PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jose Aldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Conner Steven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Aldo
vs
Steven

170 cm
25
158 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

165 cm
22
150 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

[CBK] LEGAL HIGHS « ↑ TRIPLE 160Q ®

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jose Aldo !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Conner Steven!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Bruno Hogan and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aldo shoots for a takedown but Steven saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Conner Steven seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aldo shoots for a double leg takedown but Steven sprawls well. He's pushed Aldo 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Steven lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

It looks like Jose Aldo has been cut.

Steven scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Aldo trying to hold on to Steven's head to control him but Steven postures up.

We're going to have a standup here because Jose Aldo wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Aldo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Steven gets a takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo trying to control here.
Aldo is trying is best to control the position here.
Steven is looking to advance position but Aldo won't allow it.
Aldo holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Steven blocks the strikes from Aldo .
Aldo is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Steven's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Steven's back!
Steven is covering up but some of the strikes from Aldo are getting through and doing damage.
Aldo doesn't have the hooks in and Steven manages to turn into his guard.

Aldo pushes Steven off and scrambles back to his feet.
Aldo fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jose Aldo . That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steven misses with a takedown attempt - Aldo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Steven displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Aldo .
Steven fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Horrible takedown by Steven or perhaps it was just good defense by Aldo which made him look bad.
Steven fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Steven looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Aldo gets the takedown into side control.
Steven takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Aldo goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Steven has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Aldo but great work by Steven.
Steven working away.
Aldo tries to bench press Steven off him but Steven keeps the position.
Aldo 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.
Aldo wants to get back to his feet but Steven drags him back down.
Aldo tries to bench press Steven off him but Steven keeps the position.
Aldo is trying to control Steven's posture but Steven avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aldo tries to escape but Steven is in control.

Steven stands up and we're back to a striking position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Steven changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Aldo tries to avoid it but Steven manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Aldo to the ground. Aldo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Steven enables Aldo to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Steven manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Aldo is working Steven over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Aldo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Steven is keeping the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Aldo drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Steven manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Aldo has Steven in his guard.
Aldo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
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 Jose Aldo 's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Steven throws a right and a left that both miss.
Aldo shoots in for a takedown but Steven shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Aldo feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Aldo throws a big elbow that misses.
Aldo trying to control the position from guard on top but Steven is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Steven is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Aldo tries to free his leg and advance position but Steven is retaining full guard.
Aldo connects with a couple of short punches.
Aldo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Aldo postures up and lands a big shot to Steven's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Steven avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Aldo wants to control from the top but Steven keeps moving.
Aldo throws an elbow that misses. Steven uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Aldo 's guard. Nice move by Steven!
Aldo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Steven trying to control the position from guard on top but Aldo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Aldo holds on and takes a little breather.

Aldo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Steven can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Aldo will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aldo working a defensive guard here.

Aldo uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Steven darts in and clinches Aldo up against the cage.

Steven pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Aldo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Steven circles away quickly and effectively.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Aldo .

Steven darts in and clinches Aldo up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo avoiding damage as Steven throws knees to the body.
Steven misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Aldo .

Steven pulls guard.
Steven throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
Steven trying to strike off his back.
Aldo lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Steven keeping moving, preventing Aldo from controlling successfully.
Aldo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Aldo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Aldo working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Steven's head.
Aldo lands a couple of digs.
Aldo advances to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aldo wants to control but Steven is keeping him busy.
Steven taking some punishment here, with Aldo in his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aldo lands with a punch from half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Steven wants to get back to his feet.
Steven is breathing heavily.

Aldo is working for a kimura but Steven is defending it quite comfortably.
Aldo prevents Steven from improving his position.
Ground and pound from Aldo .
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aldo lands strikes from half guard.
Aldo trying to control from half guard but Steven is working away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aldo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Aldo dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jose Aldo '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. This is the final round!

Aldo slaps away a takedown attempt from Steven, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Steven dives in and grabs Aldo 's left leg, looking for a takedown. Aldo pushes down on Steven's head and hops out.
Aldo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Steven wants to clinch up but Aldo keeps it at a distance.
Steven misses with a takedown

and Aldo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Steven won't be happy with that.
Jose Aldo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Conner Steven.
Aldo working away.
Steven takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Aldo swings around for an armbar but Steven sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Aldo 's guard.
Aldo controls Steven momentarily but Steven frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steven being controlled here momentarily.
Aldo wants to get back to his feet but Steven is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Steven wants to stand but Aldo is controlling his posture from full guard.
Aldo has his hands on Steven's head, controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jose Aldo just wasn't active enough.
Aldo shoots in but Steven avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aldo manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Steven on his heels. He'll look to pass Steven's guard now, I'm sure.
Aldo is looking to work some ground and pound but Steven has wrist control.
Aldo passes Steven's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Aldo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Steven keeps working.
Steven avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Aldo .
Aldo takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Steven taking some punishment here, with Aldo in his half guard.
Jose Aldo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Aldo is keen to just control but Steven is a slippery customer.
Steven trying to control here.
Aldo trying to control from half guard but Steven is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Aldo slips a nice elbow through Steven's hands, connecting with Steven's forehead.
Aldo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Steven does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Aldo scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Aldo wants to free his trapped foot but Steven is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Steven has hold of Aldo 's hands but Aldo slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Aldo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Steven keeps working.
Aldo lands with a punch from half guard.
Aldo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Steven's head.
Conner Steven has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steven punching from the bottom.
Steven flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Steven taking some punishment here, with Aldo in his half guard.
Aldo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Steven on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Aldo lands a nice short elbow.
Aldo slips a nice elbow through Steven's hands, connecting with Steven's forehead.
Steven trying to control here.
Steven wants to improve his position but Aldo is controlling well.
Aldo is looking to stall here but Steven recovers full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aldo lands a couple of elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jose Aldo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Aldo , winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jose Aldo !
Jose Aldo decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.