PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Link Copper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Aldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jose Aldo struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 137.8lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Link Copper has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Copper
vs
Aldo

170 cm
20
145 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

170 cm
20
145 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Link Copper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jose Aldo!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Alec Ball and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aldo throws the kick towards the body but Copper avoids it.
Aldo thows a body shot but no joy.
Copper lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Aldo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Copper - that will leave a mark!
Aldo looks gassed!

Copper shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Aldo napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Copper tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Copper is looking to take a break and control but Aldo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Copper tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Copper has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Copper trying to control the action but Aldo is working from the bottom.

Copper tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Aldo prevents Copper from improving position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Copper trying to control the action but Aldo is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Copper closes the distance and pushes Aldo back into the cage.

Copper pulls guard.
Copper pulls Aldo in close to prevent any damage.
Aldo sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Copper throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Aldo wants to stand but Copper is controlling his posture from full guard.
Copper is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Aldo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Copper striking off his back but it's not causing Aldo any problems.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Copper shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Aldo as he avoids it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Copper shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Aldo as he jumps to the side.
Copper looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Link Copper. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Copper rushes Aldo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Aldo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Copper moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Jose Aldo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Copper rushes Aldo and presses him up against the cage.
Copper wants a takedown but no success here.
Aldo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Copper.
Copper fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Link Copper. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Copper has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Aldo uses from the top position.
Aldo trying to control but Copper is working from the bottom.
Copper is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aldo is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo stopping the sweep attempt from Copper.
Copper is controlling Aldo's posture.
Aldo preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Copper is pulling down on Aldo's head to control his posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Aldo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Copper was well out of range. Poor timing from Aldo.
Copper keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Copper shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Copper tries to clinch up.
Aldo misses with a few strikes there.
Link Copper is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Copper scores with a head kick.
Aldo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Copper dives in and grabs Aldo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Aldo pushes down on Copper's head and hops out.

Copper moves into the clinch successfully.
Copper lands an elbow that stopped Aldo in his tracks for a moment.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Copper breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Copper closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Copper fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Copper pressing his opponent against the cage.

Copper decides to pull guard.
Copper working a defensive guard here.
Copper looking to hit a scissor sweep but Aldo is one step ahead there.

Copper 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.

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.
Aldo won't allow Copper to get back to his feet.
Aldo works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Aldo is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Copper doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Aldo.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Copper makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Link Copper dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Copper throws a right and a left that Aldo avoids nicely.
Copper misses with a kick to the body.
Copper avoids the body shot from Aldo.

Copper bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Copper misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Copper lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Aldo down.
Copper tries to advance to mount but Aldo denies him.
The referee asks Copper politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Copper prefers to stall for the moment though.
The strikes coming from Copper are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Aldo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Copper working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Copper tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Copper has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Copper advances nicely into full mount.
Aldo is trying to escape the mount.
Copper lands with some strikes.
Copper can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Aldo is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Copper jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Aldo manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Copper trying to control the action but Aldo is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Copper wants to lay and pray for a moment but Aldo keeps working.
Copper wants to pass the guard but Aldo is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Aldo tries to keep at a distance but Copper has taken the fight into the clinch.
Aldo is pressed up against the cage. Copper has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Aldo down to the mat. Aldo avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Copper is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Aldo's half guard.
Copper thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Jose Aldo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aldo trying to control here.
Link Copper is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Copper looks to land a strike but Aldo avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Link Copper showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Copper has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Link Copper!