PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Soberin Exx (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Aldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jose Aldo is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Exx
vs
Aldo

168 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
26
155 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Soberin Exx!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jose Aldo!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Exx throws a hook but Aldo blocks it.
Aldo throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Exx's head.

It looks like Soberin Exx has been cut.
Aldo misses with an uppercut. Exx saw that one coming.

Exx drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Aldo manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Exx wants to pass the guard but Aldo is defending well.
Aldo on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Exx.
Exx knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Aldo on the ground.
Aldo trying to control from the bottom.
Aldo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Exx sitting and controlling from the half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aldo wants to control but Exx is keeping busy.
Exx performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aldo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Aldo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Exx wants to control but Aldo is keeping him busy.
Exx is nestled in close to Aldo, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Aldo trying to control but Exx postures up.
Exx 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 referee calls for the fighters to work.
Aldo is trying to get back to full guard.
Exx is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aldo looking for submissions off his back.
Aldo on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Exx takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Exx tries to pass to full mount but Aldo defends it.
Aldo is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Exx's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Exx's back!

Aldo looking for the choke from the back.
Aldo looks winded!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Exx can't escape the position.
Aldo gets his hands free as Exx looks to control.
Exx rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Exx preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Exx wants to get back to full guard.
Exx holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Exx is refusing to be controlled, as Aldo sits in half guard.
Exx is holding on to half guard well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Soberin Exx.
Aldo ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Exx drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Exx trying to control the position from guard on top but Aldo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Aldo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Exx landing some decent shots from guard.
Aldo wants to stand but Exx is controlling the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Aldo keeping moving, preventing Exx from controlling successfully.
Exx pushes down on Aldo's leg and manages to get into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aldo is looking for a sweep. Exx is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Soberin Exx dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Soberin Exx's cut.
That's time! Exx's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Exx looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Aldo actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Exx looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Exx prevents Aldo from improving his position.

Exx is trying to work for a kimura but Aldo is defending well.
Aldo trying to control here.
Exx working over Aldo with some ground and pound. Aldo looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Exx wants to control but Aldo is keeping him busy.
Aldo is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Exx is nestled in close to Aldo, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Exx seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Nice strikes from Exx there.

Exx is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Aldo defends it well.
Exx performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Exx tries to pass to full mount but Aldo defends it.
Aldo regains full guard. Nicely done.
Aldo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Exx's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Aldo controls Exx momentarily but Exx frees himself.

Aldo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Aldo is breathing heavily.
Exx lands a couple of digs.
Exx is stalling in the full guard.
Exx scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Exx is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Exx pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Aldo is keeping the position for now.
Exx working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Exx got a little sloppy there for a moment and Aldo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Exx has managed to get both his arms back between Aldo's legs - danger averted.
Exx stays in close to Aldo's body and controls the position.
Exx scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Aldo trying to control the position.
Exx content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Exx controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Aldo is trying to control the position but Exx postures up.
Aldo keeping full guard, as Exx tries to pass.

Aldo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Exx defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Exx chips away with some ground and pound.
Exx is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Exx lands a couple of elbows.
Exx wants to pass the guard but Aldo is keeping the position.

Aldo looking for a guillotine here but Exx defends easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Exx is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Exx postures up and lands a big shot to Aldo's brow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Soberin Exx dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Soberin Exx's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Aldo misses with a low kick.
Aldo throws a nice outside leg kick.

Exx changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Aldo looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Exx working the body and head with strikes.
Aldo is not content to let Exx control the position.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Exx scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Aldo to see if he's OK.
Exx taking a breather here.
Aldo takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Exx controls the position.
Aldo tries to bench press Exx off him but Exx keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Exx in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Exx landing a few strikes.
Exx tries to advance to mount but Aldo denies him.
Exx wants to control but Aldo is keeping him busy.
Exx takes a little break here. Aldo wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Exx lands an elbow.
Aldo tries to buck Exx off but Exx is having none of it.
Aldo being controlled for a moment.
Soberin Exx is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aldo is trying to get back to his feet.
Aldo being controlled for a moment.
Aldo regains half guard.
Aldo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Exx lands with a punch from half guard.
Aldo gets back to full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Exx not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Exx with a nice head shot there.
Exx slips nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aldo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Exx winds up and cracks Aldo with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Aldo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Exx pulls his head out easily.
Exx controlling the action here.

Exx is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Aldo doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Exx.
Exx working Aldo over with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aldo wants to improve his position but Exx is controlling well.
Soberin Exx overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Aldo looks like he's trying to stand up.
Exx is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Exx controlling the action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jose Aldo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Exx is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Soberin Exx showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Exx, 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Soberin Exx!