PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joao Helicoptero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Nogueira (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.

Helicoptero
vs
Nogueira

185 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Win Nutritional RJ

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 Rio de Janeiro, Joao Helicoptero!
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, Gabriel Nogueira!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Paulo Santos and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Helicoptero will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nogueira swinging wilding here.
Nogueira scores with a nice body kick.
Nogueira tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nogueira fails with an attempt to clinch.

Nogueira lands a head kick that stumbles Helicoptero and the fighters go to the mat.

Helicoptero is rocked!

It looks like Joao Helicoptero has been cut.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nogueira is looking to stand up but Helicoptero won't let him.
Nogueira really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Helicoptero. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Helicoptero thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Helicoptero wants to sweep here but Nogueira controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira postures up.

Helicoptero had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Nogueira is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Helicoptero Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Nogueira's back instead.
Helicoptero struggling to land strikes to the head as Nogueira covers up.
Nogueira has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Helicoptero tries to get the hooks in deep but Nogueira pushed the leg off.
Helicoptero lands punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Helicoptero has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Nogueira's body.
Helicoptero is punishing Nogueira with strikes - can he finish him?!
Helicoptero trying to control momentarily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Helicoptero is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Helicoptero is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Nogueira has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Nogueira is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Nogueira dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joao Helicoptero's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Helicoptero shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Nogueira pushes Helicoptero up against the cage in a clinch.
Nogueira lands a nice elbow.
Nogueira comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Helicoptero jumps guard but Nogueira stands there with Helicoptero around his waist. Helicoptero gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Nogueira lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nogueira tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Helicoptero tries to pull guard but Nogueira won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joao Helicoptero. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Nogueira breaks the clinch.
Helicoptero looks for a takedown but Nogueira sprawls well.
A head kick misses from Nogueira.
Nogueira throws a leg kick but Helicoptero checks it.
Nogueira throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Helicoptero's head.
Helicoptero throws a right and a left that Nogueira avoids nicely.
Helicoptero closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nogueira circles away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Helicoptero keeps the fight on the outside.
Nogueira tries to clinch but Helicoptero is having none of it.

Nogueira has Helicoptero up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nogueira pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nogueira keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nogueira wants to clinch up but Helicoptero keeps it at a distance.
Joao Helicoptero is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Nogueira moves into range and clinches up with Helicoptero.
Nogueira tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Nogueira landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Nogueira with a knee to the head.
Nogueira tries to land a knee to the head but Helicoptero blocks with his arms.

Nogueira breaks from the clinch.

Nogueira drives through and clinches with Helicoptero against the cage.

Nogueira breaks from the clinch.
Helicoptero fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
No luck for Helicoptero with that takedown attempt.
Nogueira tries to clinch up.
Helicoptero goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Helicoptero displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nogueira throws out the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nogueira darts in and clinches Helicoptero up against the cage.
Helicoptero tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nogueira is trying to break free.
Helicoptero tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Helicoptero breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nogueira throws a sloppy head kick

and Helicoptero counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nogueira is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Helicoptero scores with a couple of nice shots.
Nogueira scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Helicoptero manages to mount him!
Nogueira takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nogueira defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Helicoptero.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nogueira can do anything to dispel that myth.
Helicoptero pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Helicoptero content just to control the position here.
Helicoptero throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Helicoptero controlling the position easily from mount.
Nogueira is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Gabriel Nogueira will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Joao Helicoptero's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Nogueira wants to clinch

and Helicoptero counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Helicoptero.
Nogueira is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Helicoptero pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Helicoptero throws a wild body kick that Nogueira sees coming a mile off.
Gabriel Nogueira seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nogueira looks to clinch

and Helicoptero counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Nogueira with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nogueira is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Nogueira pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Nogueira moves into the clinch.
Helicoptero is looking to control Nogueira's arms but Nogueira gets an underhook and turns him. Now Helicoptero has his back to the cage.
Nogueira tries a knee to the head but Helicoptero blocks it.
Nogueira misses with a knee to the head.
Helicoptero fails to pull guard.

Helicoptero has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Nogueira regains guard immediately.
Helicoptero trying to control the position from guard on top but Nogueira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nogueira takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Helicoptero is looking to advance position but Nogueira has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Helicoptero wants to control but Nogueira is having none of it.
Helicoptero is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Helicoptero manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Helicoptero makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Helicoptero.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Helicoptero is controlling Nogueira's posture.

Helicoptero had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Nogueira is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Helicoptero Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Nogueira's back instead.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Helicoptero's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Gabriel Nogueira is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Nogueira is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joao Helicoptero showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nogueira 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!