PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nino Fidalgo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aldir Pezao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Fidalgo
vs
Pezao

170 cm
19
200 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

185 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nino Fidalgo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Aldir Pezao!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Emerson Jorge and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pezao is looking to chop away at Fidalgo's legs.
Fidalgo throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Pezao counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Fidalgo tries to close the distance and clinch but Pezao swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fidalgo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pezao shoots in but no luck this time.
Fidalgo fails to land with a series of punches.
Fidalgo tries to clinch up but Pezao circles away and keeps his distance.
Fidalgo tries to close the distance and clinch but Pezao swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fidalgo tries to clinch but Pezao is having none of it.
Fidalgo could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Pezao throws a body kick that misses.
Pezao circles away from the clinch attempt.
Pezao closes the distance and clinches up with Fidalgo, looking for a takedown. Pezao pushes Fidalgo against the cage but Fidalgo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Pezao swats away the attempt to clinch by Fidalgo.
Fidalgo avoids the body shot from Pezao.
Fidalgo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Pezao manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Pezao wants to clinch up but Fidalgo keeps it at a distance.
Fidalgo misses with a wild combination.
Pezao tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fidalgo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Fidalgo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Fidalgo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Pezao misses with a body kick.
No joy there for Fidalgo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Pezao looks to land a combination. Fidalgo sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Pezao fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Fidalgo avoids it really well and circles away.
Nino Fidalgo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aldir Pezao.
Pezao is trying hard to land a takedown here. Fidalgo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Fidalgo throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

It looks like Aldir Pezao has been cut.
Fidalgo misses with a few strikes there.
Pezao shoots in looking for a takedown. Fidalgo tries to sprawl out of it but Pezao keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Fidalgo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Fidalgo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Pezao moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pezao throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Fidalgo.
Pezao looks gassed!
Fidalgo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pezao paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Fidalgo moves in looking to clinch but Pezao pushes him off.
Fidalgo fails to land with a series of punches.
Pezao fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A combination from Fidalgo does no damage.
Fidalgo tries to clinch up but Pezao circles away and keeps his distance.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fidalgo falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Pezao counter with a right hand.
Pezao rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fidalgo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Pezao tries to keep at a distance but Fidalgo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Fidalgo is looking to control Pezao's arms but Pezao gets an underhook and turns him. Now Fidalgo has his back to the cage.
Fidalgo drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Pezao gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Fidalgo leaning his opponent against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pezao trying to stall but Fidalgo improves his position.

Fidalgo breaks from the clinch.
Fidalgo throws a combination that misses
and Pezao counters with a stiff right hand.
Pezao closes this distance looking for a takedown but Fidalgo circles away.
Fidalgo tries to clinch but Pezao moves out of range.
Fidalgo wants to clinch up but Pezao keeps it at a distance.
Fidalgo throws a series of punches but Pezao moves out of range.
Fidalgo throws a series of punches but Pezao avoids them all with ease.
Fidalgo stuffs the takedown.
Fidalgo looks to land a combination but Pezao avoids it well.
Pezao shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Fidalgo as he avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pezao is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Fidalgo.
A punch combination from Fidalgo misses.
Pezao will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Pezao avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A left and a right from Fidalgo both land. Nice combination.
Pezao pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nino Fidalgo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Fidalgo moves into the clinch successfully.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fidalgo lands a hook that snaps the head of Pezao backwards.
Pezao is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Fidalgo to keep the fight standing.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Fidalgo.

