PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sofoklis Aristotelis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lee Ho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lee Ho has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Aristotelis
vs
Ho

225 cm
24
265 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

194 cm
22
285 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sofoklis Aristotelis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lee Ho!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Alan Glass and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ho's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Aristotelis connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Ho scrambles back to his feet.
Aristotelis misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
It seemed like Ho was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Aristotelis closes the distance and clinches.
I was talking to Aristotelis's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Ho tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ho makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Ho misses with the head strike.
Ho's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Ho lands a body shot.
Aristotelis creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A short body shot lands from Ho as the two fighters clinch.
Ho throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Aristoteliss head.
Aristotelis lands an uppercut.
Ho stalling in the clinch but Aristotelis improves position.
Ho dodges an elbow strike from Aristotelis.
Ho blocks the elbow strike.
Ho lands an uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ho is trying to maintain a safe position but Aristotelis gets an underhook and turns Ho into the cage.
Ho wants to take the fight to the mat but Aristotelis manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Ho pushes Aristotelis back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Aristotelis is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ho lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ho misses with some punches.
Aristotelis prevents a body shot from Ho.
A body shot lands from Ho.
Aristotelis throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Ho.
Aristotelis tries a body shot but Ho blocks it.
Ho tries to work over Aristotelis's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ho.
Aristotelis pushes Ho back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ho lands an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Ho fails to land.
Aristotelis really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
A head punch on the inside from Aristotelis fails to land.
Aristotelis tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A nice left hand lands by Aristotelis.
Aristotelis lands an elbow that stopped Ho in his tracks for a moment.
Ho throws a punch but it's blocked by Aristotelis.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Ho slowing the pace effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aristotelis gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Lee Ho has been cut.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ho content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Ho avoids a wild elbow strike from Aristotelis.
Ho scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Ho is looking for a takedown.
Aristotelis blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Aristotelis lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Aristotelis creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Ho trying to control the position but instead, Aristotelis has worked for underhooks and has pushed Ho into the cage.
Ho throws a head punch that misses.
Ho tries to throw a body punch but Aristotelis avoids it by throwing Ho back against the cage.
Ho swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ho lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Aristotelis blocks an uppercut.
Ho is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Aristotelis is defending well.
Sofoklis Aristotelis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lee Ho.
Ho trying to stall but Aristotelis improves his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ho takes an elbow to the forehead.
Aristotelis blocks a body shot from Ho.
Ho misses with a hook from the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Aristotelis just misses with a elbow thrown towards Ho's brow.
Aristotelis fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Aristotelis misses with an elbow strike.
Ho fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ho misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ho goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ho can't get the takedown.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Aristotelis.
Aristotelis tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ho's elbow.

Aristotelis is fighting off a takedown attempt but Ho is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Aristotelis to the mat. Aristotelis regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Aristotelis will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ho stops Aristotelis from standing up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ho accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ho is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Aristotelis has his feet on Ho's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Aristotelis misses the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aristotelis wants to clinch
and Ho counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Ho scores with a jab to the head.
Aristotelis throws a sloppy head kick
and Ho counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Aristotelis is looking to clinch but Ho is avoiding it.
Aristotelis misses with a body punch
and Ho counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Aristotelis misses with an uppercut
letting Ho counter with a right hand.

Aristotelis is rocked!
Aristotelis is looking to land body kicks.
Aristotelis moves in looking to clinch but Ho pushes him off.
The fighters circling - Ho throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Aristotelis rushes Ho and presses him up against the cage.
Aristotelis throws a punch but it's blocked by Ho.
A nice left hand lands by Aristotelis.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lee Ho will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Lee Ho's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ho keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Ho dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Good standup being displayed there by Aristotelis as he connects with a hook.
Ho misses with a straight right.
Aristotelis throws a leg kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Aristotelis connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Ho, right into the meat.

Ho shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Aristotelis napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Ho misses with the ground and pound.
Ho working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Aristotelis wants to get back to his feet but Ho drags him back down.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ho misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Ho is chipping away with strikes.
Ho lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ho tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Aristotelis explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Aristotelis connects with an inside leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Aristotelis looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ho thinks about the counter body kick.
Lee Ho seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Aristotelis tries to clinch up.

