PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lee Cyrus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Aldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cyrus
vs
Aldo

150 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

167 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Good elbows
Heavy handed

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lee Cyrus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jose Aldo!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Tiny Johnson and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cyrus doesn't manage to clinch there - Aldo circles away.
Aldo shoots in but Cyrus avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A low kick from Cyrus misses

and Aldo counters by moving into the clinch.
Cyrus has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Aldo avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Aldo breaks from the clinch.

Aldo looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Cyrus is looking to improve his position.
Cyrus on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Cyrus tries to get out of the position.
Cyrus is trying to control but Aldo passes into side control!
Cyrus is trying to control Aldo's posture but Aldo avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo advances to mount.
Cyrus regains half guard.
Aldo tries to pass to full mount but Cyrus defends it.
Aldo takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Aldo is trying to control. Cyrus wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Aldo seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Aldo is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cyrus doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Aldo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aldo uses his free foot to push down on Cyrus's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Cyrus.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cyrus takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Aldo lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Aldo goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Cyrus is on top in guard.
Aldo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Aldo looking for a sweep. Not yet Aldo, not yet.
Aldo keeping moving, preventing Cyrus from controlling successfully.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cyrus won't allow Aldo to sweep him here.
Cyrus controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Aldo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cyrus would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Cyrus could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Lee Cyrus wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Aldo shoots in for a takedown but Cyrus shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Aldo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Aldo looks gassed!
Aldo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cyrus as he avoids it easily.
Lee Cyrus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jose Aldo.
Cyrus misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Aldo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cyrus swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cyrus misses with a wild combination.
Aldo tries to clinch up but Cyrus circles away and keeps his distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cyrus tries a head kick but it misses.
Cyrus shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Aldo as he jumps to the side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Aldo dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Aldo fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Cyrus to the ground. Aldo is now in Cyrus's guard.
Cyrus keeping full guard, as Aldo tries to pass.
Aldo trying to control the position from guard on top but Cyrus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cyrus looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Aldo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Aldo controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Aldo scoring with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Aldo advances to half guard.
Aldo is keen to just control but Cyrus is a slippery customer.
Cyrus tries to roll over but Aldo keeps him under control.
Jose Aldo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cyrus is not content to let Aldo control the position.
Aldo might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Cyrus kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cyrus is looking for a sweep. Aldo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Cyrus looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Aldo controlling the action here.
Aldo working the head and body with strikes.
Aldo controlling the action here.
Aldo is looking to advance position but Cyrus won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jose Aldo.
Sloppy strikes from Aldo. Those never looked like landing.

Aldo forces Cyrus back against the cage and clinches.
Cyrus throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Aldo blocks it with crossed arms.

Aldo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Aldo misses with a few strikes there.
Aldo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cyrus swivels and escapes.
Aldo keeps the fight on the outside.
Aldo fails with an attempt to clinch.

Cyrus shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Aldo napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cyrus tries to move to mount but Aldo blocks the move with his legs.
Aldo wants to control but Cyrus postures up.
Aldo tries to improve position but can't.
Cyrus wants to control but Aldo is keeping him busy.
Cyrus is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Aldo is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Cyrus decides to take the fight back to the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Aldo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Cyrus's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Cyrus wants to clinch up but Aldo keeps it at a distance.
Aldo pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Cyrus closes the distance and clinches up with Aldo, looking for a takedown. Cyrus pushes Aldo against the cage but Aldo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cyrus keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Cyrus shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Aldo but Aldo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Aldo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cyrus sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Aldo somewhat.
Cyrus shoots in and drives through. Aldo sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lee Cyrus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Aldo with that takedown attempt.
A big left from Cyrus misses.
Aldo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Cyrus closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Aldo quickly recovers to half guard.
Aldo tries to get to full guard but Cyrus has control of the leg.
Cyrus is pressing down on Aldo's thigh, looking to free his foot. Aldo is holding on for now.
Aldo trying to control but Cyrus postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cyrus controlling the pace.
Cyrus prevents Aldo from improving his position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Cyrus with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Lee Cyrus just wasn't active enough.
Cyrus shoots for a takedown but Aldo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Cyrus tries to keep at a distance but Aldo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cyrus can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Aldo - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Aldo scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Cyrus is working for takedown but Aldo is calmly controlling the position for now.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Aldo takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Aldo has Cyrus pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Aldo pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Cyrus tumbling to the mat - Aldo dives into Cyrus's guard.
Cyrus keeping moving, preventing Aldo from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aldo passes Cyrus's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Aldo stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Cyrus to get to his feet.
Aldo shoots for a double leg takedown but Cyrus sprawls well. He's pushed Aldo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cyrus tries to close the distance and clinch up but Aldo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aldo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cyrus tries to avoid it but Aldo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cyrus to the ground. Cyrus escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Cyrus closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jose Aldo.
Well Aldo has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jose Aldo!