PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Steven Semenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Aldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Semenko's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Sure Fire Winners. Steven Semenko has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Semenko
vs
Aldo

150 cm
24
145 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

170 cm
20
145 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Steven Semenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jose Aldo!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Yves DeLean and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Aldo tries to keep at a distance but Semenko has taken the fight into the clinch.

Semenko lands a takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Aldo is looking to stand up but Semenko isn't so interested in that idea.
Semenko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Aldo is keeping the position for now.
Semenko won't allow Aldo to sweep him here.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Semenko's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Semenko thows a big elbow that misses.
Aldo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Semenko working some strikes from top position.
Semenko landing some decent shots from guard.
Aldo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Semenko landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Semenko is one step ahead there.
Semenko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Semenko with a flurry of punches that miss.
Semenko trying to control but Aldo is working from the bottom.
Semenko is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Aldo is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Semenko's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Aldo is pulling down on Semenko's head to control his posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Semenko loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Semenko fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Aldo takes a kick to the side of the head.
Aldo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jose Aldo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Aldo closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Steven Semenko has been cut.
Semenko shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Some bone on bone action there as Aldo checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Aldo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Semenko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Aldo.
Semenko looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Aldo is fending him off so far but Semenko persists. Nope, Aldo circles away and we're back to standing.
Aldo lands a jab to Semenko's midsection.
Semenko is breathing heavily.
Semenko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Aldo.
Aldo connects with a looping right hand.
Semenko takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Aldo misses with the combination.
Aldo looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aldo gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aldo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Semenko looking to sit in guard and control but Aldo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Aldo is stalling in the full guard.
Aldo trying to control the position from guard on top but Semenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Semenko keeping full guard, as Aldo tries to pass.
Aldo controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Semenko 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.
Semenko wants to sweep here but Aldo controlling him for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Semenko wants to control but Aldo passes easily into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Aldo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Steven Semenko's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Aldo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Semenko.
A head kick misses from Aldo.
Semenko fails with a takedown attempt.
Semenko shoots for a double leg takedown but Aldo sprawls well. He's pushed Semenko's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Aldo scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Semenko on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Aldo throws a wild body kick that Semenko sees coming a mile off.
Aldo misses with a kick to the body.
Aldo throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Aldo throws a head kick that Semenko semi-blocks.
Aldo misses with a double jab.
Semenko has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steven Semenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Aldo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Semenko fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Aldo lands with a nice combination. Semenko backs away looking to recover.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo throws a leg kick but Semenko sees it coming and moves out of range.
Semenko dodges the punch combination from Aldo.
Jose Aldo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Aldo misses with a double jab.
Aldo is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Aldo swinging wildly here.
Aldo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Steven Semenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Aldo lands with a nice combination. Semenko backs away looking to recover.
Aldo throws a series of punches but Semenko avoids them all with ease.
Semenko looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Aldo scores with a one two! Semenko had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Aldo lands a head shot.
Semenko fails with a takedown attempt.
Aldo with a nice cross.
Aldo cracks Semenko with a right hand to the side of the head.
Semenko showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Aldo.
Semenko avoids the head kick by Aldo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Semenko gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Semenko misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Aldo.

Semenko pulls guard.

Semenko looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Aldo slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Semenko.
Semenko trying to hold on to Aldo's head to control him but Aldo postures up.
Semenko trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Semenko wants to control but Aldo is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo controlling the pace for now.
Aldo's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Aldo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Semenko is looking to escape.
Aldo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Semenko has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Aldo prevents Semenko from getting the reversal.
Semenko is squirming around, avoiding Aldo's attempts to control the action.
Aldo is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Semenko is working to get back to half guard.
Aldo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Semenko is looking to escape.
Semenko gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Aldo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Steven Semenko's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Semenko tries to clinch but Aldo is having none of it.
Aldo tries a head kick but it misses.
Aldo throws a combination. Semenko tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Semenko scores a takedown into full mount!
Aldo blocking the ground and pound.
Aldo tries to hold on but Semenko pushes him away.
Semenko lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Aldo trying desperately to get to his feet.
Aldo is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Aldo is working to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Aldo is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
BOOM! Semenko connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Semenko is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Semenko is looking to take a break and control but Aldo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Aldo is trying to stand.

Aldo kicks off Semenko and gets to his feet.

Semenko moves into the clinch.
Aldo wants to get back to striking at distance but Semenko won't allow it.
Aldo prevents the takedown attempt.
Semenko misses with an elbow over the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Semenko has Aldo pressed against the cage, preventing Aldo from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Semenko tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Aldo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Semenko keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Aldo's efforts to push away.
Aldo wants to break the clinch but can't.
Aldo is looking to break free of the clinch but Semenko has double underhooks.
Semenko keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Aldo's efforts to push away.
Aldo letting Semenko take a breather here.
Aldo tries to break the clinch but Semenko is controlling the position.
Aldo is trying to force a seperation but Semenko has the dominant position.
Semenko drops down looking for an ankle pick but Aldo pulls his leg out and moves away.
Steven Semenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steven Semenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Aldo lands with a slapping head kick.
Aldo has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo scores with a nice right hand.
Aldo fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Semenko on the side of the head.

Aldo gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Semenko to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Semenko throws and elbow that misses. Aldo uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Semenko's guard. Nice move by Aldo!
Aldo is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Aldo gets to his feet. Semenko looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Horrible takedown by Semenko or perhaps it was just good defense by Aldo which made him look bad.
Aldo lands a lovely overhand right.
A nice combination there by Aldo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Semenko takes a kick to the side of the head.
The crowd cheers as Aldo lands an impressive looking overhand right. Semenko doesn't seem phased though.
Aldo works over Semenko's head and body with a nice combination.
Aldo throws an overhand right that lands on Semenko's shoulder, as Semenko tries to avoid the shot.
No luck for Semenko with that takedown attempt.
Aldo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Aldo tries a head kick but it misses.
Semenko avoids a punch combination nicely.
Aldo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Semenko shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Semenko was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Semenko throwing strikes but Aldo uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Jose Aldo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ground and pound from Semenko.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Jose Aldo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Aldo winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jose Aldo!