PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Connan Mandlei (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Aldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jose Aldo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mandlei
vs
Aldo

180 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Connan Mandlei!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jose Aldo!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Luis Engracia and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aldo lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Connan Mandlei has been cut.
Mandlei with a lazy takedown attempt

and Aldo counters with a shoot takedown. Mandlei fights it but they end up in guard.
Mandlei looking to hit a scissor sweep but Aldo is one step ahead there.
Aldo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mandlei works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Aldo content to stall in guard here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Mandlei has his foot on Aldo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Aldo works his way back into a safe position though.
Aldo controlling from the top position.
Aldo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mandlei is keeping the position for now.
Aldo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mandlei. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Aldo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Aldo controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jose Aldo hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Aldo connects with the punch.
Mandlei shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Aldo counters with a shoot takedown. Mandlei fights it but they end up in guard.
Aldo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mandlei is trying to keep Aldo in close.
Aldo slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Mandlei working for a triangle but Aldo defends it easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Aldo gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mandlei is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Aldo dips to his left and cracks Mandlei with an uppercut!
Jose Aldo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mandlei gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Aldo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mandlei won't be happy with that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Connan Mandlei. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Aldo decides to stand back up.

Aldo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mandlei jumps guard but Aldo stands there with Mandlei around his waist. Mandlei gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Mandlei with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Mandlei is breathing heavily.

Aldo manages to pull guard.
Mandlei has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Aldo is proving hard to escape from.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Aldo can do anything to dispel that myth.
Aldo keeping moving, preventing Mandlei from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aldo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mandlei can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

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

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

Mandlei working for a triangle but Aldo defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aldo distracts Mandlei with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Mandlei looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Mandlei is working an open guard so Aldo takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Mandlei shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Aldo counters with a takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Aldo decides to stand back up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Aldo fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Mandlei to the ground. Aldo is now in Mandlei's guard.

Mandlei looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Aldo is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Aldo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Connan Mandlei's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Aldo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aldo trying to stand up but can't free himself from Mandlei's guard.
Aldo postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Aldo controls from within his opponent's guard.
Aldo tries to stand but Mandlei is controlling from the bottom.
Mandlei throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Mandlei kicks Aldo off and gets to his feet.

Aldo clinches.
Aldo is trying to break the clinch but Mandlei has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mandlei pulls guard effortlessly.

Mandlei escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Aldo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Aldo controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Aldo's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Mandlei working a defensive guard here.

Mandlei is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Aldo wanted to stand there but Mandlei had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mandlei had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Aldo defends it easily.

Aldo decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Aldo throws a leg kick but Mandlei sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Aldo shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Mandlei manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aldo is looking to stand up but Mandlei won't let him.
Aldo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mandlei trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Mandlei throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Mandlei has an active guard here but Aldo has managed to pass into half guard.
Aldo is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Mandlei is trying to get back to full guard.
Aldo lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Mandlei moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aldo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Aldo wants to stand but Mandlei has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Mandlei has his foot on Aldo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Aldo works his way back into a safe position though.

Aldo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mandlei has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Aldo has managed to get both his arms back between Mandlei's legs - danger averted.
Aldo is pushing down on Mandlei's leg trying to pass to half guard. Mandlei is fighting to maintain full guard but Aldo has managed to sneak the leg through.
Aldo trying to mount his opponent but Mandlei defends it.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mandlei wants to control but Aldo is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Mandlei wants to get back to his 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.
The cut man is working on Connan Mandlei's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Mandlei enables Aldo to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Mandlei manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Aldo is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Mandlei is looking for a triangle but Aldo pushes his legs off easily.
Aldo lands a couple of digs.

Aldo gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Mandlei enables Aldo to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Mandlei manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mandlei trying to control the position.
Mandlei keeping full guard, as Aldo tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Aldo sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Aldo chips away with some ground and pound.
Aldo scoring with some ground and pound.

Mandlei working for a triangle but Aldo defends it easily.
Aldo is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aldo works over Mandlei with some ground and pound from guard.

Mandlei looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Aldo engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Aldo postures up and lands a big shot to Mandlei's brow.
Aldo wants to get up but he can't break Mandlei's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Aldo slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Aldo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes 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.
Mandlei looking to hit a scissor sweep but Aldo is one step ahead there.

Mandlei is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Aldo gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Aldo tries to bum rush Mandlei with a series of wild strikes but Mandlei uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Aldo gets a takedown into half guard.
Mandlei is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aldo takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Mandlei actively working from the bottom here.
Aldo scoring with strikes to the body and head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aldo is thwarting Mandlei's attempts to control the position.
Aldo is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Aldo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mandlei wants to get back to full guard but Aldo has passed into side control.
Connan Mandlei has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jose Aldo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Aldo tries to advance to mount but Mandlei denies him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jose Aldo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30

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