PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Nogueira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Russ Lehr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Antonio Nogueira had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Nogueira
vs
Lehr

187 cm
26
205 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Nogueira!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Russ Lehr!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Daniel Cesar and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lehr fails with the takedown.
Lehr is looking to clinch.

Lehr closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Nogueira quickly recovers to half guard.
Lehr seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Lehr trying to control from half guard but Nogueira is working away.
Lehr controlling the pace.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Lehr is stalling here. Nogueira is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Lehr seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Nogueira has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Nogueira wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lehr, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lehr manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Lehr controlling the position for now.

Nogueira is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Nogueira prevents Lehr from improving his position.
Lehr gets back to full guard.
Nogueira wants to control from the top but Lehr keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Lehr has Nogueira pulled in close to control his posture.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nogueira keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lehr fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Antonio Nogueira has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Russ Lehr.
Nogueira throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
No luck for Lehr with that takedown attempt.

Lehr scores with a takedown into Nogueira's guard.
Lehr wants to pass the guard but Nogueira is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lehr throws and elbow that misses. Nogueira uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lehr's guard. Nice move by Nogueira!
Lehr controlling the position.
Let's hope that Lehr has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Lehr tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nogueira postures up.

Russ Lehr has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Nogueira throws a nice looking combination but Lehr bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nogueira cracks the inside of Lehr's front leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lehr closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nogueira did well to prevent Lehr getting side control.
Nogueira tries to kick Lehr off but Lehr keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Nogueira regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Lehr.
Lehr trying to control the position from guard on top but Nogueira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lehr is looking to advance position but Nogueira has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Nogueira tries to push Lehr's head away but Lehr is holding on tight.
Nogueira trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russ Lehr dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Lehr.
Nogueira defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lehr.
Some wild striking there from Nogueira.
Nogueira lands a head kick!

Lehr feints and as Nogueira raises his hands in defense, Lehr changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Lehr is stalling in the full guard.
Lehr tries to free his leg and advance position but Nogueira is retaining full guard.
Lehr looking to sit in guard and control but Nogueira gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Lehr controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Russ Lehr wasn't active enough on the ground.
Lehr shoots in for a takedown but Nogueira shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Antonio Nogueira has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Russ Lehr.
Lehr shoots in but Nogueira avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Lehr shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Nogueira is trying to defend but Lehr finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Lehr is breathing heavily.
Nogueira looks like he's trying to stand up.

Nogueira kicks off Lehr and gets to his feet.
Russ Lehr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Nogueira misses the target.
Nogueira lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Nogueira.

Lehr scores with a takedown into Nogueira's guard.
Nogueira keeping moving, preventing Lehr from controlling successfully.
Lehr must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Nogueira is looking to stand up but Lehr isn't so interested in that idea.

Nogueira pushes Lehr off and gets back to his feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Nogueira enables Lehr to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Nogueira manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lehr in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lehr pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nogueira is keeping the position for now.
Nogueira wants to stand and escape but Lehr is having none of it.
Lehr not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Lehr gets to his feet - Nogueira follows without any prompting.

Lehr shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Lehr showed some decent athleticism there.
Lehr scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lehr trying to mount his opponent but Nogueira defends it.
Lehr seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Lehr drops an elbow to the side of Nogueira's head.
Nogueira is trying to stand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lehr looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russ Lehr showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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.

Lehr scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Lehr is looking to take a break and control but Nogueira is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Russ Lehr has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lehr might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Nogueira kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Lehr throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Nogueira works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Lehr is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Russ Lehr has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Lehr gets the takedown into side control.
Lehr is trying to ground and pound but Nogueira uses the momentary lack of control by Lehr to regain half guard.
Lehr thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Nogueira to regain full guard.
Lehr looking to sit in guard and control but Nogueira gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Nogueira wants to control from the top but Lehr keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Lehr is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Lehr looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lehr is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Nogueira is fighting to break Lehr's control of his arms but Lehr is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Nogueira trying to control the position from guard on top but Lehr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

Lehr darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Lehr wants to pass to mount but Nogueira is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Nogueira is trying to stand.
Lehr controlling the action here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Lehr is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Nogueira tries to kick Lehr off but Lehr keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four 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.
Lehr thows a huge punch but Nogueira dodges it nicely.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Lehr's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Russ Lehr.

Lehr is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Nogueira's half guard.
Lehr looks to land a strike but Nogueira avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Lehr stays in close to Nogueira's body and controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russ Lehr really dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lehr shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Nogueira manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Lehr won't allow Nogueira to get back to his feet.
Lehr sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Nogueira keeping moving, preventing Lehr from controlling successfully.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Lehr makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira wants to stand and escape but Lehr is having none of it.
Lehr trying to move into half guard but instead Nogueira has managed to sweep!
Lehr looking for a sweep. Not yet Lehr, not yet.
Lehr really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nogueira. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Lehr pulls Nogueira in close to prevent any damage.
Nogueira wants to control from the top but Lehr keeps moving.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Lehr manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nogueira manages to get himself to full guard.
Nogueira keeping moving, preventing Lehr from controlling successfully.
Lehr stops Nogueira from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lehr trying to control the position from guard on top but Nogueira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nogueira keeping full guard, as Lehr tries to pass.
Lehr controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Russ Lehr was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Nogueira misses with a body kick.
Lehr fails with the takedown.
Nogueira throws a head kick but Lehr moves out of range.

Lehr shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Lehr works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Nogueira is not content to let Lehr control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lehr throwing shots but Nogueira is blocking nicely.
Lehr missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Lehr trying to control the pace.
Lehr with the ground and pound but Nogueira uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Lehr trying to control the position from guard on top but Nogueira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lehr pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nogueira is keeping the position for now.

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.
Nogueira keeping moving, preventing Lehr from controlling successfully.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Lehr stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nogueira swivels though and keeps the full guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Russ Lehr hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Nogueira throws a right and a left that both miss.

Lehr scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Lehr trying to control from half guard but Nogueira is working away.
Lehr is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Nogueira reverses the position - he's now on top in Lehr's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russ Lehr dominated that fourth round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Lehr scores a takedown into full mount!
Nogueira is squirming around, avoiding Lehr's attempts to control the action.
Lehr throws some wild stikes that Nogueira manages to avoid easily.
Nogueira is squirming around, avoiding Lehr's attempts to control the action.
Nogueira avoids a strike by Lehr and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Lehr's guard! Fantastic escape!
Nogueira advances position into side control!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Lehr can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nogueira tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Lehr is trying to control Nogueira's posture but Nogueira avoids it.
Lehr sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Lehr is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Nogueira 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.
Lehr desperately trying to maintain half guard.

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.
Lehr is looking for a sweep. Nogueira is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nogueira slows the pace down in half guard.
Lehr tries to get to full guard but Nogueira has control of the leg.
Lehr moves into full guard.
Lehr trying to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lehr keeping moving, preventing Nogueira from controlling successfully.

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

Lehr closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nogueira did well to prevent Lehr getting side control.
Lehr stops Nogueira from getting back to his feet.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Lehr lands a nice short elbow.
Lehr throwing shots but Nogueira is blocking nicely.
Lehr is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Lehr lands strikes from half guard.
Russ Lehr is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lehr throws a strike but Nogueira avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Lehr looking to pass the guard.
Nogueira can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lehr controls the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Russ Lehr comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lehr winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 45:50
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 45:50
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Russ Lehr!
Russ Lehr is the new light heavyweight champion!