Ho decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Aristotelis is trying to stand.
Ho looks to land a strike but Aristotelis avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Ho prevents Aristotelis from getting back to his feet.
Lee Ho has got the better of the ground game so far.
Aristotelis avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ho trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Aristotelis wants to stand and escape but Ho is having none of it.
Ho postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Aristotelis has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ho blocks a body shot from Aristotelis.
Ho goes for a takedown in the clinch but Aristotelis prevents it.
Ho is looking to take this one to the mat.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Aristotelis.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A nice right hand lands inside from Ho.
Aristotelis's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Aristotelis tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ho's elbow.
A short right from Ho on the inside.
Aristotelis misses with a punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ho wants a takedown.
Sofoklis Aristotelis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lee Ho.
Ho misses with a body punch.
Ho has a couple of punches blocked by Aristotelis.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ho.
Lee Ho seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Aristotelis misses with a body punch.
Aristotelis lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ho backwards.
Ho lands a body punch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ho has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Aristotelis after a bit of a struggle.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Aristotelis.
Ho can't find room to land a body shot as Aristotelis controls the action.
Ho misses with a punch to the body.
Aristotelis blocks an uppercut.
Ho lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Aristotelis misses with some punches.
Ho is pushing Aristotelis up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Aristotelis scores with a shot to the side of Ho's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aristotelis tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ho misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ho lands with a right to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Aristotelis.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ho avoids the elbow strike from Aristotelis, against the cage.
Ho is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Aristotelis gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Aristotelis lands a damaging elbow.
Ho misses with a punch on the inside.
Aristotelis pushes off an throws an elbow but Ho leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Aristotelis throws an elbow that misses.
Aristotelis gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Aristotelis lands with a left to the head.
Ho blocks an elbow strike.
Aristotelis creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Aristotelis throws an elbow but misses.
Ho working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A short right from Aristotelis.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Sofoklis Aristotelis will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Lee Ho'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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Aristotelis turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Ho takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Ho slips under a jab.
Aristotelis dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Ho. That did some damage!
Ho loads up on a big right hand but Aristotelis slips the punch.
Aristotelis seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Aristotelis's corner calls for a 1-2. Aristotelis obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Ho lands a high kick!
Ho is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Aristotelis.
Aristotelis tries to clinch but Ho is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aristotelis wants to clinch up but Ho keeps it at a distance.
Ho wants to counter with a clinch but Aristotelis pushes him away.
Aristotelis slips a jab from Ho.
Aristotelis loads up on a big right hand but Ho slips the punch.
Ho circles away from the clinch attempt
and Ho counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aristotelis fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ho lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Aristotelis tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ho manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
As Aristotelis backs off Ho throws a huge counter combo but Aristotelis manages to avoid it all.
A swing and a miss from Ho.

Aristotelis rushes Ho and presses him up against the cage.
Ho taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Ho is working for takedown but Aristotelis is calmly controlling the position for now.
Ho blocks the elbow strike.
Ho tries to work over Aristotelis's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nice elbow from Aristotelis.
A short left from Ho.
Aristotelis has a couple of punches blocked by Ho.
A short right from Aristotelis.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ho gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Aristotelis regains guard.
Aristotelis preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ho with a nice head shot there.
Ho slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ho throwing strikes but Aristotelis manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Ho tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ho keeping his opponent close.
Ho 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.

Aristotelis decides to stand back up.
Aristotelis throws a body shot but no joy.
Ho was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
The fight stays on the outside here - Aristotelis looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aristotelis cracks a nice hook into Ho's ribs.
Aristotelis jabs Ho to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A low kick from Aristotelis is predictable there
and Ho counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Ho looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Aristotelis is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Aristotelis.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A hook to the body from Ho.
Ho swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ho is looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aristotelis takes a shot to the head.
Aristotelis throws a punch but it's blocked by Ho.
Ho misses with a body punch.
Ho lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Ho lands a takedown into guard.
Ho takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ho throws an elbow that misses. Aristotelis uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ho's guard. Nice move by Aristotelis!
Ho lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Ho won't allow Aristotelis to get back to his feet.
Ho missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ho prevents Aristotelis from getting back to his feet.
Ho is working Aristotelis over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Lee Ho.
I think Ho has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Lee Ho!
Sofoklis Aristotelis was interviewed post fight and said 'He's a good fighter, I need to go back to the gym and work on some things. My fans can expect a win next time!'.