PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kenny Florendo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dominick Aldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Florendo
vs
Aldo

170 cm
20
135 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

178 cm
19
135 lbs
2 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kenny Florendo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dominick Aldo!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Robert Twigg and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Aldo throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Florendo tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Aldo is in Florendo's guard.
Aldo wants to get up but he can't break Florendo's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Florendo wants to sweep but no luck.
Florendo keeping full guard, as Aldo tries to pass.
Aldo trying to stand up but can't free himself from Florendo's guard.
Florendo keeping full guard, as Aldo tries to pass.
Florendo controls Aldo momentarily but Aldo frees himself.
Florendo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Aldo.
Florendo is controlling Aldo's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Florendo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kenny Florendo.
Aldo tries to clinch up.

Florendo shoots in and bounces Aldo off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Florendo tries to free his leg and advance position but Aldo is retaining full guard.

Florendo is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Aldo is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Aldo has escaped and now he's on top!
Aldo trying to control but Florendo is working from the bottom.

Florendo is working an open guard so Aldo takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
A head kick misses from Florendo.
Aldo lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Florendo clinches up with Aldo and pushes him back against the cage.
Aldo is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Florendo lands a hook to the side of the head.
Florendo looking to slow down the pace here.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Florendo is trying to pull guard but Aldo has him pressed against the cage.
Aldo is pressed up against the cage. Florendo 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.

Florendo closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Aldo quickly recovers to half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Florendo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Florendo stalling away here and it's allowed Aldo to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Florendo is breathing heavily.
Florendo postures up.
Florendo trying to control the position from guard on top but Aldo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Florendo prevents Aldo from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Florendo throws a big right hand that misses.
Florendo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Aldo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Florendo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Florendo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Aldo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Aldo manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Aldo landing punches.
Florendo tries to lock up and control but Aldo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Florendo holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Aldo tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Aldo is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Aldo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Florendo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Aldo is looking to clinch but Florendo is avoiding it.
Florendo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Aldo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Aldo as Florendo shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenny Florendo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The fight stays on the outside here - Aldo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Florendo tries for a takedown but Aldo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Aldo displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Florendo.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aldo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Florendo tries to avoid it but Aldo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Florendo to the ground. Florendo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Florendo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Aldo sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Florendo somewhat.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Aldo - that will leave a mark!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dominick Aldo will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Aldo.
Aldo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Aldo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Florendo circles away.
Kenny Florendo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dominick Aldo.
Florendo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Aldo swivels and escapes.

Florendo shoots in and gets a takedown into Aldo's guard.
Aldo is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Florendo decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Aldo is looking to clinch.
Florendo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Aldo scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aldo works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Florendo tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Florendo down.

Aldo stands up.
Aldo fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Aldo shoots in but Florendo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Florendo doesn't manage to clinch there - Aldo circles away.
Kenny Florendo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Aldo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Florendo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Florendo has Aldo up against the cage in a clinch.

Florendo decides to pull guard.
Florendo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Aldo preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Florendo has a closed guard, preventing Aldo from standing up.

Aldo gets to his feet - Florendo follows without any prompting.
Nice sprawl there from Florendo as Aldo shoots in.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aldo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Aldo.

Florendo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Aldo, pushing him back against the cage.

Florendo has hold of one of Aldo's legs. Aldo is fighting the takedown attempt but Florendo gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Florendois looking to pass into half guard but Aldo pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Aldo is in guard.
Dominick Aldo has got the better of the ground game so far.

Aldo postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Florendo is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Aldo, into his guard.
Florendo looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo looking to control.
Florendo prevents Aldo from getting back to his feet.
Florendo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Aldo on the ground.
Florendo looking to sit in guard and control but Aldo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Florendo looking for a sweep. Not yet Florendo, not yet.
Aldo wants to get up but he can't break Florendo's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Florendo scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Aldo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Florendo paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Florendo gets a clinch.
Aldo tries to pull guard but Florendo won't allow it.

Florendo gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Aldo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Florendo.

Florendo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Florendo wants to work for an arm triangle but Aldo is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Aldo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Florendo is looking for a kimura but Aldo is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Florendo to get the leverage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenny Florendo dominated that second round.
That's time! Florendo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Aldo fails to land the takedown.
Aldo tries to clinch up.
Florendo tries to clinch but Aldo moves out of range.
Florendo throws a series of punches but Aldo moves out of range.
Florendo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Florendo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Florendo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Aldo as he avoids it easily.
Florendo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenny Florendo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Aldo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Florendo sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Aldo somewhat.
Aldo misses with a takedown attempt - Florendo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Florendo shoots in looking for a takedown but Aldo manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Florendo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Dominick Aldo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Aldo tries to clinch but Florendo moves out of range.

Aldo pushes Florendo up against the cage in a clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Aldo breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Florendo circles away.
Aldo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Florendo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Florendo bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Aldo sneaks back into half guard.
Aldo pushes Florendo off looking to stand but Florendo dives back in and keeps control.

Florendo wants to work for an arm triangle but Aldo is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Aldo tries to kick Florendo off but Florendo keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Florendo is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Aldo has managed to free his arm - good work.
Florendo is pressing down on Aldo's thigh, looking to free his foot. Aldo is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Florendo tries to stand but can't do so whilst Aldo controls his leg.
Aldo has his hands clasped together around Florendo's back. He's all about the action.
Florendo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Aldo gets back to full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Aldo wants to get back to his feet but Florendo passes into half guard.

Florendo seems to be working for a kimura but Aldo defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo trying to control from the bottom.

Aldo is defending against the submission attempts here by Florendo.
Aldo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Florendo is working away from the top position though.
Aldo is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Florendo wants to work for an arm triangle but Aldo is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Aldo makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Aldo.
Florendo stops Aldo from standing up.
Florendo wants to control from the top but Aldo keeps moving.
Aldo looking to control.

Florendo drops back, looking for a kneebar! Aldo looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Aldo looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Aldo!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Dominick Aldo.
I think Aldo 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29

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