PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roman Grant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marco Noriega (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Grant
vs
Noriega

183 cm
25
200 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

176 cm
21
168 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

[JMFC] 160!

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Roman Grant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marco Noriega!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Daniel Cesar and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circle momentarily. Noriega darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Noriega looks for the body kick but Grant saw that one coming.
Grant takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Good shot there by Grant.
Grant connects with a looping right hand.
Noriega clobbers Grant with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Nice defenses there by Noriega.
Noriega lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Grant fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Noriega looks to score with a jab to the body but Grant is just out of range.
Noriega scores with a jab to the head.
Noriega pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Grant.
Grant uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Noriega.
Grant tries to land a front kick but Noriega steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Good exchange - Noriega coming out on top.
Noriega misses with a body punch
and Grant counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

It looks like Marco Noriega has been cut.
Grant lands a head shot.
Noriega works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Grant avoids the body shot from Noriega.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A shot to the liver by Grant. Beautiful body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice takedown defense from Grant. No joy for Noriega on that attempt.
Noriega misses the jab.

Noriega closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Grant to the mat! Grant manages to get full guard.
Noriega trying to control but Grant is working from the bottom.
Grant knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Noriega on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grant is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Noriega trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Grant being controlled here, momentarily.
Noriega trying to control but Grant is working from the bottom.
Grant is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Noriega is controlling him.
Noriega throwing strikes but missing.
Grant is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Grant avoids the body shot from Noriega.

That's two 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.
Noriega throws a shot to the body.
Good shot there by Noriega.
Nice shot by Noriega.
Noriega throws a jab but it's blocked by Grant.
Noriega misses with a body punch
and Grant counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Noriega thinking.
Grant is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Noriega.
Grant takes a jab right on the kisser.
Noriega tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Grant was well out of range. Poor timing from Noriega.
Noriega lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Noriega throws a jab but it's blocked by Grant.
Nice body punch from Grant.
Noriega is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Grant had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
A jab from Noriega does it's job there.

Noriega moves into range and clinches up with Grant.

Grant's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Grant walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Good standup being displayed there by Noriega as he connects with a hook.
No joy there for Noriega, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Noriega fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Grant looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Grant is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Noriega steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Grant.
Noriega works Grant's body with a nice hook.
Grant keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noriega dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Noriega takes a swing at Grant's ribcage but misses.
Nice takedown defense from Grant. No joy for Noriega on that attempt.
A jab from Grant misses.
Noriega cracks Grant with a good jab.
Noriega fails in his attempt to clinch.
A punch lands to the side of Grant 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Grant throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Noriega stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Grant.
Grant misses with a jab, cross combination.
Noriega just misses with a punch to the body.
Grant doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Grant defending well as Noriega loads up on a big left hand.
Marco Noriega seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Grant looks to throw the jab but Noriega is out of range.
Grant swinging wildly here.

Grant closes the distance and clinches.
Noriega fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Grant lands a body shot in the clinch.
Noriega is working Grant over against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Grant breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Grant finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Grant connects with a solid leg kick.
Noriega throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Noriega connects with a right hand. Grant shakes it off.
Noriega throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Grant swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Grant keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Noriega misses with a straight right.
Grant pivots, looking for a leg kick but Noriega is out of range and Grant settles back down.

Grant moves into range and clinches up with Noriega.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
A head punch on the inside from Grant fails to land.
A left hand lands to the body for Noriega.
A right hand to the body from Noriega.
Noriega jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Grant walks away with a smile on his face. Noriega gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Roman Grant has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marco Noriega.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Noriega throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Noriega misses the jab.
Noriega scores with a nice right hand.
Noriega throws a predictable looking body shot
letting Grant counter with a right hand.
Noriega throws a nice looking combination but Grant bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Noriega dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Marco Noriega's cut.
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.

Noriega misses with an uppercut. Grant saw that one coming.
Noriega fails with an attempt to clinch.
Noriega throws a looping overhand right but Grant ducks down to avoid it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Grant.
Grant misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Noriega.
Noriega just misses with a punch to the body.
Noriega throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Noriega takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Marco Noriega seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Noriega fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Noriega throws a big shot that misses.
Noriega lands with a nice body punch.
Noriega just misses with a punch to the body.

Grant closes the distance and pushes Noriega back into the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Noriega fails to land.
Noriega tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Grant lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Noriega lands with a right to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Grant fails to land.
Grant lands a left hand.
Grant throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grant misses with a short punch on the inside.
Grant doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Noriega misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Noriega lands a shot to the body.
Grant misses with some punches.