Fidalgo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Left hook, right uppercut from Fidalgo.
Fidalgo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pezao swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Fidalgo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pezao paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Fidalgo moves in looking to clinch but Pezao pushes him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nino Fidalgo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Aldir Pezao's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Fidalgo moves into the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Pezao pulls guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Pezao looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Fidalgo tries to stand but Pezao is controlling from the bottom.
Fidalgo trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Pezao manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Pezao stops Fidalgo from standing up.
Pezao trying to control but Fidalgo is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pezao has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Fidalgo is proving hard to escape from.
Pezao prevents Fidalgo from getting back to his feet.
Fidalgo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Fidalgo tries to get out of the position.
Pezao is standing up over Fidalgo. Fidalgo looks to escape but Pezao dives into side control.
Pezao is looking to take a break and control but Fidalgo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Pezao tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
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.
Pezao prevents Fidalgo from escaping the position.
Pezao tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Fidalgo is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Pezao is controlling him well.
Pezao wants to control but Fidalgo is keeping him busy.
Fidalgo pushes Pezao away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Pezao gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Pezao trying to control the action but Fidalgo is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fidalgo is trying to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
An elbow from Pezao crashes against the mat.
Pezao wants to stand but Fidalgo has his arm trapped.
Pezao throws an elbow but Fidalgo slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pezao misses with the ground and pound.
Fidalgo is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Pezao trying to control the action but Fidalgo is working from the bottom.

Pezao stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Fidalgo wants to clinch.
Horrible takedown by Pezao or perhaps it was just good defense by Fidalgo which made him look bad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aldir Pezao showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Aldir Pezao's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Fidalgo fails to land with a series of punches.
Pezao misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Fidalgo looks to land a combination but Pezao avoids it well.
Pezao tries to clinch but Fidalgo is having none of it.
Pezao fails with the takedown.
Fidalgo swats away the attempt to clinch by Pezao.
Pezao doesn't manage to clinch there - Fidalgo circles away.
Pezao throws a low kick but Fidalgo moves out of range easily.
Nice takedown defense from Fidalgo. No joy for Pezao on that attempt.
Fidalgo darts in trying to clinch
and Pezao counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Nino Fidalgo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fidalgo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pezao circles away quickly and effectively.
Pezao tries to clinch up but Fidalgo circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fidalgo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nino Fidalgo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sloppy strikes from Fidalgo. Those never looked like landing.
Fidalgo falls off balance throwing a combination
and Pezao counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Fidalgo throws a series of punches but Pezao avoids them all with ease.
Pezao is looking to clinch but Fidalgo is avoiding it.
Pezao fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Fidalgo avoids it really well and circles away.
Nino Fidalgo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aldir Pezao.
Pezao takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fidalgo doesn't manage to clinch there - Pezao circles away.
Pezao misses with a takedown attempt - Fidalgo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Pezao throws a sloppy head kick and Fidalgo moves out of range easily.
Fidalgo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Fidalgo fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pezao keeps the fight on the outside.
Fidalgo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Pezao is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Fidalgo tries to bum rush Pezao with a series of wild strikes but Pezao uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Fidalgo lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Pezao backs up against the cage.
Fidalgo tries to clinch but Pezao moves away

and Pezao counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Pezao.
Pezao drops down looking for an ankle pick but Fidalgo pulls his leg out and moves away.
Fidalgo misses with a combination
and Pezao counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Fidalgo's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Fidalgo duly obliges.
Fidalgo lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Pezao backs up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fidalgo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pezao misses with a takedown attempt - Fidalgo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Fidalgo tries to clinch there but Pezao circles away.

Fidalgo closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pezao pushes off an throws an elbow but Fidalgo leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Fidalgo drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Fidalgo jumps guard but Pezao stands there with Fidalgo around his waist. Fidalgo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Pezao has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Fidalgo uses from the top position.
Fidalgo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Pezao on the ground.
Pezao looking to control.
Fidalgo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Pezao is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Pezao seems to be working for a kimura but Fidalgo defends the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fidalgo pushes Pezao off looking to stand but Pezao dives back in and keeps control.
Pezao seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Fidalgo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Pezao is pressing down on Fidalgo's thigh, looking to free his foot. Fidalgo is holding on for now.
Fidalgo wants to stand back up but Pezao manages to pass into side control.
Fidalgo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Pezao stands up and we're back to a striking position.

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 Nino Fidalgo.
I think Fidalgo has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nino Fidalgo!