PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Nogueira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and LieHarder Machete (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Nogueira
vs
Machete

185 cm
22
160 lbs
8 - 5 - 1

190 cm
28
156 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid 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 8 - 5 - 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 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, LieHarder Machete!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Luis Engracia and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nogueira throws a half hearted mid kick.
Nogueira looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Nogueira throws a sloppy head kick and Machete moves out of range easily.
Nogueira throws a head kick but Machete moves out of range.
Nogueira misses with a low kick.

Machete fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Nogueira, pushing him back against the cage.
Machete has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Nogueira avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Nogueira tries to land knees in the clinch but Machete avoids the damage to the body.
Nogueira misses with a knee strike.
Nogueira lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Machete is trying to drag Nogueira to the mat but Nogueira just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Nogueira is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Nogueira trying to land knees to the body.
Nogueira creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Machete tries for a takedown but Nogueira manages to get underhooks.
Gabriel Nogueira has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of LieHarder Machete.
Nogueira with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Machete being controlled against the cage.
Nogueira is pressed up against the cage. Machete 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.
Machete looks gassed!
Machete takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Machete avoids a kick to the body.
Nogueira throws a sloppy head kick and Machete moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crunch! Nogueira slams his shin into Machete's torso.
Nogueira misses with an attempted mid kick.
A head kick misses from Nogueira.
Nogueira explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Machete moves out of range of the body kick.
Nogueira tries a head 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 throws a push kick but Machete slaps the foot to one side.
Nogueira misses with a kick to the body.
Nogueira throws a sloppy head kick and Machete moves out of range easily.
Nogueira lands with a slapping head kick.
Nogueira tries a head kick but it misses.
Nogueira displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Machete.
Nogueira lands a head kick!
Nogueira misses with a body kick.
Nogueira throws a sloppy head kick and Machete moves out of range easily.
Machete avoids the head kick by Nogueira.
Machete avoids a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machete will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nogueira looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Nogueira throws a sloppy head kick and Machete moves out of range easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Machete.
Nogueira throws a push kick but Machete slaps the foot to one side.
Machete blocks a head kick by Nogueira.
Nogueira stuffs the takedown attempt from Machete. Machete gets slowly back to his feet.
Nogueira throws a wild body kick that Machete sees coming a mile off.
Nogueira pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Some bone on bone action there as Machete checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Nogueira throws a head kick but Machete moves out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nogueira pressing his opponent against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Machete wants a takedown but no success here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira avoiding damage.
Machete blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Machete has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Nogueira avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Nogueira tries to land knees in the clinch but Machete avoids the damage to the body.
The referee is keeping an eye on Nogueira - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Machete is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Nogueira tries to land a knee to the head but Machete blocks with his arms.
Nogueira is pressed up against the cage. Machete 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.
Nogueira misses with an attempted mid kick.
Nogueira lands a high kick!
Gabriel Nogueira is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nogueira throws a sloppy head kick and Machete moves out of range easily.
A head kick misses from Nogueira.

