PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rashad Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio 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.

Evans
vs
Rodrigo Nogueira

180 cm
25
244 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
20
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Inexperienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 St Petersburg, Rashad Evans!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Valeri Chadov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nogueira shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Nogueira seems to be looking for submissions.
Evans taking some punishment here, with Nogueira in his half guard.
Evans avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nogueira.
Evans keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Nogueira takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Nogueira throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Nogueira not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nogueira not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nogueira is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Evans wants to get back to his feet.

Nogueira is looking for a kimura here.
Evans really is a fat lump.
Nogueira missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nogueira.
Evans keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Nogueira looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Nogueira missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Evans might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Nogueira looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Evans regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Nogueira.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nogueira cracks Evans with a solid left hand.
Nogueira landing with the ground and pound.
Nogueira throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Evans works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans wants to stand but Nogueira is controlling the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nogueira missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nogueira with a flurry of punches that miss.
Nogueira with a flurry of punches that miss.
Nogueira trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nogueira trying to control but Evans is working from the bottom.
Nogueira has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nogueira throws a big right hand that misses.
Nogueira loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nogueira wants to control from the top but Evans keeps moving.
Evans is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nogueira working some strikes from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira landing with the ground and pound.
Evans looking to control.
Nogueira won't allow Evans to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nogueira loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nogueira lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Nogueira stands up over Evans, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Nogueira slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Nogueira looking to sit in guard and control but Evans gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Evans trying to control but Nogueira is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nogueira has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Evans can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Nogueira has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Nogueira looking for a guillotine here but Evans defends easily.
Nogueira looks gassed!

Evans got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nogueira has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Evans has managed to get both his arms back between Nogueira's legs - danger averted.
Evans wants to control from the top but Nogueira keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Evans gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Nogueira lands a couple of elbows.

Evans escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nogueira gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Nogueira lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Nogueira missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Evans striking off his back but it's not causing Nogueira any problems.
Nogueira throws a big right hand that misses.
Nogueira in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Evans working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nogueira.
Nogueira working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nogueira with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Nogueira with a flurry of punches that miss.

Nogueira drops back looking for a leg! Evans is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Evans manages to kick Nogueira off! Nogueira jumps back into Evans's guard.
Nogueira is breathing heavily.
Evans manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Evans punching from mount but Nogueira doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Evans tries to stand up but Nogueira had a hold of his arm and he's managed to perform a nice reversal, into half guard.
Nogueira throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira winds up and cracks Evans with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nogueira missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Evans on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Nogueira sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Evans defending well though.
Nogueira lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Nogueira scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nogueira sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Evans defending well though.
Nogueira passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Evans!
Evans tries to lock up and control but Nogueira gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Nogueira with good strikes from the mount here!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nogueira looking to finish Evans with some ground and pound. This is bad for Evans!
Nogueira with a couple of short strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira postures up and lands a whopping elbow - oh that's hurt Evans bigstyle! Two more strikes land for Nogueira and the fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:19 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira!