PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marco Noriega (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Doug Heffernan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Noriega
vs
Heffernan

176 cm
18
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 Rio de Janeiro, Marco Noriega!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Doug Heffernan!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Felipe Paraventi and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Heffernan throws a sloppy head kick and Noriega moves out of range easily.
Doug Heffernan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Noriega misses with a wild body shot.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Noriega checks a leg kick.
No luck for Noriega with that takedown attempt.

Heffernan scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Heffernan is trying to control the action in half guard but Noriega is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Heffernan controlling the action here.
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. Heffernan connects with a nice short shot to Noriega's temple.
Heffernan wants to take a breather but Noriega is having none of it.
Noriega wants to control but Heffernan is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Noriega tries to roll over but Heffernan keeps him under control.
Heffernan trying to control from Noriega's half guard. Noriega has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heffernan is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Heffernan wants to control from the top but Noriega keeps moving.
Heffernan controlling from the top position.
Noriega controls Heffernan momentarily but Heffernan frees himself.
Heffernan trying to control but Noriega is working from the bottom.
Noriega keeping full guard, as Heffernan tries to pass.

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.
Noriega looking for a sweep. Not yet Noriega, not yet.
Heffernan passes into half guard.
Noriega trying to control from the bottom.
Heffernan throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Heffernan is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Heffernan prevents Noriega from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heffernan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Noriega keeps working.
Noriega makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Noriega.
Noriega keeping moving, preventing Heffernan from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Heffernan darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Heffernan is just content to waste time from the top position. Noriega takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noriega looking to hit a scissor sweep but Heffernan is one step ahead there.
Noriega looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Heffernan puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Noriega is trying to get back to full guard.
Heffernan controlling the action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Heffernan trying to control the action but Noriega is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Doug Heffernan dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Heffernan tries to clinch up but Noriega circles away and keeps his distance.
Heffernan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Heffernan with a lazy takedown attempt

and Noriega counters with a takedown into side control.
Noriega trying to control the action but Heffernan is working from the bottom.
Noriega taking a breather here.
Heffernan sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Heffernan strikes from the bottom but Noriega uses the opportunity to move to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noriega wants to control but Heffernan is keeping him busy.
Check out the look on Noriega's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Heffernan struggling a bit here.
Heffernan gets back to half guard.
Heffernan wants to control but Noriega is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Heffernan looks like he's trying to stand up.
Heffernan is breathing heavily.

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.
Heffernan wants to get back to full guard.
Noriega could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Noriega trying to control from half guard but Heffernan is working away.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Heffernan shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Heffernan trying to control the position from guard on top but Noriega is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Noriega manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Noriega lands a heavy elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heffernan is squirming around, avoiding Noriega's attempts to control the action.
Heffernan tries to reverse the position but Noriega maintains control.
Heffernan blocking the ground and pound.
Heffernan manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Heffernan trying to control but Noriega postures up.
Heffernan is not content to let Noriega control the position.

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.
Heffernan is looking to improve his position.
Heffernan won't allow Noriega to pass to mount.
Noriega with the ground and pound but Heffernan uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Noriega trying to control the position from guard on top but Heffernan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Heffernan is trying to keep Noriega in close.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Noriega circles away from the clinch attempt

and Noriega counters with a nice double leg into side control. Heffernan won't be happy with that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Noriega dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Heffernan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Heffernan fails with the takedown
letting Noriega counter with a right hand.

Heffernan fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Noriega sprawls well initially but Heffernan persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Noriega makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Noriega.
Noriega looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Noriega not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Heffernan trying to control the position from guard on top but Noriega is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Heffernanis looking to pass into half guard but Noriega pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Noriega is in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heffernan wants to stand and escape but Noriega is having none of it.
Heffernan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Noriega is one step ahead there.
Noriega slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Heffernan scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Heffernan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Heffernan shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Noriega counters with a nice double leg into side control. Heffernan won't be happy with that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heffernan tries to contro but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Noriega unloading with bombs!
Noriega looking to finish Heffernan with some ground and pound. This is bad for Heffernan!
Heffernan is wriggling around trying to escape.
Heffernan wants to hold on but Noriega pushes him away.
Noriega connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Heffernan wants to control but Noriega is having none of it.
Heffernan holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Noriega tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noriega misses with some ground and pound and Heffernan recovers position to half guard.
Heffernan pushes Noriega off looking to stand but Noriega dives back in and keeps control.
Heffernan wants to improve his position but Noriega is controlling well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Noriega closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Noriega stops Heffernan from getting back to his feet.

Heffernan looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Heffernan is not content to let Noriega control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heffernan blocking the ground and pound attempt from Noriega.
Heffernan trying to hold on to Noriega's head to control him but Noriega postures up.
Noriega is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Heffernan gets back to full guard.
Heffernan is trying to keep Noriega in close.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marco Noriega showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Noriega has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marco Noriega!