PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Alard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sandy Soto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Soto is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by WASP - Wild Child. Sandy Soto will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Alard
vs
Soto

187 cm
36
187 lbs
14 - 19 - 0

190 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Aaron Alard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sandy Soto!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Aafke Stam and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Soto throws a wild body kick that Alard sees coming a mile off.
Soto throws a combination that misses
and Alard counters with a right hand to the body.
Soto tries to close the distance and clinch up but Alard swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Soto throws a series of punches but Alard avoids them all with ease.

Soto darts in and clinches Alard up against the ropes.

Alard is trying to trip Soto. He has hold of a leg but Soto is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Alard persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Alard landing some decent shots from guard.
Soto is looking to stand up but Alard isn't so interested in that idea.
Soto keeping moving, preventing Alard from controlling successfully.
Alard 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.
Soto looking to hit a scissor sweep but Alard is one step ahead there.
Alard has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

Soto had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Alard defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soto wants to get back to his feet but Alard is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Alard wants to control from the top but Soto keeps moving.
Soto keeping full guard, as Alard tries to pass.
Alard trying to control but Soto is working from the bottom.
Alard stopping the sweep attempt from Soto.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alard lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Soto is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Alard is controlling him.

Alard 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.

Soto is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Alard postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Soto is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Alard, into his guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Alard lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Soto!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soto is trying desperately to improve position.
Soto bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Soto trying to control but Alard is working from the bottom.
Soto in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Alard bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Soto's guard.
Alard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Alard missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Soto working for submissions but it's allowed Alard to get to half guard.
Alard thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Alard is looking for a kimura here.
Soto tries to kick Alard off but Alard keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Alard is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Soto doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Alard.
Soto is pressing down on Alard's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Aaron Alard will probably get the nod.
That's time! Alard's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Alard fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Soto to the ground. Alard is now in Soto's guard.
Alard with a flurry of punches that miss.
Alard works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Alard is looking to advance position but Soto won't allow it.
Alard content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Alard is looking for a kimura here.
Alard not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soto regains full guard. Nicely done.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Soto trying to control the position.
Soto has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Soto keeping moving, preventing Alard from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Soto is on top in guard.

Alard had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Soto defends it easily.
Soto tries to stand but Alard is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soto throwing strikes but missing.
Alard has a closed guard, preventing Soto from standing up.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Alard is looking for a triangle but Soto pushes his legs off easily.
My spies in Johny Fighting Temple inform me that Soto has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Soto trying to control the position from guard on top but Alard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Alard looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Soto passes into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Soto controlling the pace.
Soto not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Soto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Alard keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soto wants to pass to mount but Alard is defending the position.

Alard looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Soto wants to stand but Alard has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Alard gets full guard.
Soto wants to control from the top but Alard keeps moving.

Alard is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Soto defends well.

Alard looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Alard keeping full guard, as Soto tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soto trying to control but Alard is working from the bottom.
Soto must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Alard keeping full guard, as Soto tries to pass.

Sandy Soto has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Alard shoots in and bounces Soto off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Soto wants to stand but Alard is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Alard dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Alard checks the leg kick nicely there.
Soto tries to close the distance and clinch up but Alard swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Soto will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Soto lands a nice looking body kick.
Soto throws a head kick but Alard moves out of range.

Alard gets a double leg takedown into Soto's guard.
Soto trying to control the position.
Alard not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Alard wants to control from the top but Soto keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soto is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Alard forces his way into half guard.
Alard scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Alard thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Soto is looking to improve his position.

Alard is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Soto doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Alard.
Soto is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soto tries to kick Alard off in order to stand up. Alard Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Alard working the body and head with strikes.

Alard is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Soto knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Alard scores with punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alard wants to control but Soto is keeping him busy.
Soto looking for a sweep but Alard has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Alard landing punches.
Alard scoring with strikes but Soto is staying in there.
Alard trying to control but Soto is having none of it.
Alard connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Soto is rocked!

Alard has hold of Soto's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Soto manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Soto is still in real trouble! Can Alard finish him?
Soto is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Alard is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Soto is surviving well by controlling Alard's body position as best he can.
Alard cracks Soto with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Soto is trying to escape the mount.
A big strike lands for Alard! That's really hurt Soto and he's turned his back - Alard keeps firing away and the ref dives in to stop the fight! Alard jumps to his feet to celebrate the victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:48 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Aaron Alard!