Machete rushes Nogueira and presses him up against the cage.
Machete avoiding damage as Nogueira throws knees to the body.
Nogueira lands a knee to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Nogueira obliges.
Nogueira will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Machete up against the cage.
Nogueira throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira lands an elbow that stopped Machete in his tracks for a moment.
Machete tries for a takedown but Nogueira manages to get underhooks.
Machete blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nogueira slowing the pace effectively.
Nogueira tries a knee to the head but Machete blocks it.
Nogueira misses with a knee to the head.
Nogueira taking a breather.
Nogueira crunches a lovely knee into Machete's ribcage.
Machete goes for a takedown attempt but Nogueira pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Nogueira throws a leg kick but Machete checks it.
A head kick misses from Nogueira.
Machete avoids a kick to the body.
Nogueira throws a head kick that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nogueira throws a push kick but Machete slaps the foot to one side.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Nogueira throws a wild body kick that Machete sees coming a mile off.
Machete moves out of range of the body kick.
Nogueira throws a push kick but Machete slaps the foot to one side.
Machete shoots in looking for a takedown. Nogueira tries to sprawl out of it but Machete keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Nogueira manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Nogueira dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Nogueira.
Machete shoots in looking for a takedown. Nogueira tries to sprawl out of it but Machete keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Nogueira manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Machete misses with a takedown attempt - Nogueira sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nogueira throws a push kick but Machete slaps the foot to one side.
Machete fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Nogueira avoids it really well and circles away.
Gabriel Nogueira has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of LieHarder Machete.
Machete avoids the head kick by Nogueira.
Nogueira looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nogueira tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Nogueira.
Nogueira misses with a leg kick.
Nogueira throws a head kick but Machete moves out of range.
Nogueira misses with a head kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Machete blocks a head kick by Nogueira.
Nogueira walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Machete checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Machete feints and as Nogueira raises his hands in defense, Machete changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Machete stands and steps away. Nogueira gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Machete shoots in looking for a takedown but Nogueira manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Machete's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Machete takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Machete shoots in and drives through. Nogueira sprawls well.
Nogueira goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Machete.
Machete avoids a kick to the body.
Nogueira looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Gabriel Nogueira is winning the standup battle so far.
Machete tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Nogueira manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nogueira throws a head kick but Machete moves out of range.
Machete shoots in for a takedown but Nogueira shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nogueira throws a head kick but Machete moves out of range.
Nogueira looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Nogueira tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nogueira connects with a high kick.
Nogueira throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Machete has a takedown stuffed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira throws a wild body kick that Machete sees coming a mile off.
Nogueira stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nogueira wants it to stay on the feet.
Nogueira tries a head kick but it misses.
Nogueira is looking to land body kicks.

Machete looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Machete tries to pass the half guard into mount. Nogueira knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Machete stands up and beckons Nogueira to join him on the feet.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Nogueira.
Nogueira throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Nogueira throws a head kick but Machete moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira misses with a head kick.
Machete looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nogueira throws a wild body kick that Machete sees coming a mile off.
Nogueira throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Nogueira misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nogueira leaves Machete with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nogueira misses with a body kick.
Nogueira misses with a head kick.
Nogueira keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nogueira lands a head kick!
Nogueira throws a head kick that misses.
Machete fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Nogueira.
Machete will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
LieHarder Machete is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four 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.
Nogueira tries a head kick but it misses.
Nogueira tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nogueira misses with a low kick.
Nogueira tries a head kick but it misses.
Machete looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nogueira misses with a body kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Nogueira with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nogueira prevents a takedown attempt there.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Nogueira takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Nogueira for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Nogueira throws an elbow but it misses.
Machete dodges an elbow strike from Nogueira.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but LieHarder Machete will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Nogueira throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Nogueira misses with a head kick.
Nogueira misses with a kick to the body.
Nogueira throws a front kick aimed at Machete's knee but Machete avoids it well.
Machete 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 Machete off to one side.
Nogueira looks to land a body kick but Machete moved away.
Machete avoids the head kick by Nogueira.
Nogueira throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Nogueira misses with a body kick.
Horrible takedown by Machete or perhaps it was just good defense by Nogueira which made him look bad.
Nogueira pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Machete blocks a head kick by Nogueira.
Nogueira misses with an attempted mid kick.
Nogueira defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Machete.
Gabriel Nogueira has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of LieHarder Machete.
Nogueira misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nogueira throws a head kick but Machete moves out of range.
Nogueira throws a sloppy head kick and Machete moves out of range easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nogueira is looking to land body kicks.

Machete darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machete 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.
Machete uses his free foot to push down on Nogueira's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Nogueira.
Machete misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Nogueira can't escape the position.
Nogueira wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Machete.
Machete unloads with some shots from mount but Nogueira bucks and avoids them well.

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.
Machete sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Machete thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Nogueira blocking the ground and pound.
Machete avoids the attempt from Nogueira to control.
Nogueira tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nogueira avoids a series of strikes thrown by Machete.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Machete.
Machete postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Nogueira looks a forlorn figure.
Machete throwing strikes here but Nogueira is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Machete working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Nogueira can't escape the position.
Nogueira tries to hold on but Machete postures up.
Machete dominating with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machete thowing shots but they're missing.
Machete throws some wild stikes that Nogueira manages to avoid easily.
Nogueira knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Machete on the ground.
Nogueira wants to hold on but Machete pushes him away.
Machete thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Machete throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Nogueira because Machete loaded up on that one.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Machete thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Machete thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

And that's the end of the fight!
LieHarder Machete comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Machete 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Gabriel Nogueira!