Noriega breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Noriega thows a body shot but no joy.
Noriega uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Grant.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Grant.
Noriega throws a sloppy body shot
and Grant counters with a straight right hand.
Grant takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Grant slips under a jab from Noriega.
Grant misses with a body shot.
Grant takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Noriega misses with an uppercut. Grant saw that one coming.
Noriega lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Noriega thuds his right hand into Grant's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Roman Grant is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Grant tries to close the distance and clinch up but Noriega swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Grant fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Noriega manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grant misses with a straight right.
Noriega swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Grant darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Noriega paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Noriega uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Grant.
Noriega fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Grant manages to avoid it.
Noriega throws a body punch but Grant moves out of range.
Noriega misses the shot to the body.
Grant takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A looping hook to the body misses from Noriega. Grant does a little dance to reset his feet.
Grant misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Noriega counters with a nice uppercut.
A jab lands there for Noriega.
Noriega ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Noriega steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Grant.
Noriega cracks Grant with an open hand slap.
Noriega misses the jab.
Grant scores with a jab to the jaw.
Grant moves out of range of the strikes.
Grant lands a nice shot that snaps Noriega's head back.
Grant lands a jab to Noriega's midsection.
Grant stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Noriega misses with a looping left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grant bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Noriega displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Grant throws out the jab.
Grant misses with a hook. Noriega ducked under it nicely.
Noriega lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Noriega misses with a wild body shot.
Noriega throws a lazy right hand but Grant sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Grant cracks Noriega with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Noriega fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Noriega takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Noriega thuds his right hand into Grant's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Noriega fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Noriega pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Noriega thows a body shot but no joy.
Noriega lands a right hook to the body.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Noriega. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Noriega misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Grant.
Grant lands the left hand.
Grant tries to clinch there but Noriega circles away.

Grant pushes Noriega up against the cage in a clinch.
Noriega misses with a hook from the clinch.
Grant throws a head punch that misses.
Grant blocking some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noriega lands a right hand that snaps the head of Grant backwards.
Noriega lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Noriega blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Noriega goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Grant scores with a shot to the side of Noriega's head.
Noriega blocking some punches.
Grant misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Noriega working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Noriega works on Grant's body with a couple of short punches.
Grant tries to circle away but Noriega has him pinned against the cage.
Noriega throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A right handed body shot lands from Grant.
Grant goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Grant throws a head punch that misses.
Noriega stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Noriega showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Marco Noriega'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!

Noriega staying out of range there.
Noriega takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Noriega scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Noriega misses with a wild body shot.
Grant misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Noriega.
Noriega getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Good exchange - Noriega coming out on top.
Noriega slips a jab from Grant.
Noriega thows a body shot but no joy.
Grant slips a straight right by Noriega.
Noriega throws an overhand right that lands on Grant's shoulder, as Grant tries to avoid the shot.
Grant connects with a crisp jab.
Noriega shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Grant pinned against the cage. Grant gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Noriega misses the shot to the body.
Grant looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Noriega lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Grant lands an overhand right.
Noriega thows a body shot but no joy.
Noriega throws a looping overhand right but Grant ducks down to avoid it.
Grant dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Noriega. That did some damage!
A jab from Grant finds it's way through Noriega's defenses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noriega misses with a shot to the body
and Grant counters with a right hand to the body.
Noriega misses with a shot to the body
and Grant makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Grant throws a looping overhand right but Noriega ducks down to avoid it.
Noriega takes a swing at Grant's ribcage but misses.
Grant slips a jab from Noriega.
Grant moves forwards but Noriega connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Noriega checks a low kick from Grant.
Noriega misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Grant.
Noriega missing with a left hand there. Grant was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Noriega pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Noriega throws a jab when Grant was well out of range.
Grant uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Noriega.
Grant tries to score with a low kick but Noriega moves his leg out of the way.
Grant connects with a body shot.
Grant tests Noriega's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Noriega connects with a nice looking jab.
Grant fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Noriega manages to avoid it.
Noriega ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Grant moves away.
Noriega darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Grant stuns Noriega with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Roman Grant has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Noriega defending well as Grant loads up on a big left hand.
Grant misses with a low kick as Noriega jumps back.
Noriega connects with a looping right hand.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Grant!
Grant works Noriega's body with a nice hook.
Grant punishes Noriega's body with a nice straight punch.
Noriega lands a jab to the head.
Grant throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Noriega staying out of range there.
Noriega throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Grant counters with an outside leg kick.
Noriega gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Noriega throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Grant stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Noriega lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Grant circles away quickly and effectively.
Noriega throws out a powerful jab.
Noriega shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Noriega listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Noriega scores with a body shot.
Grant wants to clinch up but Noriega keeps it at a distance.
Noriega scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noriega ducks under a wild hook from Grant.
Noriega misses with a body shot
and Grant counters with a left and a right that stings Noriega.
A looping hook to the body misses from Noriega. Grant does a little dance to reset his feet.
Noriega misses with an uppercut.
Noriega ducks under a wild hook from Grant.
Noriega misses the shot to the body.
Grant cracks Noriega with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A jab from Grant misses.
Grant tried to score with a low kick but Noriega checks it.
Grant throws a jab when Noriega was well out of range.
Noriega paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Marco Noriega is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A bone on bone clash there as Noriega blocks the leg kick.
Noriega thows a body shot but no joy.
Grant lands with a hook. Noriega tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Noriega scores with a jab to the jaw.
Noriega scores with a shot to the body.
Grant fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Noriega looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A slapping leg kick lands for Grant.
Noriega dodges the punch combination from Grant.
Grant looks to land a right hand but Noriega moved out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Noriega looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Noriega moves nicely into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The referee asks Noriega politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Noriega prefers to stall for the moment though.
Grant tries to improve position but can't.
Noriega trying to control the action but Grant is working from the bottom.
Noriega slows the pace down.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Noriega wants to lay and pray for a moment but Grant keeps working.
Noriega moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Roman Grant.
Well Noriega has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29

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