PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Monroe (ranked 2909 p4p, 276 weight class) and Jalaluddin Aziz (ranked 3471 p4p, 315 weight class). Monroe's entrance music is Deep Ocean - Island drumming. A fine choice. Aziz has chosen Dalshar Project - Afghan Rastaman as his entrance music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Monroe
vs
Aziz

166 cm
40
149 lbs
30 - 26 - 2

177 cm
33
158 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Big Chief Nutrition & Laundry Services (80%)
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 26 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Ricky Monroe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jalaluddin Aziz!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aziz slips a straight right by Monroe.

Aziz scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Aziz wants to stand but Monroe is controlling his arm.

Aziz tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Monroe is looking for a sweep.
Monroe is working hard here to advance position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Monroe is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Aziz's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monroe wants to get back to full guard.
Aziz controlling the action here.
Let's hope that Aziz has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Monroe wants to get back to full guard.
Aziz thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Aziz perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Aziz wants to take a breather but Monroe is having none of it.
Monroe wants to get back to full guard.
Aziz stalling.
Aziz seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Aziz has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Aziz moves away from the strike by Monroe.
Ricky Monroe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Aziz closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Still in half guard, Aziz seems content to control.
Monroe moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Aziz is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Monroe working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aziz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Monroe swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Aziz pushing down on Monroe's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Aziz works his way into side control.
Aziz trying to control the position but Monroe is working away.
An elbow from Aziz crashes against the mat.
Monroe is not content to let Aziz control the position.
Monroe gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monroe is looking to control Aziz's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Monroe avoid being mounted?
Monroe makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Monroe.
Monroe keeping moving, preventing Aziz from controlling successfully.
Monroe trying to control the position.
Monroe tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Monroe can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Aziz controls the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jalaluddin Aziz dominated that round.
That's time! Monroe's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Aziz swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Monroe swings widly with a right hand

and Aziz holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Monroe gets underhooks to prevent Aziz's takedown attempt.
Monroe misses with the head strike.

Aziz has Monroe pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Aziz pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Monroe tumbling to the mat - Aziz dives into Monroe's guard.
Monroe keeping full guard, as Aziz tries to pass.
Aziz is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Aziz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aziz content to stall in guard here.
Aziz is continuing to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monroe is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Monroe is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Aziz is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Monroe wants to sweep here but Aziz controlling him for the moment.
Aziz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Monroe is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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.
Aziz stays in close to Monroe's body and controls the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Monroe throws a body shot but no joy.

Aziz pushes Monroe up against the cage in a clinch.
Aziz blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Monroe misses with some punches.
Come on Aziz - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Monroe lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Aziz leaning against his opponent.
Monroe tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Monroe working aggressively here.

Monroe pulls guard successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aziz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Monroe is keeping the position for now.
Aziz is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Aziz trying to control the position from guard on top but Monroe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aziz wants to pass the guard but Monroe is keeping the position.
Aziz lands a couple of digs.
Aziz stopping the sweep attempt from Monroe.
Aziz engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Aziz advances to half guard.
Monroe might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Monroe is looking for a sweep. Aziz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Aziz is taking a breather. Monroe says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Aziz works his foot free and advances to mount.
Aziz looking to control but Monroe is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Monroe is trying to escape the mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Monroe wants to hold on but Aziz pushes him away.
Aziz sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jalaluddin Aziz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Monroe gets caught flat footed, as Aziz shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Monroe looking for a sweep. Not yet Monroe, not yet.
Aziz's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Monroe wants to sweep but no luck.

Monroe has his foot on Aziz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Aziz works his way back into a safe position though.
Aziz slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Monroe working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Aziz doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Aziz manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Monroe keeping moving, preventing Aziz from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Monroe is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Monroe keeping moving, preventing Aziz from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aziz controls from within his opponent's guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Monroe keeping moving, preventing Aziz from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Monroe throws the left hand but Aziz avoids the punch easily.
Aziz shoots in looking for a takedown. Monroe tries to sprawl out of it but Aziz keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Monroe manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Aziz takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Aziz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Monroe misses with an uppercut. Aziz saw that one coming.
Aziz slips a jab and a cross from Monroe.
Aziz swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Aziz looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Monroe keeping moving, preventing Aziz from controlling successfully.
Aziz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Monroe swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Aziz works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monroe throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Aziz wants to control but Monroe is keeping him busy.
Monroe is in trouble now - Aziz has advanced to mount!
Ricky Monroe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aziz takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Monroe can't escape the position.
Monroe gets back to half guard.
Aziz trying to control from half guard but Monroe is working away.
Aziz is stalling here. Monroe is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Aziz seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Monroe has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Jalaluddin Aziz 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.
Monroe landing a few strikes.
Aziz struggling a bit here.
Monroe throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Aziz can't do much from the bottom here.
Aziz might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Monroe haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aziz tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Monroe wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ricky Monroe.
I think Aziz 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 Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jalaluddin Aziz!
A relieved looking Jalaluddin Aziz thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.