PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Purple Aki (ranked 2445 p4p, 2976 weight class) and Aldo Nova (ranked 298 p4p, 367 weight class). Nova has chosen R.A.T.M. / NO SHELTER as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Aki
vs
Nova

178 cm
25
159
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
163
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Purple Aki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Aldo Nova!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Santiago Holmes and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nova keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Aki changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Nova looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Nova is working to avoid the ground and pound but Aki connects with a decent elbow.
Aki tries to move into full mount but can't pass Nova's legs.
Aki grinds an elbow into Nova's temple.
Nova being controlled for a moment.
Aki fails to land a wild elbow strike.
We've been hearing good reports from Aki'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.
Aki remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Aki tries to move into full mount but can't pass Nova's legs.
Aki working the head with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aki throws an elbow but Nova slips to the side and avoids it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nova seems a little lost for a moment, as Aki dominates the positioning.
Aki cracks Nova with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Aki is looking to take a break and control but Nova is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Nova dodges the ground and pound from Aki.
Aki cracks Nova with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Aki landing strikes.
Aki creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Nova sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Aki is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Nova will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Aki lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Aki has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aki looks up at the clock and then as Nova takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Aki smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Aki controls the position.
Nova really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Aki. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Aki working away.
Nova is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Nova takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Nova gets back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aki trying to pass the guard but Nova defending well.
Aki slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nova wants to get back to full guard.
Aki controlling the pace.
Aki lands strikes from half guard.
Aki controlling the action here.
Aki lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Aki is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Nova avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Aki.
Nova is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Aki scores with a couple of nice shots.
Aki lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Aki working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aki is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nova with a nice calf kick.
A low kick from Nova misses

so Aki counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Aki loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Aki working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Aki is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Aki working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Nova looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aki won't allow Nova to sweep him here.
Aki wants to pass the guard but Nova is keeping the position.
Aki makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nova keeping moving, preventing Aki from controlling successfully.
Aki connects with a couple of short punches.
Aki pushes down on Nova's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Aki content to control rather than advance.
Nova is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Aki scores with a couple of nice shots.
Purple Aki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Aki controlling the action here.
Aki's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Nova blocking the ground and pound attempt from Aki.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aki is taking a breather. Nova 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.
Nova taking some punishment here, with Aki in his half guard.
Aki prevents Nova from improving his position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Aki lands a nice short elbow.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Aki connects with a nice short shot to Nova's temple.
Aki tries to pass the half guard into mount. Nova knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Nova blocking the ground and pound attempt from Aki.
Aki trying to control from half guard but Nova is working away.
Aki stalling.
Aki is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nova can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nova wants to improve his position but Aki is controlling well.
Aki is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Aki takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Aki drops an elbow to the side of Nova's head.
Aki is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Aki seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Aki working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Aki throwing shots but Nova is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aki content to control rather than advance.
Aki looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Aki wants to take a breather but Nova is having none of it.
Aki missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Aki seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Nova is pressing down on Aki's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Aki slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Aki postures up and lands a big shot to Nova's brow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aki working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nova's head.
Nova trying to keep a closed guard but Aki is proving a slippery customer.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Purple Aki dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - 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.

Aki with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Nova to score with a decent uppercut.
Nova throws an overhand right that lands on Aki's shoulder, as Aki tries to avoid the shot.

Nova gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Aki to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Nova looking for a sweep. Not yet Nova, not yet.
Nova trying to control the position.
Nova looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Aki postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aki slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Aki scoring with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nova trying to control the position.
Aki wants to pass the guard but Nova is keeping the position.
Aki is working hard here to advance position.
Aki sitting in guard here, content to control.
Nova keeping full guard, as Aki tries to pass.
Aki passes into half guard.
Aki keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

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.
Nova is trying to get back to full guard.
Aki seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Aki is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Aki looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Nova has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Aki is working away from the top position though.
Nova regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aki is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Nova controls Aki momentarily but Aki frees himself.
Aki controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Nova wants to control but Aki passes easily into half guard.
Nova on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Aki is nestled in close to Nova, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Aki controlling the action here.
Purple Aki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aki seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Nova for as long as he can get away with.
Aki landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Aki is taking a breather. Nova 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.
Aldo Nova has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aki continues to stall.
Aki lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Nova is looking to escape.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Aki sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Aki seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

And that's the end of the fight!
Purple Aki showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Aki, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Purple Aki!
Purple Aki decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.