PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Nogueira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hugo de Castro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Nogueira
vs
de Castro

185 cm
19
160 lbs
3 - 2 - 1

188 cm
23
160 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 3 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gabriel Nogueira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hugo de Castro!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Edson Gomes and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A shot to de liver by de Castro. Beautiful body shot.
de Castro shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nogueira wants to clinch up but de Castro keeps it at a distance.
Nogueira throws a sloppy head kick and de Castro moves out of range easily.

de Castro gets a takedown into half guard.
de Castro trying to control the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira won't allow de Castro to pass to mount.
de Castro is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

de Castro is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
de Castro seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nogueira does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira trying to control but de Castro postures up.
de Castro thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Nogueira to regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
de Castro stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nogueira swivels though and keeps the full guard.
de Castro controlling from the top position.
de Castro passes easily into side control. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hugo de Castro dominated that round.
That's time! Nogueira's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nogueira tries to clinch up but de Castro circles away and keeps his distance.
Nogueira misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
de Castro shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nogueira as he jumps to the side.
de Castro fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Nogueira avoids it really well and circles away.
Nogueira tries to clinch up but de Castro circles away and keeps his distance.
de Castro avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nogueira misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
de Castro tries to score a power double leg takedown but Nogueira sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten de Castro somewhat.
Gabriel Nogueira has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hugo de Castro.

Nogueira lands a big head kick that sends de Castro tumbling to the mat! Nogueira takes a step backwards and waves de Castro back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Hugo de Castro has been cut.
Nogueira is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hugo de Castro is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nogueira displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from de Castro.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but de Castro paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nogueira tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

de Castro drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
de Castro throws an elbow but Nogueira slips to the side and avoids it well.
Nogueira struggling a bit here.
de Castro tries to move into full mount but can't pass Nogueira's legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
de Castro taking a breather here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
de Castro wants to control but Nogueira is keeping him busy.
Nogueira being controlled for a moment.
de Castro passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Nogueira!

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.

Nogueira defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from de Castro.
de Castro sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Nogueira dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Hugo de Castro's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Nogueira throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
de Castro fails with a takedown attempt.
Nogueira swats away the attempt to clinch by de Castro.
Nogueira clinches but de Castro breaks the clinch
and de Castro counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nogueira pulls out of a head kick attempt.
de Castro looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Nogueira is fending him off so far but de Castro persists. Nope, Nogueira circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nogueira misses with a head kick.
de Castro tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nogueira swivels and escapes.
Gabriel Nogueira has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hugo de Castro.
Nogueira tries to clinch

and de Castro counters by moving into the clinch.
Nogueira throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but de Castro blocks it with crossed arms.
Nogueira looking to slow down the pace here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but de Castro blocks it with crossed arms.

Nogueira breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
de Castro avoids the head kick by Nogueira.
Nogueira throws a front kick that sends de Castro stumbling back into the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nogueira clinches but de Castro breaks the clinch
and de Castro counters with a left and a right that stings Nogueira.
de Castro avoids the head kick by Nogueira.
de Castro scores with a body shot.

de Castro clinches with his opponent.
de Castro has Nogueira pressed against the cage, preventing Nogueira from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
de Castro lands a body shot.
de Castro tries for a takedown but Nogueira manages to get underhooks.
Nogueira with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nogueira looking to throw knees to the head but de Castro is blocking nicely.
de Castro lands a body shot.
Nogueira wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira is pressed up against the cage. de Castro has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nogueira down to the mat. Nogueira avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

de Castro forces Nogueira back against the cage and clinches.
de Castro managing to block the knees to the body from Nogueira.
Nogueira tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Nogueira tries a knee to the head but de Castro blocks it.
de Castro is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nogueira stalling in the clinch but de Castro improves position.
Nogueira throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but de Castro blocks it with crossed arms.
de Castro blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

de Castro successfully pulls guard.
Nogueira won't allow de Castro to sweep him here.

de Castro is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
This has been an exciting period of action!
de Castro tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
de Castro looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nogueira is one step ahead there.

That's four 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.

de Castro is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if de Castro can do anything to dispel that myth.
Nogueira trying to control but de Castro is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hugo de Castro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think de Castro 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hugo de Castro!