PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jose Aldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Apache Tagalog (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Apache Tagalog has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Aldo
vs
Tagalog

178 cm
25
150 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

177 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Solid 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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jose Aldo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Apache Tagalog!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Bruno Lombardi and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tagalog keeps the fight on the outside.
Aldo lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Aldo comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A head kick misses from Aldo.
Nice takedown defense from Aldo. No joy for Tagalog on that attempt.
Aldo lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Aldo.
Tagalog walks into a stiff left hand from Aldo.
Aldo lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Aldo lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Tagalog tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Aldo tests Tagalog's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A head kick by Aldo misses
and Tagalog counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Aldo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Aldo scores with a three punch combo!
Tagalog slips a jab and a cross from Aldo.
Aldo lands a right hook to the body.
Aldo misses with a few strikes there.

Tagalog gets a clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tagalog is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Aldo is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tagalog lands a knee to the body.
Tagalog lands a nice knee to the body.
Tagalog using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Tagalog putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Aldo in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Tagalog pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Tagalog changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Aldo looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Tagalog decides to stand back up. Tagalog steps back and let's Aldo get back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tagalog throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tagalog tries to close the distance and clinch but Aldo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Tagalog lands a good knee to the midsection. Aldo won't want to take too many of those.

Tagalog pulls guard effortlessly.
Aldo is fighting to break Tagalog's control of his arms but Tagalog is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Aldo is looking to stand up but Tagalog won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aldo throws a strike but Tagalog rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Aldo is working an open guard so Tagalog takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Tagalog ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Tagalog no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Aldo wants to get up but he can't break Tagalog's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tagalog is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aldo is looking to work some ground and pound but Tagalog has wrist control.
Tagalog looking to hit a scissor sweep but Aldo is one step ahead there.
Tagalog is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Aldo is controlling him.
Tagalog managing to control the 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.
Tagalog avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tagalog pulls Aldo in close to his closed guard and prevents Aldo from doing any damage or advancing position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aldo wants to stand and escape but instead Tagalog has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tagalog scores with a takedown into Aldo's guard.

Tagalog gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Aldo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Aldo thows a leg kick but Tagalog checks it

and Tagalog counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Tagalog.
Tagalog lands a knee to the body.

Tagalog manages to break the clinch.

Tagalog closes the distance and clinches.
Tagalog landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Tagalog landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Tagalog pulls guard effortlessly.

Tagalog is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tagalog putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Aldo in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Tagalog working Aldo over with knees to the body.
Tagalog lands a good knee to the midsection. Aldo won't want to take too many of those.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tagalog unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Tagalog manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Aldo wants to stand but Tagalog is controlling his posture from full guard.
Tagalog keeping moving, preventing Aldo from controlling successfully.
Tagalog has his hands on Aldo's head, controlling the position.

That's two 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.
Aldo trying to control but Tagalog is working from the bottom.
Tagalog has his hands on Aldo's head, controlling the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Aldo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tagalog is trying to control the position but Aldo postures up.
Aldo has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Tagalog is proving hard to escape from.
Tagalog tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Aldo throwing strikes but missing.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Tagalog lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

It looks like Jose Aldo has been cut.
Tagalog throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Aldo's head.
Jose Aldo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tagalog throws a nice looking combination but Aldo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tagalog clinches up against the cage.
Tagalog lands a nice knee to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Tagalog.

Tagalog jumps into guard, dragging Aldo to the mat.
Aldo postures up in Tagalog's guard and throws a big left but Tagalog blocks it.
Aldo trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Tagalog manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Aldo trying to control the position.
Tagalog must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Tagalog wants to get up but he can't break Aldo's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Apache Tagalog showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jose Aldo's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Tagalog is looking to clinch but Aldo is avoiding it.
Aldo throws a leg kick

and Tagalog counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Aldo!
Aldo is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Tagalog content just to control the position here.
Tagalog really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Aldo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Aldo wants to control but Tagalog is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo working to try and regain half guard.
Aldo wants to hold on but Tagalog pushes him away.
Aldo tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two 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.
Tagalog controlling the position easily from mount.
Aldo wants to get back to his feet.

Tagalog stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tagalog rushes Aldo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Tagalog decides to pull guard.
Aldo trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Tagalog manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Tagalog stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Tagalog misses with the combination.
Tagalog doesn't manage to clinch there - Aldo circles away.
Tagalog tries to close the distance and clinch but Aldo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tagalog has Aldo up against the cage in a clinch.
Tagalog is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Tagalog working Aldo over with knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Tagalog.
Apache Tagalog seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Aldo looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Aldo looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Aldo takes a knee to the side of the body.
Tagalog blocks a body shot from Aldo.
Tagalog crunches a lovely knee into Aldo's ribcage.
Apache Tagalog is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Aldo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Aldo is trying to break free.

Tagalog successfully pulls guard.
Aldo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tagalog is pulling down on Aldo's head to control his posture.
Tagalog's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

And that's the end of the fight!
Apache Tagalog comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Tagalog 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 26:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 25:30
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Apache Tagalog!