PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nobunaga Shirow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Nogueira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gabriel Nogueira will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Shirow
vs
Nogueira

173 cm
24
164 lbs
10 - 7 - 1

185 cm
21
160 lbs
5 - 3 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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 10 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nobunaga Shirow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gabriel Nogueira!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Felipe Paraventi and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nogueira delivers a nice body kick.
Nogueira tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nogueira goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Nogueira throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nogueira pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A chopping leg kick lands by Shirow.
Nogueira misses with an attempted mid kick.
Nogueira is looking to land body kicks.
Nogueira throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nogueira throws a head kick but Shirow moves out of range.
Shirow misses with a low kick.
Shirow blocks a head kick by Nogueira.
Shirow smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Nogueira thumps Shirow with a low kick.
Nogueira misses with a body kick.
Shirow avoids the head kick by Nogueira.
Gabriel Nogueira seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nogueira misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nogueira takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Gabriel Nogueira has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Shirow closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Nogueira looks gassed!

Shirow seems to be working for a kimura but Nogueira defends the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shirow is working for a kimura but Nogueira is defending it quite comfortably.
Shirow is keen to just control but Nogueira is a slippery customer.

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.

Shirow is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Nogueira is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Shirow throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Shirow is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shirow is looking to take a break and control but Nogueira is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nogueira is trying is best to control the position here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nogueira throws a solid leg kick but Shirow takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Nogueira.
Nogueira moves out of range as Shirow strikes.
Nogueira is looking to slow Shirow down with leg kicks.
Shirow tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nogueira throws a sloppy head kick and Shirow moves out of range easily.
Nogueira looks to land a body kick but Shirow moved away.
A head kick misses from Nogueira.
Shirow shoots in but no luck this time.
Nogueira throws a sloppy head kick and Shirow moves out of range easily.
Nogueira is looking to land body kicks.
Nice body kick from Nogueira.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shirow walks forward, straight into a front kick from Nogueira.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nogueira misses with a head kick.
Nogueira tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nogueira goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

It looks like Nobunaga Shirow has been cut.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Nogueira.
Nogueira walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Shirow checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Nogueira pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nogueira throws a sloppy head kick and Shirow moves out of range easily.
Shirow blocks a head kick by Nogueira.
Nogueira has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Shirow goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Shirow misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nogueira fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Shirow checks it well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head kick misses from Nogueira.
Nogueira tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shirow throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gabriel Nogueira is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Shirow avoids the head kick by Nogueira.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Nogueira dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action!

Shirow changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Nogueira looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Shirow is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nogueira is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Shirow wants to control but Nogueira is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shirow is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nogueira has escaped the position, nice work there.
Nogueira managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Shirow.

Shirow is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Nogueira knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

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.
Nogueira tries to get back to half guard but can't.

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

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

Shirow is rocked!
Nogueira throws a sloppy head kick
and Shirow counters with a right hand to the body.
Oh Shirow is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Nogueira throws a head kick that misses.
Shirow walks forward, straight into a front kick from Nogueira.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Nogueira.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gabriel Nogueira seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nogueira throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Shirow seems to have got his legs back now.
Nogueira thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Shirow if he has to take too many more of those.
A head kick misses from Nogueira.
A head kick misses from Nogueira.
Shirow misses with a head kick.
Nogueira looks to land a body kick but Shirow moved away.
Nobunaga Shirow is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nogueira tries a head kick but it misses.
Nogueira shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Nogueira tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Shirow is able to avoid easily.
Nogueira takes a kick to the side of the head.
Nogueira throws a sloppy head kick
and Shirow counters with a series of strikes. Nogueira will be more careful next time no doubt.
Nogueira misses with a head kick.

Shirow shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Nogueira manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Shirow trying to control but Nogueira is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Shirow postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nogueira looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Shirow passes Nogueira's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Nogueira showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Shirow throws a head kick but Nogueira moves out of range.
Shirow swinging wildly here.
A head kick misses from Nogueira.
Nogueira throws a leg kick but Shirow checks it.
Nogueira pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nogueira throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Shirow throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nogueira attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Shirow closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Nogueira regains half guard there - taking advantage of Shirow's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

Shirow is looking for a kimura but Nogueira is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Shirow to get the leverage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shirow trying to control the action but Nogueira is working from the bottom.
Nogueira tries to roll over but Shirow keeps him under control.

Shirow looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Nogueira pushes Shirow off looking to stand but Shirow dives back in and keeps control.
Nobunaga Shirow has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.

Shirow is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Nogueira really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Shirow. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Shirow looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Shirow avoids the head kick by Nogueira.
Nogueira tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shirow fails with a takedown attempt.
Shirow moves out of range of the body kick.
Nogueira tries a head kick but it misses.
Shirow moves out of range of the body kick.
Nogueira misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Shirow blocks a head kick by 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 tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nogueira takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Nogueira throws the kick towards the body but Shirow avoids it.
Nogueira fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Shirow is out of range.
Shirow throws a right hand that Nogueira ducks under and follows up with a left that Nogueira also avoids with ease.

Shirow looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Shirow sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nogueira defending well though.

Shirow has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Nogueira defend it? Shirow steps over the head and cranks it - Nogueira is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Shirow!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Nobunaga Shirow!