PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimi Aldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Thomas Howard has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Howard
vs
Aldo

170 cm
25
130 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

155 cm
25
150 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Prefers standup

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Powerful

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Thomas Howard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jimi Aldo!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Peter Branson and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howard lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Howard lands a jab-cross combination.
Howard lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Aldo misses with a takedown attempt
and Howard counters with a nice uppercut.
Howard stuffs the takedown attempt from Aldo. Aldo gets slowly back to his feet.
Howard lands a leg kick that knocks Aldo off balance momentarily.
Aldo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Howard sprawls well. Howard wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Aldo gets slowly back to his feet.
Thomas Howard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimi Aldo.
Howard lands with a slapping head kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Aldo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

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

Howard is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Aldo presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Howard is pressed up against the cage. Aldo has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Howard down to the mat. Howard avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Aldo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Howard lands a head kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo tries to clinch up.
Aldo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Howard makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Aldo really felt that one!
Aldo looks winded!
Howard lands with a slapping head kick.

Aldo throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Howard tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Aldo is in Howard's guard.

Aldo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Aldo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Howard seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Aldo drops back looking for a leg! Howard is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Howard manages to kick Aldo off! Aldo jumps back into Howard's guard.
Howard is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Aldo works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aldo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Howard defends it well.

Aldo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Aldo is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Aldo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Howard is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aldo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Howard is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at All Time Wrestling - 12 ELITE COACHES that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.

Aldo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Howard sees it coming and defends easily.

Aldo seems to be looking for submissions.

Aldo looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Aldo is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Aldo is working for a kimura but Howard is defending it quite comfortably.

Aldo is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Howard doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Aldo.
Howard is trying to stand back up but Aldo is controlling him

Aldo is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Howard has managed to free his arm - good work.

Aldo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Thomas Howard will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Aldo has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Howard.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Aldo.
Howard throws a quick counter head kick but Aldo was just out of range.
Howard lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Aldo circles away quickly and effectively.

Aldo shoots in and bounces Howard off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Aldo tries to free his leg and advance position but Howard is retaining full guard.

Aldo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Aldo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Aldo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Aldo is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Howard is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Howard has escaped and now he's on top!
Howard has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Aldo looking for a guillotine here but Howard defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Aldo is looking for a triangle but Howard pushes his legs off easily.

Aldo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Aldo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Howard doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Howard manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Aldo working for a triangle but Howard defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aldo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Howard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Howard avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Aldo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Howard is aware though and is defending well.

Aldo working for a triangle but Howard defends it easily.
Howard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Aldo is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aldo looking for a guillotine here but Howard defends easily.

Howard got a little sloppy there for a moment and Aldo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Howard has managed to get both his arms back between Aldo's legs - danger averted.

Howard is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Aldo has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Howard is looking to defend but Aldo has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Howard! Aldo pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Howard taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Jimi Aldo!