PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tory Stark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Aldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aldo has chosen Lupang Hinirang-Philippines National Anthem as his entrance music. Tory Stark has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Stark
vs
Aldo

197 cm
21
140 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

183 cm
25
134 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Tory Stark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jose Aldo!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Colin Fotheringham and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stark moves out of range of the body kick from Aldo.
Aldo tries to bum rush Stark with a series of wild strikes but Stark uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Aldo pushes Stark up against the cage in a clinch.
Stark wants a takedown but no success here.
Aldo is trying to push Stark away but Stark has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Aldo looking to slow down the pace here.
Stark holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Aldo is trying to push Stark away but Stark has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Aldo is trying to break the clinch but Stark has him pressed against the cage.
Aldo prevents a takedown attempt there.
Stark drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tory Stark. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Stark manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Stark avoids the head kick by Aldo.
Aldo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stark paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Aldo tries to clinch up.
Aldo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Aldo wants to clinch

and Stark counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Stark.

Aldo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Aldo tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Stark counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Stark.
Stark jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Aldo walks away with a smile on his face. Stark gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Stark really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Stark drives through and clinches with Aldo against the cage.
Aldo is trying to break the clinch but Stark has him pressed against the cage.
Stark stalling in the clinch.
Stark working hard to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aldo misses with a short punch on the inside.

Aldo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Aldo throws a combination. Stark tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Stark closes the distance and clinches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stark is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Aldo to keep the fight standing.
Aldo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Aldo just misses with a elbow thrown towards Stark's brow.
Stark avoiding damage.
Stark jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Aldo walks away with a smile on his face. Stark gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Stark pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Aldo connects with a combination that backs up Stark into the cage. Aldo lands a flurry of punches that gets past Stark's guard. Stark is down and the referee has seen enough. It is all over! Aldo bursts into tears - this win obviously means a huge amount to him.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:53 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jose Aldo!
In his post fight interview, Jose Aldo started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.