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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Michael Aalto (ranked 355 p4p, 475 weight class) and Jihadi Joseph (ranked 41 p4p, 55 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 177 cm
25
149
11 - 2 - 0 |
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175 cm
24
145
7 - 1 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank |
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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 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael Aalto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jihadi Joseph!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Ben Watson and John Mangel.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aalto does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Joseph only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Aalto swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Joseph.
Aalto looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Joseph rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Aalto counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Aalto checks a low kick from Joseph.
Joseph catches Aalto with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Aalto shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Aalto paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Aalto slips under a jab from Joseph.
Aalto moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Joseph fails to land with a series of punches.
Joseph lands a jab to Aalto's midsection.
Joseph throws a nice outside leg kick.
Aalto staying out of range there.
Aalto was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aalto throws a leg kick but Joseph sees it coming and moves out of range.
Joseph misses the shot to the body.
Aalto throws a hook but Joseph blocks it.
Joseph changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Aalto throws a front kick aimed at Joseph's knee but Joseph avoids it well.
Aalto uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Joseph.
Joseph connects with a jab.
Joseph waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Aalto.
Aalto moves into range and clinches up with Joseph.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Joseph misses with a body punch.
Joseph misses with a body punch.
Joseph lands a nice uppercut.
Joseph misses with a short punch on the inside.
Aalto misses with a short punch on the inside.
Aalto lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Joseph backwards.
Aalto is looking for a takedown.
Joseph's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Joseph pushes Aalto back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Joseph struggles to land a body shot inside as Aalto controls his hands.
Aalto blocks an uppercut.
Joseph lands a body shot.
Aalto tries to throw a body punch but Joseph avoids it by throwing Aalto back against the cage.
Nice body punch from Joseph.
Aalto swings wildly with an uppercut but Joseph uses good head movement to avoid it.
Joseph presses Aalto against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Joseph tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Joseph blocks an uppercut.
Aalto has Joseph pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Joseph manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Joseph misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Aalto softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Joseph misses with a punch on the inside.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aalto doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Good body shot from Joseph.
Joseph scores with a shoulder strike.
Aalto throws a punch but it's blocked by Joseph.
Aalto lands a nice shot to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Joseph.
A right handed body shot lands from Joseph.
Joseph tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Aalto's elbow.
Aalto lands a hook to the side of the head.
Joseph blocks an uppercut.
Joseph lands a left hand that snaps the head of Aalto backwards.
Joseph scores with a shot to the side of Aalto's head.
Joseph swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Aalto prevents a body shot from Joseph.
A nice left hand lands by Aalto.
Aalto blocks an uppercut.
Joseph breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Aalto misses with a wild body shot.
Aalto takes a swing at Joseph's ribcage but misses.
Aalto shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Joseph takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Joseph paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joseph misses with a body shot.
Joseph jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Joseph throws a nice inside leg kick.
Joseph misses with a hook. Aalto ducked under it nicely.
Aalto ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Joseph moves away.
Joseph moves out of range of the body kick.
Joseph is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Aalto with a body shot.
Joseph pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Joseph swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Aalto.
The fighters circle momentarily. Joseph darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Aalto with the inside leg kick.
Aalto motions for Joseph to come forward. Aalto throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Joseph slips a jab from Aalto.
Aalto lands with a kick to the temple. Joseph shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Aalto tries to land a front kick but Joseph steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Joseph moves out of range as Aalto strikes.
Joseph cracks Aalto with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Joseph throws a low kick but Aalto moves out of range easily.
Aalto throws a head kick but Joseph moves out of range.
Aalto misses with a low kick as Joseph jumps back.
Joseph misses with a straight right.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joseph buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Joseph fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A swing and a miss from Aalto.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Joseph! But no joy.
A low kick from Aalto misses
and Aalto takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Aalto looks to score with a jab to the body but Joseph is just out of range.
Aalto blocks a jab.
Joseph throws a jab but it's blocked by Aalto.
Joseph jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Aalto uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Joseph.
A counter left hand to the body from Aalto misses its target.
Aalto is looking to clinch.
Joseph throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Aalto throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Aalto backing away here, and Joseph unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Jihadi Joseph is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A shot to the liver by Joseph. Beautiful body shot.
Aalto scores with a head kick.
Joseph throws a big shot that misses.
Aalto tried to counter with a leg kick but Joseph avoided it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A head kick from Aalto lands but Joseph takes it in his stride.
Joseph lands a head shot.
Joseph clobbers Aalto with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Aalto pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Joseph swings away with a leg kick that misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Jihadi Joseph dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Joseph throws out a leg kick but Aalto moves out of range and Joseph only half commits.
Joseph lands a jab to Aalto's midsection.
Joseph throws a leg kick but Aalto checks it.
Aalto throws a lazy head kick
letting Joseph counter with a right hand.
Aalto lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Aalto checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Joseph checks the leg kick nicely there.
Aalto misses with the body kick
and Joseph counters with a nice uppercut.
Joseph scores with a nice strike.
Joseph cracks Aalto with a good jab.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Joseph dips to his left and cracks Aalto with an uppercut!
Joseph drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Aalto shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Aalto throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Joseph lands with an uppercut that bounces Aalto off the cage and back into range.
Aalto misses with an uppercut.
Joseph throws out a counter right but Aalto avoids it with no problem.
Joseph tests Aalto's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Aalto throws a nice inside leg kick.
Aalto fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Joseph has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Joseph avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Joseph with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Aalto to score with a decent uppercut.
