PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Aldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aldo comes to the cage accompanied by Fala Sério! . Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Aldo
vs
Taylor

177 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thiago Aldo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jon Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Wesley Smith and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aldo tries to clinch but Taylor moves away
and Taylor counters with a straight right hand.
Taylor wants to clinch.
Taylor throws a head kick that misses
and Aldo counters with a head kick.
Taylor is looking to clinch but Aldo is avoiding it.
A head kick by Taylor misses
and Aldo counters with a thumping low kick.
Aldo tries to clinch up

and Taylor counters by clinching up.
Aldo takes an elbow to the temple.
Taylor lands a nice elbow.
Taylor avoids the elbow strike from Aldo, against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Taylor looks to throw an elbow but misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Taylor just misses with a elbow thrown towards Aldo's brow.
Aldo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Taylor.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Aldo just misses with a elbow thrown towards Taylor's brow.
Aldo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Taylor is defending well for now.
Aldo being controlled against the cage.
Aldo blocks the elbow strike.
Taylor gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Taylor blocks an elbow strike.
Nice elbow from Taylor.
Aldo trying to land knees to the body.
Aldo takes an elbow to the forehead.
Aldo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Aldo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Taylor creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Aldo's defenses.
Taylor lands an elbow inside.
Nice elbow from Taylor.
Taylor content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Aldo avoids a wild elbow strike from Taylor.
Aldo blocks an elbow strike.
Taylor is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Taylor is struggling to control the position.
Aldo misses with a knee to the head.
Aldo looking to throw knees to the head but Taylor is blocking nicely.
Aldo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Aldo tries to land knees in the clinch but Taylor avoids the damage to the body.
Aldo takes an elbow to the forehead.
Taylor lands a nice elbow.
Taylor looks gassed!
Taylor creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Aldo's defenses.
Taylor blocks an elbow strike.
Taylor is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Taylor pushes off an throws an elbow but Aldo leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Aldo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Taylor fails with an attempt to clinch.
Taylor swats away the attempt to clinch by Aldo.
Aldo tries a head kick but it misses.

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.
Taylor darts in trying to clinch
and Aldo counters with a good low kick that Taylor was not able to check.
Aldo tries a head kick but it misses.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Aldo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Aldo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Taylor paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Aldo throws a series of punches but Taylor moves out of range.
Taylor avoids a punch combination nicely.
Aldo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Taylor moves out of range of the leg kick from Aldo.
Taylor tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Aldo counters with a body kick that stops Taylor in his tracks momentarily.
Taylor moves out of range of the body kick.
Aldo walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Taylor checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
No joy there for Aldo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Taylor tries to clinch up.
Aldo plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taylor moves into range and clinches up with Aldo.
Aldo pushes off an throws an elbow but Taylor leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Aldo is looking to break free of the clinch but Taylor has double underhooks.
Aldo dodges an elbow strike from Taylor.
Aldo tries to land a knee to the head but Taylor blocks with his arms.
Aldo misses with a knee strike.
Aldo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Taylor has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Aldo crunches a lovely knee into Taylor's ribcage.
Taylor is trying to stall.
Aldo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Aldo misses with a knee to the head.
Taylor avoiding damage as Aldo throws knees to the body.
Taylor lands a nice elbow.
Aldo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Taylor has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Aldo tries to circle away but Taylor has him pinned against the cage.
Aldo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Taylor creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Taylor lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Taylor lands a nice elbow.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Aldo landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Aldo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Taylor blocks it with crossed arms.
Taylor comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Taylor stalling against the cage.
Aldo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

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.
Aldo tries a knee to the head but Taylor blocks it.
Taylor lands a damaging elbow.
Taylor avoiding damage as Aldo throws knees to the body.
Aldo tries to break the clinch but Taylor is controlling the position.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Taylor lands a nice elbow.
Taylor lands a nice elbow.
Taylor displaying some good clinch control by pressing Aldo up against the cage.
Aldo looking to throw knees to the head but Taylor is blocking nicely.
Taylor stalling the fight.
Aldo takes an elbow to the temple.
Aldo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Aldo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Taylor lands an elbow inside.
Aldo tries to land a knee to the head but Taylor blocks with his arms.
Taylor lands an elbow that stopped Aldo in his tracks for a moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor lands an elbow that stopped Aldo in his tracks for a moment.
Taylor is struggling to control the position.
Taylor comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Taylor stalling against the cage.
Aldo takes an elbow to the temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Thiago Aldo will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Taylor has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Aldo.
Aldo lands with a kick to the temple. Taylor shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Taylor tries to clinch
and Aldo counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Aldo lands a two punch combo.
Aldo throws a sloppy head kick

