PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Aldo (ranked 18748 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liam McRae (ranked 3529 p4p, 0 weight class). McRae has chosen Justin Bieber ft. Ariana Grande - Let Me Think Bout You as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Aldo
vs
McRae

193 cm
33
174 lbs
5 - 14 - 1

185 cm
32
180 lbs
25 - 16 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Anderson Aldo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Liam McRae!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Kenichi Hosakawa and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aldo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from McRae.
McRae has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Aldo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McRae paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Aldo on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Aldo fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Aldo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Aldo takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
McRae dodges the punch combination from Aldo.
Aldo wants to clinch up but McRae keeps it at a distance.
A leg kick checked by McRae.
Aldo walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. McRae checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
McRae swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Aldo is looking to clinch.
McRae lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McRae checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Aldo attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Aldo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Aldo throws a big counter combination but McRae scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
McRae swats away the attempt to clinch by Aldo.
McRae throws a wild body kick that Aldo sees coming a mile off.
McRae avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McRae throws a nice outside leg kick.
McRae scores with a hook.
Aldo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
McRae scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
McRae punishes Aldo's body with a nice straight punch.
McRae throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Aldo appears to be looking for a big counter.
The fight stays on the outside here - Aldo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Aldo takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
McRae misses the jab.
McRae fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Aldo manages to avoid it.
Aldo tries to close the distance and clinch up but McRae swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McRae circles away from the clinch attempt.
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.
McRae scores with the left hand. Aldo knows he should have avoided that one.
Aldo tries to clinch up but McRae circles away and keeps his distance.
McRae swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
McRae misses with an uppercut. Aldo saw that one coming.
McRae swats away the attempt to clinch by Aldo.
A looping hook to the body misses from McRae. Aldo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Aldo is looking for a counter combo.
McRae tries a head kick but it misses.
It looked like Aldo was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Aldo is looking to clinch but McRae is avoiding it.
A head kick misses from McRae.
McRae misses with a wild body shot.
Aldo tries to clinch up.
McRae swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Aldo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Aldo tries a low kick but McRae avoids it.
Aldo throws a low kick but McRae moves out of range easily.
Aldo tries to close the distance and clinch but McRae swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Aldo tries to score with a low kick but McRae moves his leg out of the way.
A nice inside leg kick there by McRae. That's going to slow Aldo down.
An inside leg kick from McRae misses.
Aldo blocks a head kick by McRae.
Aldo tries to clinch but McRae moves out of range.
Anderson Aldo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aldo attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
McRae throws out a loose jab but Aldo uses good head movement to avoid it.
It looked like Aldo was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
McRae swats away the attempt to clinch by Aldo.
Aldo avoids the head kick by McRae.

McRae darts in and clinches Aldo up against the cage.
McRae lands with a right to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McRae escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Aldo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McRae paws at him with a jab and circles away.
McRae throws a sloppy head kick and Aldo moves out of range easily.
Aldo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Aldo throws a leg kick but McRae sees it coming and moves out of range.
McRae bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
McRae scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Aldo scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
McRae lands with a nice body punch.
Aldo is looking to clinch but McRae is avoiding it.
McRae connects with a good right hand that stumbles Aldo. Aldo circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Aldo swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting McRae counter with a right hand.
McRae avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Aldo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
McRae throws out a counter right but Aldo avoids it with no problem.
Aldo misses with a leg kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Aldo.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McRae throws a body punch but Aldo moves out of range.
McRae throws a sloppy head kick and Aldo moves out of range easily.
Aldo is looking to clinch.
Some bone on bone action there as McRae checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
McRae is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Aldo had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aldo is looking to clinch.
McRae checks a low kick from Aldo.
McRae keeps the fight on the outside.
Aldo slips a straight right by McRae.
McRae connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Aldo's hands.
A chopping leg kick lands by Aldo.
