PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jose Aldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Manuel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Manuel has chosen Lay Low as his entrance music. 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.

Aldo
vs
Manuel

172 cm
24
157 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

172 cm
25
155 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jose Aldo!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matt Manuel!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Chris Downing and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice leg kick lands there from Manuel.
Manuel moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Jose Aldo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aldo scores with a nice right hand.

It looks like Matt Manuel has been cut.
Aldo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Aldo swings for the body but Manuel moves out of range.
Manuel moves out of range as Aldo strikes.
Aldo lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Aldo misses with a wild combination.
Manuel misses with a low kick.
Manuel showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Aldo.
Manuel looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manuel lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A slapping leg kick lands for Manuel.
Aldo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Manuel.
Manuel keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Aldo.
Aldo takes a swing at Manuel's ribcage but misses.

Manuel shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Manuel wants to control from the top but Aldo keeps moving.
Manuel landing some decent shots from guard.
Manuel wants to control from the top but Aldo keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aldo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Manuel seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Manuel tries to free his leg and advance position but Aldo is retaining full guard.
Manuel trying to control the position from guard on top but Aldo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aldo controlling the position.
Manuel landing with the ground and pound.
Manuel content to stall in guard here.
Manuel wants to control from the top but Aldo keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Matt Manuel just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Aldo throws a jab when Manuel was well out of range.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Manuel, right into the meat.
Aldo digs a good body shot into Manuel's ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manuel shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Aldo lands a jab to Manuel's midsection.
Good exchange - Aldo coming out on top.
Manuel throws a head kick that Aldo semi-blocks.
Manuel throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
A swing and a miss from Aldo.
Manuel explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Manuel throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
The fighters circling - Manuel throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Manuel drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jose Aldo will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Matt Manuel's cut.
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 getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Manuel has Aldo up against the cage in a clinch.
Manuel leaning against his opponent.
Aldo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Aldo is trying to break the clinch but Manuel has him pressed against the cage.
Manuel looking to throw knees to the head but Aldo is blocking nicely.
Aldo is trying to break free.
Manuel has Aldo pressed against the cage.
Manuel lands a good knee to the midsection. Aldo won't want to take too many of those.
Manuel has Aldo pressed against the cage, preventing Aldo from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Manuel keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Aldo's efforts to push away.
Aldo is trying to break the clinch but Manuel is controlling him.
Aldo managing to block the knees to the body from Manuel.
Manuel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Aldo.
A right hook to the body lands for Manuel.
Manuel keeps control of Aldo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Manuel landing knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manuel stalling.
Manuel lands a body punch.
Manuel is leaning against Aldo and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Aldo is trying to break free.
Aldo tries to break the clinch but Manuel is controlling the position.
Come on Manuel - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Manuel lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Manuel lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Aldo has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Manuel takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Aldo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Manuel scores with a kick to the midsection.
Aldo misses with a looping left.
Manuel connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Aldo throws a right and a left that both miss.
A telegraphed right hand from Aldo misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manuel feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Aldo's calf.
A chopping leg kick lands by Manuel.
Manuel throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Aldo's head.
Manuel is looking to clinch but Aldo is avoiding it.
Manuel wants to clinch up but Aldo keeps it at a distance.
Aldo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Manuel doesn't manage to clinch there - Aldo circles away.
Aldo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Aldo throws a body punch but Manuel moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Manuel.
A telegraphed right hand from Aldo misses the target.
Aldo is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Aldo looks to land a right hand but Manuel moved out of range.
Aldo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Manuel.
Manuel is looking to clinch but Aldo is avoiding it.
Aldo takes a swing at Manuel's ribcage but misses.
Manuel fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Aldo.
Aldo listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Good shot there by Aldo.
Aldo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manuel throws a head kick that half lands.
Manuel is trying hard to land a takedown here. Aldo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Aldo misses with a body shot.
Aldo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Manuel.
A big left from Aldo misses.
Aldo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Manuel throws a low kick but it's checked well by Aldo.
Manuel fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Manuel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Matt Manuel's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Manuel looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Manuel advances to half guard.
Manuel is trying to control the action in half guard but Aldo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Manuel thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Manuel not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Aldo is doing well to control the position and prevent Manuel from advancing to side control.

