids it easily.
Aalto throws a leg kick but Casey checks it.
Casey throws a shot from downtown. Aalto moves away and avoids it.
Casey misses with a wild body shot.
Casey ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Aalto moves away.

Aalto gets a clinch.
Yellow Belt Casey has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aalto blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Casey doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Aalto has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Casey clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Casey trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

Aalto is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Aalto has the hooks in. Casey is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Casey trying to control the hands but Aalto won't let him.

Aalto is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Casey has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Casey rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Casey controlling the position well.
Aalto wants to pass to mount but Casey is defending the position.

Aalto is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Casey defends it well.
Aalto trying to pass the guard but Casey defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Casey slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Aalto trying to control but Casey is working from the bottom.
Michael Aalto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Casey holds on and takes a little breather.
Aalto trying to control the position from guard on top but Casey is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Casey seems keen to control Aalto's posture.
Casey keeping moving, preventing Aalto from controlling successfully.
Michael Aalto overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Casey has control of Aalto's left arm, preventing Aalto from doing any damage.

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 Michael Aalto.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Aalto, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 29:28

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