A low kick from Aldo is predictable there
and Aldo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Aldo darts in trying to clinch
and McRae counters with a low kick, right behind Aldo 's knee.
McRae scores with a hook.
Aldo throws a leg kick
and McRae counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Aldo moves to clinch but McRae breaks away
and McRae connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Aldo scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Aldo takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Aldo throws a series of punches but McRae moves out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from McRae! But no joy.
McRae tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Aldo was well out of range. Poor timing from McRae.
McRae lands with an uppercut that bounces Aldo off the cage and back into range.
Aldo on the wrong end of a nice hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Liam McRae dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Aldo motions for McRae to come forward. Aldo throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A chopping leg kick lands by Aldo.
McRae has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
McRae tests Aldo's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Aldo misses with a low kick.
McRae looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Aldo throws a low kick but McRae avoids it.
McRae thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Aldo if he has to take too many more of those.
Aldo tries to clinch but McRae is having none of it.
Aldo tries to clinch but McRae is having none of it.
McRae shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
McRae looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
McRae lands a body shot.
Aldo throws a nice outside leg kick.
McRae lands with a shot to the body.
Aldo pivots, looking for a leg kick but McRae is out of range and Aldo settles back down.
Aldo tries to clinch but McRae moves out of range.
Aldo tries a low kick but McRae avoids it.
Aldo misses with a low kick.
McRae throws a nice outside leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A nice inside leg kick there by McRae. That's going to slow Aldo down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McRae fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Aldo.
Aldo tries to work over McRae's front leg with a kick but McRae checks it.
McRae waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Aldo.
Aldo on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Liam McRae seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Aldo throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
McRae looks to land a right hand but Aldo moved out of range.
McRae avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Aldo throws a leg kick but McRae sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Anderson Aldo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McRae pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McRae looks to score with a jab to the body but Aldo is just out of range.
Aldo misses with a leg kick
and McRae counters with a nice leg kick.
McRae checks a low kick from Aldo.
Aldo tries to clinch but McRae moves out of range.
McRae chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Aldo can pounce on him.
McRae checks a low kick from Aldo.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
McRae takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
McRae lands a nice looking body kick.
Aldo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Aldo fails with an attempt to clinch.
McRae throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A looping hook to the body misses from McRae. Aldo does a little dance to reset his feet.
McRae keeps the fight on the outside.
Aldo with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Aldo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. McRae manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Aldo takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Aldo takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Aldo darts in trying to clinch
and McRae counters with a stiff right hand.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as McRae checks a leg kick.
Aldo throws a low kick but McRae moves out of range easily.
Aldo thows a leg kick but McRae checks it
and McRae counters with a nice body shot.
McRae slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Aldo tried to score with a low kick but McRae checks it.
McRae misses with a jab, cross combination.
Aldo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from McRae.
McRae clobbers Aldo with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Aldo wants to slow McRae down by chopping away at his legs.
McRae avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo misses with a low kick as McRae jumps back.
Aldo walks into a left hand.
McRae's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Aldo closes the distance but McRae moves to the side
and McRae connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
McRae just misses with a punch to the body.
Aldo moves to clinch but McRae breaks away
enabling McRae to counter with a crisp jab.
Aldo throws a nice looking combination but McRae bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Aldo wants to clinch
and McRae cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A big right from McRae misses.
Aldo moves out of range of the strikes.
A jab from McRae misses.
McRae checks a leg kick.
McRae loads up on a big right hand but Aldo slips the punch.
McRae checks a leg kick nicely.
McRae checks a leg kick.
McRae appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Aldo tries to clinch up.
Aldo stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from McRae.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McRae scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Aldo attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Aldo is looking to slow McRae down with leg kicks.
A shot to the liver by McRae. Beautiful body shot.
Aldo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Aldo looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Aldo throws a chopping leg kick but McRae manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Aldo checks a leg kick.
