PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nolan Sackett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fernando Pontes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sackett's entrance music is Bad To the Bone. A fine choice. 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.

Sackett
vs
Pontes

190 cm
33
215 lbs
19 - 9 - 1

188 cm
29
210 lbs
10 - 1 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 19 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nolan Sackett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fernando Pontes!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Alexandre Firmino and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pontes misses with a double jab
and Sackett counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sackett rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Pontes moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Pontes shoots in looking for a takedown. Sackett tries to sprawl out of it but Pontes keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sackett manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Pontes closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Pontes throws a strike aimed at the side of Sackett's head but Sackett avoids it well.
Pontes scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Sackett to see if he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pontes swings around for an armbar but Sackett sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Pontes's guard.
Sackett trying to control the position from guard on top but Pontes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pontes manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Sackett blocking the ground and pound.
Pontes trying to control but Sackett is having none of it.
Pontes thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Pontes lands with some strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pontes goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Sackett turns into him and now he's in Pontes's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sackett postures up in Pontes's guard and throws a big left but Pontes blocks it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pontes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Pontes landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Pontes is trying to control. Sackett wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Pontes tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sackett knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Pontes is trying to control. Sackett wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pontes thows a huge punch but Sackett dodges it nicely.

Pontes is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sackett sees it coming and defends easily.
Sackett is looking for a sweep. Pontes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Pontes seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Sackett is looking for a sweep. Pontes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Pontes is controlling the pace.
Pontes thows a huge punch but Sackett dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sackett gets back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sackett is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Pontes is aware though and is defending well.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sackett is on top in guard.

Pontes is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Pontes keeping moving, preventing Sackett from controlling successfully.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pontes is trying to control the position but Sackett postures up.
Sackett stands up over Pontes, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Pontes has his foot on Sackett's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sackett works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fernando Pontes dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Horrible takedown by Pontes or perhaps it was just good defense by Sackett which made him look bad.
Pontes dodges the punch combination from Sackett.
Pontes avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sackett lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pontes falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Sackett counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sackett ducks under a wild hook from Pontes.
Sackett misses with a wild body shot.
A jab from Sackett misses.
Sackett fails to land with a series of punches.
The fighters circle momentarily. Sackett darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Pontes tries for a takedown but Sackett circles away easily
and Sackett counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sackett throws a right and a left that Pontes avoids nicely.
The fighters circle momentarily. Sackett darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Sackett steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Pontes.
Sackett stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sackett wants it to stay on the feet.
Nolan Sackett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fernando Pontes.
Sackett lands a glancing blow to the side of Pontes's head.
Sackett fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Sackett throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sackett connects with a leg kick. Pontes looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sackett bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Pontes.
Sackett lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Pontes backs up against the cage.
Pontes misses with a leg kick
and Sackett counters with a big head kick but Pontes shrugs it off.
Sackett gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Sackett uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pontes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pontes shoots and misses
and Sackett counters with a leg kick.
Sackett is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Sackett jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Pontes checks a low kick from Sackett.
Sackett misses with a straight right.
Sackett tests Pontes's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Pontes throws a series of punches but Sackett moves out of range.
Pontes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sackett circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nolan Sackett dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Pontes with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Sackett to score with a decent uppercut.
Pontes throws a jab but it's blocked by Sackett.
Pontes misses with a takedown attempt - Sackett sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sackett misses with a wild body shot.
Nice sprawl there from Sackett as Pontes shoots in.
Pontes misses with a few strikes there.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Pontes.
Nolan Sackett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fernando Pontes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pontes scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Sackett takes a swing at Pontes's ribcage but misses.
Sackett keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pontes.
Sackett scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Sackett misses with a wild body shot.
Sackett scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Sackett shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pontes as he avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sackett is defended easily by Pontes.
Sackett connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Pontes momentarily.
Nice cross by Sackett.

Pontes closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Sackett's guard.
Pontes preventing the sweep.
Pontes is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pontes advances to half guard.
Pontes sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sackett defending well though.
Pontes with the ground and pound but Sackett uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Fernando Pontes has got the better of the ground game so far.

Sackett looking for a guillotine here but Pontes defends easily.
Sackett manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Pontes manages to get himself to full guard.
Pontes throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sackett wants to pass the guard but Pontes is keeping the position.
Sackett passes Pontes's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Sackett prevents Pontes from improving his position.
Pontes works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sackett throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pontes works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pontes pulls Sackett in to control the position.
Sackett with a flurry of punches that miss.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sackett with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sackett stands up over Pontes, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sackett throwing strikes but missing.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Pontes is on top in guard.

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 Nolan Sackett.
I think Sackett 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nolan Sackett!
Nolan Sackett was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.