Aalto slips a jab from Joseph.
Jihadi Joseph seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Joseph swinging wildly here.
Joseph digs a good hook to Aalto's body.
An inside leg kick lands from Aalto.
Aalto tries a head kick but it misses.
Aalto closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Joseph uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Aalto.
Aalto swings for the body but Joseph moves out of range.
Aalto misses with a kick to the body.
Aalto lands a nice looking kick to the body. Joseph takes a step back to recover.
Nice defenses there by Joseph.
A nice leg kick lands there from Aalto.
Joseph lands a nice shot that snaps Aalto's head back.
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!
Joseph checks a leg kick.
Joseph moves out of range of the strikes.
Joseph scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Aalto tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Joseph defends well and Aalto ends up having to push Joseph into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Joseph swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joseph breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Joseph looks to throw the jab but Aalto is out of range.
Aalto half committed to a counter leg kick.
Aalto is looking to land body kicks.
Joseph throws a big shot that misses.
Aalto misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Joseph throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Joseph connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Aalto momentarily.
Aalto fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Aalto slips under a jab from Joseph.
Michael Aalto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aalto misses with a hook.
Joseph tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Aalto was well out of range. Poor timing from Joseph.
Joseph moves away from the strike by Aalto.
Joseph throws a hook to the side of Aalto's head but Aalto sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Aalto lands a body shot.
Joseph throws a big shot that misses.
Aalto throws a leg kick but Joseph moved away.
Joseph throws out a counter right but Aalto avoids it with no problem.
Joseph misses with a body shot.
Aalto loads up on a big right hand but Joseph slips the punch.
Joseph lands the left hand.
Aalto uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Joseph.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joseph avoids a kick to the body.
Aalto connects with a solid leg kick.
Aalto tried to score with a low kick but Joseph checks it.
Nice shot lands for Joseph.
Aalto lands a head kick!
Joseph works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Joseph throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Joseph walks into a left hand.
Aalto looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Joseph checks a low kick from Aalto.
Aalto tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Joseph was well out of range. Poor timing from Aalto.
Joseph tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Decent striking displayed by Joseph there.
Aalto throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Aalto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Joseph connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Aalto ducks under a wild hook from Joseph.
Aalto looks for the body kick but Joseph saw that one coming.
Aalto walks into a stiff left hand from Joseph.
Joseph blocks a low kick nicely.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joseph lands a nice looking kick to the body. Aalto takes a step back to recover.
Joseph lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Aalto at a distance.
Joseph scores with a body shot.
That kick from Joseph tenderised Aalto's leg. Aalto is trying to keep his angry face on.
Joseph slips a straight right by Aalto.
Aalto fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Joseph avoids it really well and circles away.
Joseph lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Aalto takes a swing at Joseph's ribcage but misses.
Joseph throws a nice outside leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aalto takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Joseph lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Joseph connects with a good right hand that stumbles Aalto. Aalto circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Joseph smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Aalto tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Joseph paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Jihadi Joseph 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!
Aalto swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A swing and a miss from Joseph.
Joseph dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Aalto. That did some damage!
Aalto misses with a body shot.
Joseph lands a jab to the head.
Joseph misses with a few strikes there.
A lazy left from Joseph finds it's target.
A shot to the liver by Joseph. Beautiful body shot.
Joseph tries to score with a low kick but Aalto moves his leg out of the way.
Aalto is looking to counter with a body kick.
Joseph has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Aalto tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Joseph is able to avoid easily.
Joseph slips under a jab from Aalto.
Joseph looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Joseph scoring well with a low kick there.
Aalto takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
A slapping body kick lands there for Aalto.
Jab from Joseph.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Joseph scores with the left hand. Aalto knows he should have avoided that one.
Aalto throws a jab when Joseph was well out of range.
Joseph scores with a body shot.
Aalto shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Joseph's guard.
Joseph wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Aalto advances to half guard.
Aalto is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Joseph sees it coming and defends easily.
Joseph is defending against the submission attempts here by Aalto.
Aalto is looking for a kimura but Joseph is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Aalto to get the leverage.
Aalto throwing shots but Joseph is blocking nicely.
Joseph won't allow Aalto to pass to mount.
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.
Joseph keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Joseph is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Aalto wants to pass the guard but Joseph is defending well.
Aalto is working hard here to advance position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joseph trying to control but Aalto postures up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Aalto is working for a submission of some sort.
Aalto not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Joseph blocking the ground and pound attempt from Aalto.
Joseph is trying to maintain the position but Aalto is very close to passing his half guard.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Aalto misses with a straight right.
Joseph appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Aalto listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Joseph works over Aalto's head and body with a nice combination.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joseph slips a jab from Aalto.
Aalto lands a leg kick that knocks Joseph off balance momentarily.
Nice cross by Joseph.
Joseph checks a leg kick.
Joseph turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Joseph misses with a looping right.
Joseph moves out of range of the leg kick from Aalto.
Aalto bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Joseph's head backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Aalto takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Joseph checks the leg kick.
Aalto lands a right hook to the body.
Joseph throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Joseph scores with a nice right hand.
Aalto throws a head kick that misses.
Joseph takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Joseph's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Aalto misses with a straight left.
Joseph shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Aalto eats them both and turns towards Joseph to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Nice uppercut there from Joseph.
Aalto misses with a low kick.
And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jihadi Joseph.
I've got Joseph winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jihadi Joseph!
During a confident post fight interview, Jihadi Joseph thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
81% |
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