Aldo throws a big counter combination but McRae scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Aldo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. McRae manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
McRae motions for Aldo to come forward. McRae throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
McRae circles away from the clinch attempt.
Aldo throws a combination that misses

and McRae holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
McRae gets through Aldo's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
McRae lands with a right to the head.
McRae pushes Aldo back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
McRae lands with a short head shot on the inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aldo missing with knees to the body.
Aldo tries to land knees in the clinch but McRae avoids the damage to the body.
Aldo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from McRae.
Aldo takes a shot to the head.
Aldo trying to land knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Liam McRae 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 throws out a leg kick but McRae moves out of range and Aldo only half commits.
McRae swats away the attempt to clinch by Aldo.
McRae flicks out a counter leg kick but Aldo steps away.
Aldo tries to close the distance and clinch but McRae swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
McRae circles away from the clinch attempt.
McRae waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Aldo.
Aldo tries to clinch up but McRae circles away and keeps his distance.
McRae doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Aldo takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Aldo wants to slow McRae down by chopping away at his legs.
A little jabbing left from McRae on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Aldo wants to clinch.
Aldo takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A low kick from Aldo misses
and McRae counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Aldo thinking.
McRae throws a nice inside leg kick.
McRae's corner calls for a 1-2. McRae obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Aldo thumps McRae with a low kick.
Aldo thows a leg kick but McRae checks it
and Aldo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good leg kick by McRae there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Aldo tries to close the distance and clinch up but McRae swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McRae moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Good work by McRae as he checks the leg kick.
McRae scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
McRae circles away from the clinch attempt
letting McRae counter with a right hand.
Aldo tries to clinch up.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as McRae checks a leg kick.
McRae tries to counter by closing the distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Aldo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
McRae throws an overhand right that lands on Aldo's shoulder, as Aldo tries to avoid the shot.
Aldo fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and McRae has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
McRae attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Aldo moves to clinch but McRae breaks away
and McRae counters with a right hand to the body.
Aldo tries to close the distance and clinch but McRae swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
McRae fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aldo throws out a leg kick but McRae moves out of range and Aldo only half commits.
McRae appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Aldo doesn't manage to clinch there - McRae circles away.
Aldo closes the distance but McRae moves to the side
and McRae counters with a straight right hand.
Nice cross by McRae.
Aldo throws a leg kick that misses.
Aldo walks into a left hand.
The fight stays on the outside here - Aldo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Aldo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McRae paws at him with a jab and circles away.
McRae throws a counter combo.
Some wild striking there from Aldo.
A nice inside leg kick there by McRae. That's going to slow Aldo down.
McRae throws a hook to the side of Aldo's head but Aldo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Aldo appears to be looking for a big counter.
Aldo tries to clinch but fails miserably
and McRae counters with a left to the body.
McRae bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Aldo's head.
McRae misses with a low kick as Aldo jumps back.
McRae looks to score with a jab to the body but Aldo is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McRae paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Aldo throws a nice outside leg kick.
Aldo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
McRae lands a front kick.
Aldo shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Aldo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Aldo throws a leg kick that misses.
Aldo takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
McRae's corner calls for a 1-2. McRae obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
McRae pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Aldo seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
McRae throws a low kick, looking for Aldo's leg but Aldo calmly moves out of range.
Aldo throws a left and a right that both miss
and McRae connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Aldo wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aldo walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Aldo tries to close the distance and clinch but McRae swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
McRae blocks a leg kick.
McRae throws a leg kick but Aldo sees it coming and moves out of range.
McRae throws a head kick but Aldo moves out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Aldo takes one on the button.
McRae lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
McRae attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
McRae misses with a few strikes there.
Aldo wants to clinch.
McRae misses with a few strikes there.
Aldo chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before McRae can pounce on him.
McRae swats away the attempt to clinch by Aldo.
Anderson Aldo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McRae jabbing away but nothing is landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Liam McRae comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McRae 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Liam McRae!
Liam McRae seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.