PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Juan Pablo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Nogueira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pablo's entrance music is smoke the fire. A fine choice. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Pablo
vs
Nogueira

167 cm
28
140 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

173 cm
26
143 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Juan Pablo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Nogueira!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Paulo Santos and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pablo clinches up against the cage.
Nogueira throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Pablo blocks it with crossed arms.
Nogueira lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Pablo drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Nogueira gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Pablo dodges an elbow strike from Nogueira.
With the fighters up against the cage, Nogueira throws an elbow but misses.
Pablo tries a body shot but Nogueira blocks it.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Nogueira.
Nogueira throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A right handed body shot lands from Pablo.
Pablo misses with a punch to the body.
Nogueira misses with a knee to the head.
Pablo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Pablo misses with a knee to the head.
Pablo drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nogueira with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Pablo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Nogueira smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juan Pablo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nogueira doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Pablo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pablo pushes down on Nogueira's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Pablo tries to pass to full mount but Nogueira defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pablo is looking for a kimura but Nogueira is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Pablo to get the leverage.

Nogueira pushes Pablo off and gets back to his feet.

Nogueira closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Pablo quickly recovers to half guard.

Pablo looking for submissions off his back.
Pablo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nogueira is working away from the top position though.
Nogueira tries to stand and escape but Pablo is controlling the position.
Nogueira slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira passes to side control.
Nogueira moves into full mount!
Nogueira takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pablo is squirming around, avoiding Nogueira's attempts to control the action.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Pablo tries to hold on but Nogueira postures up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Antonio Nogueira wasn't active enough on the ground.
Nogueira with a lazy takedown attempt

and Pablo counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Pablo.
Nogueira throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Pablo blocks it with crossed arms.
Nogueira throws a knee to the head but misses.
Pablo takes an elbow to the forehead.
Pablo blocks the elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

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

Pablo gets caught flat footed, as Nogueira shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Nogueira looks gassed!
Nogueira trying to control the position from guard on top but Pablo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pablo has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Pablo being controlled here, momentarily.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Pablo keeping moving, preventing Nogueira from controlling successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Antonio Nogueira.
Nogueira with a lazy takedown attempt

and Pablo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nogueira won't be happy with that.
Nogueira is not content to let Pablo control the position.
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 Juan Pablo will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Pablo doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Nogueira counters with a nice double leg into side control. Pablo won't be happy with that.
Nogueira is looking to take a break and control but Pablo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nogueira content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Let's hope that Nogueira 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.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Pablo manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pablo 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.
Nogueira wants to get back to his feet.
Nogueira pushes Pablo off but Pablo dives into side control.
Nogueira is trying to get back to his feet.

That's two 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.
Nogueira is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Nogueira is breathing heavily.

Pablo stands up.
Nogueira tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Pablo counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Pablo is trying to work for a kimura but Nogueira is defending well.

Nogueira kicks off Pablo and gets to his feet.

Pablo shoots in and gets a takedown into Nogueira's guard.

Pablo is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nogueira kicks Pablo off and gets to his feet.
Nogueira has his takedown stuffed

and Pablo counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pablo won't allow Nogueira to get back to his feet.
Pablo trying to control the position from guard on top but Nogueira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pablo pushes down on Nogueira's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Pablo seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Pablo manages to move to mount!
Pablo unloading with bombs!
Pablo tries to control but Nogueira wriggling away.
Pablo is trying to take his opponent's back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nogueira is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Pablo dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Pablo looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Nogueira!
Pablo controlling his opponent.
Nogueira trying desperately to get to his feet.

Nogueira bucks Pablo off and manages to get back to his feet!
Pablo doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Nogueira decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Pablo's guard.

Pablo working for a triangle but Nogueira defends it easily.
Juan Pablo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pablo is working an open guard so Nogueira takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Pablo clinches up against the cage.
Nogueira tries to land a knee to the head but Pablo blocks with his arms.
Nogueira throws a knee to the head but misses.
A knee to the head by Nogueira.
Nogueira tries a knee to the head but Pablo blocks it.
Pablo wants a takedown but no success here.
Nogueira throws a knee to the head but misses.
Pablo is working for takedown but Nogueira is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juan Pablo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pablo tries to pull guard but Nogueira holds him up against the cage and eventually Pablo drops back down to his feet.
Nogueira is pressed up against the cage. Pablo 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 a takedown attempt

and Pablo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nogueira won't be happy with that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pablo looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Pablo tries to advance to mount but can't.

Nogueira throws Pablo to one side and escapes!

Nogueira shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nogueira wants to control from the top but Pablo keeps moving.

Pablo looking for a guillotine here but Nogueira defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Pablo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Nogueira not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Nogueira trying to control the position from guard on top but Pablo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Antonio Nogueira.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Pablo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Pablo's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Antonio Nogueira has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Juan Pablo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pablo prevents Nogueira from standing back up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pablo content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Pablo passes to full mount!

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 Juan Pablo.
Well Pablo has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juan Pablo!