and Taylor counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Taylor lands an elbow just above Aldo 's eye.
Taylor lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Taylor manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Aldo blocks an elbow strike from Taylor.
Aldo lands an elbow inside.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Taylor just misses with a elbow thrown towards Aldo's brow.
Taylor lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Aldo is trying to break free.
Aldo dodges an elbow strike from Taylor.
Aldo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A knee to the head by Aldo.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Aldo throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Taylor throws an elbow that misses.
Aldo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Aldo misses with a knee strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Taylor lands an elbow that stopped Aldo in his tracks for a moment.
Aldo blocks an elbow strike from Taylor.
Taylor lands a nice elbow.
Taylor gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Aldo misses with a knee strike.
Aldo misses with a knee strike.
Taylor creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Aldo's defenses.
Aldo takes an elbow to the temple.
Aldo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Taylor is defending well for now.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Taylor.
Aldo avoids a wild elbow strike from Taylor.
Taylor lands an elbow just above Aldo 's eye.
Aldo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Taylor is defending well for now.
Taylor lands an elbow inside that Aldo shrugs off.
Aldo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Aldo missing with knees to the body.
Taylor lands an elbow inside.
Aldo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Taylor.
Aldo is looking to break free of the clinch but Taylor has double underhooks.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Taylor avoiding damage as Aldo throws knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Taylor just misses with a elbow thrown towards Aldo's brow.
Aldo tries a knee to the head but Taylor blocks it.
Aldo avoids the elbow strike from Taylor, against the cage.
Aldo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor misses with an elbow over the top.
Aldo blocks an elbow strike.
Aldo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Aldo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Taylor blocks it with crossed arms.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Aldo takes an elbow to the forehead.
Aldo misses with a knee strike.
Stalling in the clinch from Taylor.
Aldo looking to throw knees to the head but Taylor is blocking nicely.
Taylor lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Aldo takes an elbow to the forehead.
Taylor lands a damaging elbow.
Taylor lands an elbow inside.
Taylor blocks the elbow strike.
Aldo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Aldo tries a knee to the head but Taylor blocks it.
Aldo takes an elbow to the forehead.
Taylor lands an elbow that stopped Aldo in his tracks for a moment.
Taylor lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Come on Taylor - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Taylor comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Aldo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Aldo takes an elbow to the forehead.
Aldo tries to circle away but Taylor has him pinned against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo looking to throw knees to the head but Taylor is blocking nicely.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Taylor lands an elbow just above Aldo 's eye.
Taylor creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Aldo's defenses.
Taylor creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Aldo's defenses.
Taylor on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Taylor lands a nice elbow.
Taylor lands a nice elbow.
Aldo looking to throw knees to the head but Taylor is blocking nicely.
Aldo misses with an elbow strike.
Taylor holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Aldo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Taylor effectively controlling the action here.
With the fighters up against the cage, Taylor throws an elbow but misses.
Aldo misses with a knee strike.
Aldo comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Taylor lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Aldo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Taylor has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Aldo dodges an elbow strike from Taylor.
Aldo tries to circle away but Taylor has him pinned against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Aldo throws an elbow but it misses.
Taylor lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Nice elbow from Taylor.
Aldo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Taylor blocks it with crossed arms.
Taylor lands a nice elbow.
Aldo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Taylor throws an elbow but misses.
Taylor creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Aldo's defenses.
Aldo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Taylor.
Aldo dodges an elbow strike from Taylor.
Taylor lands an elbow that stopped Aldo in his tracks for a moment.
Taylor stalling the fight.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Taylor.
Taylor lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Taylor pressing his opponent against the cage.
Aldo trying to land knees to the body.
Taylor avoids a wild elbow strike from Aldo.
Taylor lands a nice elbow.
Nice elbow from Taylor.
Taylor lands an elbow just above Aldo 's eye.
Taylor pressing his opponent against the cage.
Taylor lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Taylor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Aldo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Aldo tries to clinch up.
Aldo swats away the attempt to clinch by Taylor.
Aldo throws a head kick that misses.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch but Aldo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Taylor avoids the head kick by Aldo.
Taylor tries to clinch up but Aldo circles away and keeps his distance.

