PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Pierre Emerick Aubeaumeyang (ranked 4166 p4p, 4127 weight class) and Matthew Albans (ranked 468 p4p, 464 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Matthew Albans was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Aubeaumeyang
vs
Albans

176 cm
20
155
2 - 3 - 0

167 cm
22
155
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Pierre Emerick Aubeaumeyang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Matthew Albans !
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Albans blocks a jab.
Aubeaumeyang looks to land a left hand but Albans moved out of range nicely.
Albans keeps Aubeaumeyang at a distance using the push kick.
Pierre Emerick Aubeaumeyang seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aubeaumeyang throws a looping overhand right but Albans ducks down to avoid it.
Albans displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Aubeaumeyang throws out the jab.
Albans changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Aubeaumeyang misses with a straight left.
Aubeaumeyang misses with a hook

and Albans decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Aubeaumeyang's guard.
Albans wants to control from the top but Aubeaumeyang keeps moving.
We've been hearing good reports from Aubeaumeyang's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Aubeaumeyang is trying to keep Albans in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Albans stays in close to Aubeaumeyang's body and controls the position.
Albans trying to control the position from guard on top but Aubeaumeyang is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Albans not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Albans looking to pass the guard.
Aubeaumeyang keeping moving, preventing Albans from controlling successfully.
Albans looking to pass the guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Aubeaumeyang throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Albans takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Aubeaumeyang gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aubeaumeyang misses with a punch to the body.
Albans lands a left hand that snaps the head of Aubeaumeyang backwards.
Aubeaumeyang scores with a shoulder strike.
Albans goes for a takedown attempt but Aubeaumeyang pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Aubeaumeyang throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Albans shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Aubeaumeyang as he jumps to the side.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Aubeaumeyang enables Albans to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Aubeaumeyang manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Albans pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Aubeaumeyang is keeping the position for now.
Albans postures up.
Albans wants to control from the top but Aubeaumeyang keeps moving.
Albans passes Aubeaumeyang's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Albans is keen to just control but Aubeaumeyang is a slippery customer.
Albans wants to pass to mount but Aubeaumeyang is defending the position.

Albans is looking for a kimura here.

That's four 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.
Albans wants to free his trapped foot but Aubeaumeyang is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Aubeaumeyang wants to improve his position but Albans is controlling well.
Aubeaumeyang is trying to control but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Albans is working for a kimura but Aubeaumeyang is defending it quite comfortably.

Albans is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Aubeaumeyang doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Albans .
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Albans dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Aubeaumeyang listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Albans moves away from the strike by Aubeaumeyang.
Albans with the counter takedown but Aubeaumeyang avoids it easily.

Albans darts in and clinches Aubeaumeyang up against the cage.

Albans manages to pull guard.

Albans looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Albans is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aubeaumeyang wants to control from the top but Albans keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aubeaumeyang won't allow Albans to sweep him here.
Aubeaumeyang controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Aubeaumeyang trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Aubeaumeyang trying to control the position from guard on top but Albans is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Albans looking for a guillotine here but Aubeaumeyang defends easily.

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.
Albans wants to sweep here but Aubeaumeyang controlling him for the moment.
Matthew Albans has got the better of the ground game so far.

Albans has his foot on Aubeaumeyang's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Aubeaumeyang works his way back into a safe position though.
Albans working a defensive guard but Aubeaumeyang passes into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Albans has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Aubeaumeyang is working away from the top position though.

Albans looking for submissions off his back.
Aubeaumeyang content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aubeaumeyang trying to pass the guard but Albans defending well.
Albans gets full guard.
Albans pulls Aubeaumeyang in to control the position.
Our spies down at at King's Cross MMA inform us that Albans has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

Aubeaumeyang avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Aubeaumeyang has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Aubeaumeyang trying to control but Albans is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack 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.
Aubeaumeyang waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Albans .
Aubeaumeyang throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Aubeaumeyang throws out a loose jab but Albans uses good head movement to avoid it.
Aubeaumeyang waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Albans .
Albans ducks under a wild hook from Aubeaumeyang.
Albans feints the counter takedown.
The fight stays on the outside here - Albans looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
No luck for Albans with that takedown attempt.
Albans moves out of range of the strikes.
Aubeaumeyang is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Aubeaumeyang fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Albans manages to avoid it.
Aubeaumeyang misses the shot to the body.

Aubeaumeyang closes the distance and pushes Albans back into the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pierre Emerick Aubeaumeyang dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Aubeaumeyang misses with an uppercut. Albans saw that one coming.
Albans fails in his attempt to clinch.
Aubeaumeyang throws a shot from downtown. Albans moves away and avoids it.
Aubeaumeyang misses with an uppercut.
Albans feints the counter takedown.
Aubeaumeyang missing with a left hand there. Albans was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Albans moves away from the strike by Aubeaumeyang.
A punch combination from Aubeaumeyang misses.
Albans avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Albans closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Albans wants to control but Aubeaumeyang is keeping him busy.
Albans has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Aubeaumeyang!

Albans is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Aubeaumeyang can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Albans looking to finish with strikes here!
Albans pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Aubeaumeyang has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.

Aubeaumeyang is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Albans gets his way!

Albans looking for the choke from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
I would not like to be Aubeaumeyang right now.
Albans is looking to control Aubeaumeyang but Aubeaumeyang is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Albans patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Aubeaumeyang fending off the submission attempt from Albans .
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.
Albans biding his time, controlling Aubeaumeyang.
Albans keeps control of the position as Aubeaumeyang tries to break free.

That's four 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.

Albans working for a choke but Aubeaumeyang is defending well.
Good control from Albans .
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Albans looking for the choke from the back.
Albans has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Albans working for a choke but Aubeaumeyang is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matthew Albans comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Albans 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matthew Albans !
Matthew Albans was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.