PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Markese Cotter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo 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.

Cotter
vs
Nogueira

173 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight 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, Markese Cotter!
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, Rodrigo Nogueira!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Seu Braga and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nogueira misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nogueira lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Markese Cotter has been cut.
Nogueira throws a head kick but Cotter moves out of range.
Cotter misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Cotter takes the fight into the clinch.
Nogueira looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Nogueira wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Nogueira tries to break the clinch but Cotter is controlling the position.

Nogueira breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Nogueira gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cotter to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Cotter showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira lands the left hand.
Nogueira tries to clinch up

and Cotter counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Cotter trying to control the position from guard on top but Nogueira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nogueira is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cotter really is a fat lump.
Cotter trying to control but Nogueira is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nogueira is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cotter is aware though and is defending well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cotter controls from within his opponent's guard.
Nogueira preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Cotter decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Nogueira, up you get!
Nogueira throws a combination that misses

and Cotter counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Nogueira looks gassed!
Cotter looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cotter stalling.

Nogueira is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cotter pulls his head out easily.
Cotter is looking to pass Nogueira's guard but actually Nogueira recovers to full guard.

That's four 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.
Cotter content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Cotter wants to get up but he can't break Nogueira's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Cotter's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Cotter is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Nogueira is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Nogueira has escaped and now he's on top!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nogueira in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Markese Cotter will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Markese Cotter'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.

Nogueira looks to land a combination but Cotter avoids it well.
Nogueira wants to clinch.
Nogueira throws a head kick that misses.
Rodrigo Nogueira seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nogueira throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Nogueira goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Nogueira throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Cotter's head.

Markese Cotter's cut is getting worse.
Cotter dives in and grabs Nogueira's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nogueira pushes down on Cotter's head and hops out.
Nogueira uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Cotter has time to react.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nogueira scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Nogueira lets loose with a powerful body kick. Cotter will feel that in the morning.
Nogueira lands a high kick!

Markese Cotter's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Good exchange - Nogueira coming out on top.
Cotter showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Nogueira.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nogueira. Cotter does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cotter tries to clinch up but Nogueira circles away and keeps his distance.
Cotter throws a nice looking combination but Nogueira bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nogueira throws a series of punches but Cotter avoids them all with ease.
Cotter is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nogueira sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cotter walks forward, straight into a front kick from Nogueira.
Rodrigo Nogueira seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nogueira throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Cotter counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Nogueira!
Cotter with a couple of short strikes.
Nogueira sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Nogueira is looking to control Cotter's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nogueira avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira is trying to get back to full guard.
Nogueira wants to get back to his feet.
Cotter wants to pass to mount but Nogueira is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira is looking to improve his position.
Cotter is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Cotter stands up from half guard.

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.
Nogueira rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cotter moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Cotter moves into the clinch.
Cotter keeps control of Nogueira as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cotter has Nogueira pressed against the cage, preventing Nogueira from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Cotter breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Cotter shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Nogueira manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Cotter pushing down on Nogueira's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nogueira tries to get to full guard but Cotter has control of the leg.

Cotter decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Nogueira showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Markese Cotter's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nogueira fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Cotter misses with a body kick.
Nogueira gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Cotter counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Nogueira is not content to let Cotter control the position.
Nogueira is trying to stand back up but Cotter is controlling him

Nogueira is defending against the submission attempts here by Cotter.
Cotter passes to side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira tries to escape but Cotter is in control.
Nogueira is looking to reverse the position.

Cotter is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nogueira has escaped the position, nice work there.

Nogueira throws Cotter to one side and escapes!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cotter throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Nogueira's waist but Nogueira gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cotter off to one side.
Nogueira uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Cotter has time to react.
Nogueira closes the distance and clinches up with Cotter, looking for a takedown. Nogueira pushes Cotter against the cage but Cotter circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nogueira throws a shot from downtown. Cotter moves away and avoids it.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Cotter.

Cotter shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Nogueira napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Nogueira is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Cotter asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nogueira bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Nogueira defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cotter.
Nogueira throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cotter tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nogueira scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Cotter looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Nogueira is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Nogueira working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cotter doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cotter manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Nogueira is looking to stand up but Cotter isn't so interested in that idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
Markese Cotter showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cotter has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Markese Cotter!