PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jose Aldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Geevarghese Haider (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Aldo
vs
Haider

170 cm
22
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jose Aldo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Geevarghese Haider!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Radbod Blank and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Haider clinches up with Aldo and pushes him back against the cage.
Aldo jumps guard but Haider turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Haider changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Aldo fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Aldo clinches with his opponent.

Aldo breaks the clinch.

Haider shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Aldo trying to control here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aldo preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Aldo is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haider tries to stand but can't do so whilst Aldo controls his leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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.
Horrible takedown attempt by Aldo or perhaps it was just good defense by Haider, which made it look bad.
Aldo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Haider sprawls well. Haider wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Aldo gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jose Aldo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Aldo shoots in but no luck this time.
Haider fails in his attempt to clinch.
Haider fails with the takedown.

Haider decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Haider wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Haider decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Aldo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Haider drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Aldo defends it well.
Haider fails in his attempt to clinch.
Aldo tries for a takedown but Haider sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Haider gets a takedown into half guard.

Haider decides to return to a standing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haider misses with a takedown attempt - Aldo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Haider shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Aldo as he avoids it easily.
Aldo plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Haider decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Haider looks winded!
Haider tries to stand and escape but Aldo is controlling the position.
Aldo trying to control here.

Haider stands up out of the half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nice sprawl there from Haider as Aldo shoots in.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Geevarghese Haider dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Aldo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Aldo forces Haider back against the cage and clinches.

Aldo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Aldo pushes Haider up against the cage in a clinch.

Aldo gets control of Haider's arms and successfully pulls guard. Aldo will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Haider gets to his feet. Aldo looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Aldo is defended easily by Haider.
Haider misses with a takedown

and Aldo holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aldo successfully pulls guard.
Haider wanted to stand there but Aldo had control of the position.

Haider stands up and waves to Aldo to follow him.
Haider tries to clinch but Aldo is having none of it.

Haider gets a double leg takedown into Aldo's guard.
Haider must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Aldo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Haider defends well.
Haider wants to stand but Aldo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Haider decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Aldo, up you get!
Aldo fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Haider tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haider fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Jose Aldo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Geevarghese Haider.
Haider shoots in and drives through. Aldo sprawls well.
Haider takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Haider is defended easily by Aldo.
Haider leaves Aldo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Aldo throws a right and a left that Haider avoids nicely.
Haider shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Aldo sprawls well. Aldo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Haider gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Haider gets tackled into the cage by Aldo. Aldo maintains the clinch.

Aldo drags the fight down to the ground.
Aldo controlling Haider's posture.
Haider is looking to stand up but Aldo won't let him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Aldo uses the cage to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Aldo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Haider tries to avoid it but Aldo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Haider to the ground. Haider escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Haider shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Aldo as he avoids it easily.
Aldo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Haider shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Aldo pinned against the cage. Aldo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Haider gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Aldo counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Haider thinking.
Jose Aldo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Geevarghese Haider.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aldo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Haider circles away.
Aldo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Aldo gets caught napping as Haider dives in and scores a takedown. Aldo manages to retain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haider wants to stand but Aldo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Aldo is looking for a triangle but Haider pushes his legs off easily.
Aldo controls Haider momentarily but Haider frees himself.
Geevarghese Haider has got the better of the ground game so far.
Aldo doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Haider stands up and waves to Aldo to follow him.

That's two 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.
Haider swats away the attempt to clinch by Aldo.

Aldo closes the distance and clinches.
Haider stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Haider breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Aldo tries to clinch up.
Haider looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Aldo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Haider defends it nicely.
Jose Aldo is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo doesn't manage to clinch there - Haider circles away.
Aldo shoots in but Haider avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Haider misses with a body kick.
Haider shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Aldo pinned against the cage. Aldo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Haider changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Aldo tries to avoid it but Haider manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Aldo to the ground. Aldo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Aldo thinks about countering with a head kick.
Aldo looks for a takedown but Haider sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haider throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Aldo's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Aldo duly obliges.
Aldo stuffs the takedown.
Aldo connects with a high kick.
Aldo closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Haider shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Haider wants to stand up but Aldo is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Geevarghese Haider.
I think Haider 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 Nard Betker scores the fight for Jose Aldo!
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight for Geevarghese Haider!
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight for Geevarghese Haider!

Geevarghese Haider wins by split decision!