PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jose Aldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cobalt Khalil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Khalil is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by The Hives - Walk Idiot Walk. Jose Aldo could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Cobalt Khalil's chin.

Aldo
vs
Khalil

180 cm
27
145 lbs
7 - 6 - 1

173 cm
26
143 lbs
3 - 0 - 1

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

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 7 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jose Aldo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cobalt Khalil!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Mauricio Rocha and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Khalil as Aldo shoots in.
Jose Aldo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aldo takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Khalil shoots in but no luck this time.

Khalil manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Aldo on his heels. He'll look to pass Aldo's guard now, I'm sure.
Aldo really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Aldo wants to sweep but no luck.
Khalil is stalling in the full guard.

Aldo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Aldo doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Aldo working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Khalil has passed into half guard!
Aldo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Khalil is working away from the top position though.
Aldo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Aldo tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalil scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Khalil is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Aldo gets full guard.
Khalil trying to control but Aldo is working from the bottom.
Khalil throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Khalil avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Aldo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Khalil controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Aldo keeping moving, preventing Khalil from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Aldo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Khalil tries to avoid it but Aldo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Khalil to the ground. Khalil escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Aldo gets caught flat footed, as Khalil shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Khalil postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Aldo keeping moving, preventing Khalil from controlling successfully.
Khalil stands up over Aldo, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Khalil is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Khalil controls the pace.
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.
Khalil distracts Aldo with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Khalil trying to control the position from guard on top but Aldo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Khalil missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Khalil throws a big right hand that misses.
Aldo throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Khalil throws a series of punches but Aldo moves out of range.
Khalil punishes Aldo's body with a nice straight punch.
Khalil misses with a wild combination.

Khalil clinches with his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aldo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Khalil is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jose Aldo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Aldo tries to pull guard but Khalil holds him up against the ropes and eventually Aldo drops back down to his feet.
Aldo has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Khalil after a bit of a struggle.
Aldo letting Khalil take a breather here.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Khalil drags the fight down to the ground.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aldo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Aldo wants to control from the top but Khalil keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cobalt Khalil dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Aldo leaves Khalil with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Aldo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Khalil.
The fight stays on the outside here - Khalil looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Khalil closes this distance looking for a takedown but Aldo circles away.
Aldo has his takedown stuffed
and Khalil counters with a two punch combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Khalil shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Khalil showed some decent athleticism there.
Cobalt Khalil has got the better of the ground game so far.
Aldo trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalil stops Aldo from getting back to his feet.
Khalil looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Aldo wants to control but Khalil is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Khalil missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Khalil not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Aldo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Khalil is working away from the top position though.
Aldo moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Khalil working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Aldo's head.
Khalil has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Khalil postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Khalil wants to control from the top but Aldo keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Aldo tries to close the distance and clinch but Khalil swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Khalil lands a jab.

Aldo tries to sprawl but Khalil drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Khalil throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Aldo trying to hold on to Khalil's head to control him but Khalil postures up.
Khalil with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Khalil lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalil takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Aldo wants to control but Khalil is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Aldo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Khalil is looking to take a break and control but Aldo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Aldo tries to kick Khalil off but Khalil keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

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.

Khalil gets a takedown into half guard.
Khalil scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Khalil scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Khalil throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Khalil drops an elbow to the side of Aldo's head.
Aldo is trying to maintain the position but Khalil is very close to passing his half guard.
Aldo wants to improve his position but Khalil is controlling well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Aldo actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cobalt Khalil showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Aldo misses with a body shot
and Khalil makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Khalil displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Aldo.
Aldo tries to clinch but Khalil moves out of range.

Khalil pushes Aldo up against the ropes in a clinch.
Khalil on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Aldo has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Khalil pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khalil tries to clinch but Aldo moves out of range.

Aldo shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Aldo showed some decent athleticism there.
Khalil is refusing to be controlled, as Aldo sits in half guard.
Khalil felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalil trying to control but Aldo postures up.
Aldo stops Khalil from getting back to his feet.
Khalil keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

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

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.

Khalil manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Khalil throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Aldo tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Khalil manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Khalil looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Khalil lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Jose Aldo has been cut.
Khalil lands a nice hook to Aldo's body. Aldo takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Khalil moves in looking to clinch but Aldo pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo throws a sloppy head kick and Khalil moves out of range easily.
Aldo moves in looking to clinch but Khalil pushes him off.

Khalil throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Aldo tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Khalil is in Aldo's guard.
Aldo controls Khalil momentarily but Khalil frees himself.
Khalil trying to control the position from guard on top but Aldo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Khalil is working Aldo over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Khalil trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Aldo is trying to control the position but Khalil postures up.
Cobalt Khalil is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khalil postures up and lands a big shot to Aldo's brow.
Khalil trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Khalil throws a right and a left that both miss.

Aldo gets a double leg takedown into Khalil's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Khalil is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Aldo is controlling him.
Aldo wants to stand but Khalil is controlling his posture from full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cobalt Khalil comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Khalil has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cobalt Khalil!
A determined Cobalt Khalil didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!