PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Heleno (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ronaldo Nazario (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Heleno is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Heleno
vs
Nazario

175 cm
19
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

177 cm
18
186 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Win Nutritional - proof of quality

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Heleno!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ronaldo Nazario!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Mauricio Rocha and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nazario closes the distance and clinches.
Heleno looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Nazario has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Nazario goes for a takedown attempt but Heleno pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Nazario closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Nazario tries for a takedown but Heleno manages to get underhooks.
Nazario tries to land knees in the clinch but Heleno avoids the damage to the body.

Nazario jumps guard and drags Heleno to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Nazario working a defensive guard here.
Nazario is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Nazario wants to stand and escape but Heleno is having none of it.
Heleno won't allow Nazario to sweep him here.
Heleno being controlled here momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nazario is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Heleno got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nazario has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Heleno has managed to get both his arms back between Nazario's legs - danger averted.
Nazario looking for a sweep. Not yet Nazario, not yet.
Nazario trying to control the position.
Nazario wants to sweep but no luck.

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.
Heleno wants to control from the top but Nazario keeps moving.
Nazario has Heleno pulled in close to control his posture.

Heleno is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Nazario is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Nazario has escaped and now he's on top!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Heleno trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Heleno has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nazario can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Nazario got a little sloppy there for a moment and Heleno has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nazario has managed to get both his arms back between Heleno's legs - danger averted.

Nazario decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Nazario closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heleno gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Heleno regains full guard. Nicely done.
Heleno thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Heleno keeping moving, preventing Nazario from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronaldo Nazario dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Heleno shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Nazario counters with a stiff right hand.

Nazario looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Nazario decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Heleno, up you get!

Nazario darts in and clinches Heleno up against the cage.

Nazario manages to break the clinch.

Nazario shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Heleno's guard.
Heleno trying to keep a closed guard but Nazario is proving a slippery customer.
Heleno bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nazario's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heleno trying to control but Nazario is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nazario is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Heleno is looking to control Nazario's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Heleno avoid being mounted?
Heleno is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nazario thows a huge punch but Heleno dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Heleno trying to control but Nazario postures up.
Nice strikes from Nazario there.
Heleno moves into full guard.
Heleno keeping full guard, as Nazario tries to pass.
Heleno is trying to keep Nazario in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Nazario shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Nazario is landing with some decent strikes but Heleno is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Heleno is squirming around, avoiding Nazario's attempts to control the action.
Heleno tries to hold on but Nazario pushes him away.
Nazario lands a big elbow.
Nazario tries to control but Heleno wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heleno sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Nazario is keen to just control but Heleno is a slippery customer.

Heleno looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nazario really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Heleno. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Heleno has hold of Nazario's hands but Nazario slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Heleno regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Nazario.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronaldo Nazario showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Heleno. No joy for Nazario on that attempt.

Nazario fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Heleno sprawls well initially but Nazario persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Nazario working the head and body with strikes.
Heleno tries to get to full guard but Nazario has control of the leg.
Heleno makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Heleno.

Heleno is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nazario defends well.
Nazario throws a big right hand that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heleno will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Heleno working a defensive guard here.
Nazario wants to get up but he can't break Heleno's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nazario won't allow Heleno to sweep him here.
Heleno trying to control the position.
Nazario wants to control from the top but Heleno keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Heleno gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Nazario moves into the clinch.
Heleno stops a takedown attempt from Nazario.

Heleno works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Heleno trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Heleno works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Heleno controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heleno lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Heleno is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Nazario has managed to free his arm - good work.

Heleno is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Ronaldo Nazario has got the better of the ground game so far.
Heleno wants to take a breather but Nazario is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Nazario is looking to improve his position.
Nazario is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Nazario regains full guard. Nicely done.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Heleno accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Heleno trying to control but Nazario is working from the bottom.

Nazario pushes Heleno off and gets back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thiago Heleno showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nazario 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ronaldo Nazario!