PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ronan Nogueira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ronan Nogueira has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Rafael Silva's chin.

Silva
vs
Nogueira

196 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

184 cm
23
185 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ronan Nogueira!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Daniel Cesar and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nogueira gets a takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Nogueira is looking to take a break and control but Silva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Nogueira is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Silva defends it well.
Nogueira prevents Silva from improving his position.
Silva moves into full guard.
Silva is controlling Nogueira's posture.
Silva keeping full guard, as Nogueira tries to pass.

Silva has his foot on Nogueira's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nogueira works his way back into a safe position though.
Silva really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Nogueira is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Silva sees it coming and defends easily.

Nogueira is trying to work for a kimura but Silva is defending well.
Nogueira trying to mount his opponent but Silva defends it.

Silva looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nogueira is looking to advance position but Silva won't allow it.

Silva is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nogueira pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silva is defending against the submission attempts here by Nogueira.

Nogueira is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Silva looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Silva tries to roll over but Nogueira keeps him under control.
Silva won't allow Nogueira to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira is trying to control. Silva wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Nogueira tries to pass the half guard into mount. Silva knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Nogueira trying to control from half guard but Silva is working away.
Nogueira might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Silva kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ronan Nogueira hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Nogueira looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Silva!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira tries to control but Silva wriggling away.

Nogueira is working for a guillotine from mount but Silva frees his head quite easily.
Silva manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Nogueira seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Silva does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silva slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Silva wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronan Nogueira dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Silva closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Silva is looking to take a break and control but Nogueira is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nogueira is looking for a sweep.
Nogueira manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Silva prevents Nogueira from improving his position.
Silva trying to control from half guard but Nogueira is working away.
Nogueira regains full guard. Nicely done.

Nogueira had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Silva defends it easily.
Silva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nogueira has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Silva has managed to get both his arms back between Nogueira's legs - danger averted.
Nogueira is breathing heavily.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Nogueira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Nogueira looking for subs off his back but Silva has passed one foot through into half guard.
Nogueira moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Silva is looking to work some ground and pound but Nogueira has wrist control.
Silva will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nogueira is keeping the position for now.

Nogueira looking for a guillotine here but Silva defends easily.
Nogueira keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.

Nogueira is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Silva trying to control the position from guard on top but Nogueira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nogueira had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Silva defends it easily.
Silva sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Nogueira's guard.
Ronan Nogueira has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nogueira manages to get to full guard.
Silva wants to pass the guard but Nogueira is keeping the position.

Silva avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to control but Nogueira is working from the bottom.
Nogueira tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Silva stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nogueira swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Nogueira looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Silva has picked Nogueira up and slammed him! Nogueira can't keep hold of the triangle and Silva manages to pass to side control!
Nogueira is not content to let Silva control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nogueira is looking to reverse the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ronan Nogueira will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Silva shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Nogueira's guard.

Nogueira is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Silva defends well.

Silva avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Nogueira keeping moving, preventing Silva from controlling successfully.
Silva forces his way into half guard.
Nogueira tries to get to full guard but Silva has control of the leg.
Nogueira takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira is refusing to be controlled, as Silva sits in half guard.
Silva prevents Nogueira from improving his position.
Silva is trying to control. Nogueira wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Nogueira is pressing down on Silva's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Silva stands and throws Nogueira's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Nogueira is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva wants to control but Nogueira is keeping him busy.
Nogueira taking a bit of punishment here - Silva scoring with strikes.
Nogueira is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Silva's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Silva prevents Nogueira from improving his position.
Nogueira is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Nogueira looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is looking to take a break and control but Nogueira is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nogueira is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Silva jumps into side control!

Silva has hold of Nogueira's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Nogueira seems comfortable defending it but Silva has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Nogueira is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Nogueira is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Silva couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Rafael Silva!