PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between John Aldo (ranked 4368 p4p, 3695 weight class) and Cosmo Imai (ranked 498 p4p, 447 weight class). Cosmo Imai will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Aldo
vs
Imai

150 cm
25
155
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
153
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Intelligent

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 Montreal, John Aldo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cosmo Imai!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Elvis Blanc and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Aldo as Imai shoots in.
Imai shoots for a takedown but Aldo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Imai fails with a takedown attempt.
Aldo changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
John Aldo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cosmo Imai.
Imai with a lazy takedown attempt

and Aldo counters with a takedown into side control.
Imai takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Aldo is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Imai will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Imai gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Imai looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Aldo looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Aldo sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Imai is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Aldo pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Imai is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Aldo pulls his head out easily.
Aldo controlling the action here.
Aldo could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Aldo seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Imai for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imai is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Aldo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Imai on the ground.
Aldo slows the pace down in half guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Imai goes for a double leg but Aldo avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Aldo continues to drive forward.
Aldo stuffs the takedown attempt from Imai. Imai gets slowly back to his feet.
Imai changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Aldo tries to avoid it but Imai manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Aldo to the ground. Aldo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Imai misses with a takedown attempt

and Aldo counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aldo seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Imai 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.
Aldo content to stall in guard here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Imai is trying to control the position but Aldo postures up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

John Aldo dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Imai closes this distance looking for a takedown but Aldo circles away.
Aldo drops down looking for a counter takedown but Imai sprawls and moves away.
Imai misses with a takedown

and Aldo counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Imai!
Imai is trying to get back to half guard.
Aldo moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Imai is looking to regain half guard here but Aldo keeps moving and retains side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aldo lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Aldo working the body and head with strikes.
Aldo in side control, just content to control the action for now.

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.
Imai takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Imai felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Imai taking a bit of punishment here - Aldo scoring with strikes.
Imai prevents Aldo from moving into mount.
Aldo controlling the position from side mount.
Imai struggling a bit here.
Aldo is staying tight to Imai's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Imai takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Imai's face as Aldo controls the position.
Imai manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Imai looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Aldo working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Aldo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Imai can do to turn this around?
Aldo takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Imai is looking for a sweep. Aldo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Imai looking for submissions off his back.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Aldo seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Well, if Aldo is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Aldo is nestled in close to Imai, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Aldo goes for a cartwheel guard pass here but Imai does a handstand and catches Aldo in mid air with a triangle! Could it be? It is! It's the triple decker pecker wrecker! The fighters land on the ground with Imai on top - Aldo is already out from the submission! Imai gives Aldo's pecker the obligatory post submission twist and this one is aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaall over! Are you kidding me! That is world class Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. That guy is my hero!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (TDPW) . Cosmo Imai!
A very excited looking Cosmo Imai made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.