PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between KJ Aldo (ranked 3275 p4p, 22014 weight class) and Ivan Mrka (ranked 336 p4p, 511 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Mrka's choice of entrance music: Prokofiev. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Aldo
vs
Mrka

171 cm
21
157
5 - 4 - 0

175 cm
22
157
1 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, KJ Aldo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ivan Mrka!
The judges for this bout are Ben Hemmingworth, Chris Dean and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mrka gets tackled into the cage by Aldo. Aldo maintains the clinch.
Mrka on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Aldo has a couple of punches blocked by Mrka.
Aldo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Mrka fails to land.
Mrka misses with some punches.
Mrka softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Mrka throws a head punch that misses.
Mrka throws a head punch that misses.
Aldo tries to land knees in the clinch but Mrka avoids the damage to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Aldo fails to land.
Mrka swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mrka blocks the elbow strike.
Mrka on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Mrka has a couple of punches blocked by Aldo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mrka has a couple of punches blocked by Aldo.
Aldo lands a shoulder strike.
Mrka lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Mrka lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Mrka scores with a hook to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aldo lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Mrka.
Stalling in the clinch from Aldo.
Mrka misses with a hook from the clinch.
Mrka can't find room to land a body shot as Aldo controls the action.
Mrka misses with a punch on the inside.

Mrka pulls Aldo into guard.
Aldo stopping the sweep attempt from Mrka.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mrka is still trying to improve position.
Mrka is wriggling around but Aldo manages to pass to half guard.
Aldo blocks the strikes from Mrka.
Mrka trying to get back to full guard but Aldo takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Mrka tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mrka tries to hold on but Aldo postures up.
Mrka is squirming around, avoiding Aldo's attempts to control the action.
Mrka wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Mrka is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Aldo.
Mrka is trying to get back to his feet but Aldo has full control of the position and if anything, Mrka has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Mrka tries to break free.
Mrka told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Mrka is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Aldo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mrka tries to break free.
Aldo wants to control but Mrka is keeping busy.
Mrka is in bad spot here.
Mrka staying busy and making it hard for Aldo to control.

That's four 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.
Aldo controls the action.
Mrka is in bad spot here.
Aldo trying to control momentarily.
Mrka trying to control the hands but Aldo won't let him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Mrka manages to escape to his feet.
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 KJ Aldo will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Aldo avoids the head kick by Mrka.

Mrka darts in and clinches Aldo up against the cage.
Mrka goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A right hand to the body from Mrka.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Mrka swings wildly with an uppercut but Aldo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mrka throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Aldos head.
Mrka softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Aldo takes a shot to the head.
Aldo tries to throw a body punch but Mrka avoids it by throwing Aldo back against the cage.
Ivan Mrka seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mrka lands a body shot.
Aldo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Mrka drops down looking for an ankle pick but Aldo pulls his leg out and moves away.
Mrka throws a leg kick which misses Aldo's front leg but catches the back leg as Aldo tries to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Aldo closes the distance and clinches.
Mrka lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Aldo backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Mrka fails to land.
Aldo stops a takedown attempt from Mrka.
Aldo looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Mrka scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Mrka misses with the head strike.
Aldo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Aldo breaks from the clinch.
Mrka dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Mrka lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Aldo blocks a head kick by Mrka.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mrka has managed to clinch.
Mrka keeps control of Aldo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mrka blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Aldo throws a head punch that misses.
Aldo trying to control the position but instead, Mrka has worked for underhooks and has pushed Aldo into the cage.
Mrka throws a head punch that misses.
Aldo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Mrka tries a body shot but Aldo blocks it.
A head punch on the inside from Aldo fails to land.
Mrka blocks an uppercut.
Mrka blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mrka fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Aldo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Mrka misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mrka working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mrka is leaning against Aldo and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Aldo misses with some punches.
Mrka tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Aldo lands with a right to the head.
Mrka has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mrka tries a body shot but Aldo blocks it.
Mrka is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Aldo to keep the fight standing.
KJ Aldo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Mrka.
Mrka swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mrka jumps guard but Aldo turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Mrka swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mrka lands a right hand.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mrka.
Aldo blocking some punches.
Aldo missing with knees to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mrka.
Aldo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Aldo stops a takedown attempt from Mrka.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Aldo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mrka struggles to land a body shot inside as Aldo controls his hands.
Aldo lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Mrka blocks an elbow strike.
Mrka throws a punch but it's blocked by Aldo.
Mrka tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Aldo misses with a hook from the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A right hook to the body lands for Mrka.
Aldo tries for a takedown. No joy.
A head punch on the inside from Mrka fails to land.
A short uppercut from Mrka.
Aldo wants a takedown.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Aldo.
Mrka throws a head punch that misses.
Mrka swings wildly with an uppercut but Aldo uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short right from Mrka.
Aldo looking to stall.
Aldo wants to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Mrka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Aldo's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Mrka connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Aldo scrambles back to his feet.
Aldo avoids the head kick by Mrka.

Aldo clinches with his opponent.
Aldo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mrka is defending well for now.
Mrka tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Mrka swings wildly with an uppercut but Aldo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Aldo trying to control the position but instead, Mrka has worked for underhooks and has pushed Aldo into the cage.
A short uppercut from Mrka.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mrka letting Aldo take a breather here.
A right hook to the body lands for Mrka.
Mrka avoids the elbow strike from Aldo, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mrka lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Aldo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mrka tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Aldo throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Mrka tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Aldo has a couple of punches blocked by Mrka.
A shot in the inside from Mrka.
Aldo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Aldo prevents a body shot from Mrka.
A head punch on the inside from Mrka fails to land.
Mrka misses with the head strike.
A short right from Mrka.
Aldo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Aldo stalling in the clinch but Mrka improves position.
Aldo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Mrka misses with a body punch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Mrka creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Mrka swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aldo controlling the action here for a moment.
A left hand lands to the body for Mrka.
Mrka lands a hook to the side of the head.
Aldo trying to stall but Mrka improves his position.
Aldo slowing the pace effectively.
Mrka misses with a short punch on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aldo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Aldo lands with a light punch inside.
Aldo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mrka misses with a hook to the ribs.
Mrka letting Aldo take a breather here.
Mrka misses with a hook to the ribs.
Aldo lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Aldo misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mrka lands a body shot in the clinch.
Mrka doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Mrka blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mrka tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Aldo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mrka's elbow.
Mrka lands a body punch in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Aldo working hard to break the clinch.
Mrka lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Mrka lands a right hand that snaps the head of Aldo backwards.
Aldo blocks an uppercut.
Aldo lands a left hand.
A short right from Mrka on the inside.
Aldo is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Mrka tries a body shot but Aldo blocks it.
Mrka is leaning against Aldo and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Mrka works on Aldo's body with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aldo takes a shot to the head.
Mrka misses with a hook from the clinch.
Mrka lands with a short punch from the clinch.
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!
Mrka doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Aldo prevents a body shot from Mrka.
The referee is keeping an eye on Aldo - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Mrka is looking to take this one to the mat.
Mrka blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mrka lands a right hand.
Aldo has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Mrka lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Aldo.
Aldo takes a shot to the head.

Aldo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Mrka moves into the clinch successfully.
Aldo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mrka has him pressed against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Mrka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mrka 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 Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Mrka!
Ivan Mrka took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.