Manuel is working for a kimura but Aldo is defending it quite comfortably.
Manuel wants to control but Aldo is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Aldo misses with a body shot.
Aldo lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Aldo checks a leg kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Aldo blocks the leg kick.
Manuel is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aldo checks a leg kick.
Manuel slips a jab from Aldo.
Manuel moves in looking to clinch but Aldo pushes him off.
Manuel ducks under a wild hook from Aldo.
Aldo takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Aldo misses with a straight left.
The fighters circle momentarily. Aldo darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Manuel throws a right and a left that both miss.
Manuel ducks under a wild hook from Aldo.
Aldo on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Manuel. Manuel obviously looking to wear him down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manuel misses with a low kick.
Manuel doesn't manage to clinch there - Aldo circles away.
Aldo swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Manuel counters with a thumping low kick.
Aldo misses with a body shot

and Manuel counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Aldo tries to roll over but Manuel keeps him under control.
Aldo is refusing to be controlled, as Manuel sits in half guard.
Manuel seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Manuel is pressing down on Aldo's thigh, looking to free his foot. Aldo is holding on for now.
Manuel controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manuel passes to full mount!
Manuel pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Manuel looking for a guillotine from mount but Aldo is having none of it.
Aldo is squirming around, avoiding Manuel's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Manuel really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Matt Manuel's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Manuel closes the distance and clinches up with Aldo, looking for a takedown. Manuel pushes Aldo against the cage but Aldo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A nice inside leg kick there by Manuel. That's going to slow Aldo down.
Manuel defending well as Aldo loads up on a big left hand.
Manuel tries to close the distance and clinch but Aldo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Manuel ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Manuel is looking to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manuel looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Manuel fails to land the takedown.
Manuel does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Aldo throws a hook but Manuel blocks it.
Manuel throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Manuel chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Manuel throws a leg kick but Aldo checks it.
Manuel throws a left and a right that both miss
and Aldo counters with a straight right hand.
Aldo lands an overhand right.
Manuel takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manuel scores with a leg kick.
Aldo swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Manuel counters with a nice leg kick.
Manuel tries to clinch but Aldo is having none of it.
Manuel cracks the inside of Aldo's front leg.
Manuel gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Manuel is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Aldo throws a combination. Manuel tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Jose Aldo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Aldo keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Manuel gets a clinch.
Manuel drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Aldo gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Jose Aldo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Manuel.
Manuel keeps control of Aldo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Aldo avoiding damage as Manuel throws knees to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Aldo is trying to break free.
Aldo is looking to break free of the clinch but Manuel has double underhooks.
Aldo tries to circle away but Manuel has him pinned against the cage.
Aldo is trying to break the clinch but Manuel is controlling him.
Manuel scores a nice knee to the body.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Manuel lands a left hand.
Manuel looking to stall.
Aldo looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Aldo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Manuel has him pressed against the cage.
Manuel tries to land a knee to the head but Aldo blocks with his arms.
Manuel landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Aldo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Manuel feints and as Aldo raises his hands in defense, Manuel changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Manuel is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Manuel looking to pass the guard.
Manuel trying to control the position from guard on top but Aldo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Manuel won't allow Aldo to get back to his feet.
Manuel looking to sit in guard and control but Aldo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Aldo controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Jose Aldo will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Matt Manuel's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Aldo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Manuel scores with a kick to the body.
Manuel misses the body punch
and Aldo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Aldo throws an overhand right that lands on Manuel's shoulder, as Manuel tries to avoid the shot.
Jose Aldo is winning the standup battle so far.
Manuel feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Aldo's calf.
Aldo works over Manuel's head and body with a nice combination.
A solid leg kick lands there for Manuel.
Aldo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Manuel was well out of range. Poor timing from Aldo.
Aldo stuns Manuel with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Manuel avoids the body shot from Aldo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Manuel.
Aldo takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Aldo thuds a left hand into Manuel's body.
Manuel keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Aldo.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Manuel.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Manuel gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Manuel with a nice cross.
An inside leg kick lands from Manuel.
Aldo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Manuel.
Aldo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Manuel scores with a head kick.
Aldo misses with a looping left.
Manuel throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Manuel tries to close the distance and clinch but Aldo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Aldo chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Manuel can pounce on him.
Manuel doesn't manage to clinch there - Aldo circles away.
Manuel goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manuel lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Manuel tries to clinch there but Aldo circles away.
A big right from Aldo misses.
The fighters circling - Aldo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Manuel feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Aldo's calf.
Manuel throws a body punch but Aldo moves out of range.
A jab from Aldo misses.
Aldo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Manuel sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nice sprawl there from Aldo as Manuel shoots in.

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.
Manuel fails in his attempt to clinch.
Aldo throws a left and a right that both miss
and Manuel counters with an inside leg kick.
Aldo looks to throw the jab but Manuel is out of range.
Manuel throws a nice inside leg kick.
Manuel throws a head kick that misses.
Manuel tries to close the distance and clinch but Aldo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Aldo takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Aldo tries to keep at a distance but Manuel has taken the fight into the clinch.
Aldo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Manuel has him pressed against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Manuel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Manuel has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge George Francis scores the fight 47:48
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 47:49
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 47:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Manuel! Matt Manuel retains his featherweight title!