PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Luis Aldebaran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jorge Masvidal (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.

Aldebaran
vs
Masvidal

170 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

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, Luis Aldebaran!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jorge Masvidal!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Paulo Santos and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Masvidal throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Aldebaran's waist but Aldebaran gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Masvidal off to one side.
Masvidal fails with an attempt to clinch.
A combination from Masvidal does no damage.
Aldebaran scores with a leg kick.
Masvidal swings for the body but Aldebaran moves out of range.
Aldebaran throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Masvidal throws a series of punches but Aldebaran avoids them all with ease.

Masvidal bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Aldebaran manages to work his way to half guard, despite Masvidal's best efforts.
Aldebaran wants to get back to full guard.
Aldebaran is looking to control Masvidal's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Aldebaran avoid being mounted?
Aldebaran wants to improve his position but Masvidal is controlling well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aldebaran wants to get back to his feet.

Masvidal is trying to work for a kimura but Aldebaran is defending well.
Masvidal looks gassed!
Aldebaran wants to control but Masvidal is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masvidal is keen to just control but Aldebaran is a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Aldebaran looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Aldebaran fails to land the takedown.

Aldebaran darts in and clinches Masvidal up against the cage.
Aldebaran is trying to break free.
Masvidal tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Masvidal misses with an elbow strike.
Masvidal wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Masvidal has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Aldebaran avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Luis Aldebaran has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jorge Masvidal.

Aldebaran breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Aldebaran moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Aldebaran throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Aldebaran lands a jab-cross combination.
Aldebaran shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Masvidal as he jumps to the side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aldebaran lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Masvidal backs up against the cage.
Masvidal fails with the takedown

and Aldebaran counters with a shoot takedown. Masvidal fights it but they end up in guard.

Aldebaran is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Masvidal is controlling Aldebaran's posture.

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

Masvidal closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Masvidal lands in his opponent's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Aldebaran manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Masvidal manages to get himself to full guard.
Aldebaran 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masvidal looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Aldebaran wants to stand but Masvidal is controlling his posture from full guard.
Aldebaran has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Aldebaran trying to control the position from guard on top but Masvidal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Aldebaran gets to his feet - Masvidal follows without any prompting.
Aldebaran is looking to clinch but Masvidal is avoiding it.
Aldebaran wants to clinch.
Masvidal tries to clinch there but Aldebaran circles away.

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.
Aldebaran throws the kick towards the body but Masvidal avoids it.
Masvidal shoots in but no luck this time.

Aldebaran moves into the clinch.

Masvidal jumps guard.
Masvidal wants to stand but Aldebaran is controlling the position.
Aldebaran slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Aldebaran wants to control from the top but Masvidal keeps moving.
Aldebaran content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aldebaran sitting in guard here, content to control.

Aldebaran stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Aldebaran swinging wilding here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ouch! a nice leg kick from Aldebaran, right into the meat.
Aldebaran shoots and misses

and Masvidal counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Masvidal sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Aldebaran tries to roll over but Masvidal keeps him under control.
Masvidal is trying to control the action in half guard but Aldebaran is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Masvidal thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Aldebaran's head.
Aldebaran trying to control from the bottom.
Masvidal not doing much here.
Masvidal is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Aldebaran scores with a takedown into Masvidal's guard.
Aldebaran looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Masvidal controls Aldebaran momentarily but Aldebaran frees himself.
Aldebaran wants to control from the top but Masvidal keeps moving.
Masvidal trying to control the position.
Masvidal might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Aldebaran kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Masvidal scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Masvidal tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Aldebaran throws a series of strikes that have Masvidal backpedaling.
A punch combination from Aldebaran misses.
Aldebaran looks to land a combination. Masvidal sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Masvidal tries for a takedown but Aldebaran circles away easily
and Aldebaran makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Masvidal tries to keep at a distance but Aldebaran has taken the fight into the clinch.
Masvidal tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Masvidal tries to pull guard but Aldebaran won't allow it.
Luis Aldebaran has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jorge Masvidal.
Masvidal misses with a body punch.
Aldebaran is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Masvidal pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masvidal looking to stall.
Masvidal wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Aldebaran tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Aldebaran has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Masvidal avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Masvidal misses with a hook from the clinch.
Aldebaran has had enough of the clinch but Masvidal keeps him there for the moment.
Aldebaran scores with a knee to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Masvidal fails to land.
Masvidal tries to pull guard but Aldebaran won't allow it.

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

Aldebaran gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Aldebaran gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Aldebaran wants to take a breather but Masvidal is having none of it.
Aldebaran slows the pace down in half guard.

Aldebaran decides to return to a standing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Aldebaran gets a takedown into half guard.
Masvidal is trying to control but can't.
Aldebaran passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Masvidal!
Aldebaran landing strikes from the mount.
Masvidal is wriggling around trying to escape.
Aldebaran sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Masvidal manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Masvidal has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Aldebaran is working away from the top position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luis Aldebaran dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Good shot there by Aldebaran.
Masvidal doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Aldebaran counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Aldebaran throws a series of punches but Masvidal avoids them all with ease.

Aldebaran drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
A lull in the action here.
Aldebaran wants to control but Masvidal is keeping him busy.
Masvidal is trying to control Aldebaran's posture but Aldebaran avoids it.
Masvidal is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Aldebaran asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Aldebaran in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masvidal is looking for a sweep.

Aldebaran stands up.
Masvidal fails with an attempt to clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Masvidal pulls guard successfully.

Masvidal manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Masvidal with a poor takedown
and Aldebaran counters with an outside leg kick.
Masvidal throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Aldebaran's waist but Aldebaran gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Masvidal off to one side.
Luis Aldebaran has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jorge Masvidal.
Aldebaran with a poor takedown

and Masvidal counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masvidal is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Aldebaran desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Masvidal wants to take a breather but Aldebaran is having none of it.
Aldebaran is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Masvidal's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Masvidal's back!
Aldebaran has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Masvidal's body.
Masvidal trying to get back to his feet but Aldebaran is in full control for now.
Masvidal is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luis Aldebaran overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Aldebaran lands a shot to the body.
Masvidal is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Masvidal trying to control the hands but Aldebaran won't let him.
The referee is taking a good look at Masvidal as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Aldebaran!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Masvidal prevents Aldebaran from getting a body triangle.
Aldebaran controlling the position well here. Masvidal rolled but Aldebaran kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Luis Aldebaran just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Masvidal throws a head kick that half lands.
Masvidal is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Aldebaran.
The fight stays on the outside here - Masvidal looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Aldebaran moves into the clinch.
Aldebaran gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Masvidal.
Masvidal is working for takedown but Aldebaran is calmly controlling the position for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Luis Aldebaran.
Well Aldebaran has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luis Aldebaran!