Aldo rushes Taylor and presses him up against the cage.
Aldo tries to land a knee to the head but Taylor blocks with his arms.
Aldo misses with a knee strike.
Aldo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Taylor lands an elbow that stopped Aldo in his tracks for a moment.
Aldo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Taylor.
Taylor lands a nice elbow.
Taylor gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Taylor lands a nice elbow.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taylor stalling the fight.
Taylor lands an elbow just above Aldo 's eye.
Taylor lands a damaging elbow.
Taylor lands an elbow inside.
Taylor lands an elbow that stopped Aldo in his tracks for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor managing to block the knees to the body from Aldo.
Taylor lands an elbow that stopped Aldo in his tracks for a moment.
Aldo blocks an elbow strike from Taylor.
Aldo tries to break the clinch but Taylor is controlling the position.
Taylor lands an elbow that stopped Aldo in his tracks for a moment.
Taylor lands an elbow just above Aldo 's eye.
Taylor lands an elbow just above Aldo 's eye.
Aldo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Taylor has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Aldo tries to land a knee to the head but Taylor blocks with his arms.
Taylor gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Taylor creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Aldo's defenses.
Taylor effectively controlling the action here.
Aldo takes an elbow to the temple.
Aldo tries to land a knee to the head but Taylor blocks with his arms.
Taylor has Aldo pressed against the cage, preventing Aldo from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Aldo connects with a nasty looking knee right to Taylor's face.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Taylor.
Aldo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Taylor has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Aldo tries to land a knee to the head but Taylor blocks with his arms.
Taylor comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Aldo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Aldo using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Taylor just misses with a elbow thrown towards Aldo's brow.
Aldo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Taylor.
Taylor lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Aldo avoids a wild elbow strike from Taylor.

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.
Aldo looking to throw knees to the head but Taylor is blocking nicely.
Aldo with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Taylor gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Nice elbow from Taylor.
Taylor tries to stall but Aldo uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Aldo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Taylor has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Taylor blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Aldo takes an elbow to the forehead.
Aldo takes an elbow to the forehead.
Taylor comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Taylor lands an elbow that stopped Aldo in his tracks for a moment.
Aldo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Taylor lands an elbow that stopped Aldo in his tracks for a moment.
Aldo tries to break free but Taylor pushes him back against the cage.
Taylor avoiding damage.
Aldo tries a knee to the head but Taylor blocks it.
Taylor wants to stall.
Taylor lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Taylor gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Aldo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nice elbow from Taylor.
Aldo takes an elbow to the temple.
Aldo misses with a knee strike.
Aldo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Taylor has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Aldo looking to throw knees to the head but Taylor is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor lands a damaging elbow.
Taylor is struggling to control the position.
Nice elbow from Taylor.
Aldo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Taylor blocks it with crossed arms.
Taylor lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Taylor blocks an elbow strike from Aldo.
Aldo trying to land knees to the body.
Taylor lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Taylor comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Aldo takes an elbow to the temple.
Taylor lands an elbow inside that Aldo shrugs off.
Taylor misses with an elbow strike.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Taylor.
Taylor lands an elbow inside that Aldo shrugs off.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Aldo obliges.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Taylor misses with an elbow strike.
Aldo lands a good knee to the midsection. Taylor won't want to take too many of those.
Aldo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Aldo tries a knee to the head but Taylor blocks it.
Taylor lands a nice elbow.
Aldo misses with a knee strike.
Aldo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Taylor creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Aldo's defenses.

That's four 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.
Taylor keeps control of Aldo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Taylor throws an elbow that misses.
Aldo looking to throw knees to the head but Taylor is blocking nicely.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Taylor.
Taylor misses with an elbow strike.
Taylor creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Aldo's defenses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Taylor.
Taylor pressing his opponent against the cage.
Aldo trying to land knees to the body.
Taylor on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Aldo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Aldo tries to land knees in the clinch but Taylor avoids the damage to the body.
Taylor gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Aldo takes an elbow to the forehead.
Aldo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Taylor has him pressed against the cage.
Taylor creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Aldo's defenses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Taylor.
Aldo working hard to break the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Aldo looking to throw knees to the head but Taylor is blocking nicely.
Aldo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Taylor lands a damaging elbow.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Taylor.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Taylor just misses with a elbow thrown towards Aldo's brow.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Taylor.
Taylor's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jon Taylor.
I think Taylor 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jon Taylor!