PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Nunes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ace Popo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nunes comes to the cage accompanied by Pitbull- Hey Baby. Popo has chosen Murder To Excellence as his entrance music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Nunes
vs
Popo

176 cm
29
162 lbs
16 - 7 - 0

168 cm
26
157 lbs
12 - 12 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Nunes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ace Popo!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Felipe Paraventi and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Popo fails with a takedown attempt.
Popo stuffs the takedown.
Nunes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nunes stuffs the takedown.
Popo looks gassed!
Nunes throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Popo's waist but Popo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Nunes off to one side.
Popo throws a right hand that Nunes ducks under and follows up with a left that Nunes also avoids with ease.
Popo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nunes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nunes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Popo circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Nunes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nunes shoots in looking for a takedown but Popo manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Nunes's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Nunes shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Nunes seems to be looking for submissions.
Popo wants to control but Nunes is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nunes has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Popo works to full guard.
Nunes tries to free his leg and advance position but Popo is retaining full guard.
Popo is looking to sweep but instead, Nunes has passed into half guard.
Nunes trying to mount his opponent but Popo defends it.
Popo wants to control but Nunes is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nunes is working for a kimura but Popo is defending it quite comfortably.

Nunes is looking for a kimura but Popo is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nunes to get the leverage.
Nunes wants to stand up but Popo is controlling the position.

Nunes is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nunes is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Popo has managed to free his arm - good work.
Popo regains full guard. Nicely done.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Popo has a closed guard, preventing Nunes from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nunes wants to pass the guard but Popo is keeping the position.
Nunes tries to stand but Popo is controlling from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Nunes gets to his feet. Popo looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nunes shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Popo pinned against the cage. Popo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nunes changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Popo tries to avoid it but Nunes manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Popo to the ground. Popo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Nunes dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nunes manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Popo on his heels. He'll look to pass Popo's guard now, I'm sure.

Nunes drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Popo manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Nunes has Popo in his guard.
Nunes has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Popo postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nunes is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Popo defends well.
Popo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Popo keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Nunes's head.
Popo trying to control but Nunes is working from the bottom.
Popo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popo is looking to work some ground and pound but Nunes has wrist control.
Nunes keeping moving, preventing Popo from controlling successfully.

Popo postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Nunes is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Popo, into his guard.
Popo is breathing heavily.
Nunes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Popo swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nunes stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Popo gets caught flat footed, as Nunes shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Nunes decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Popo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Popo wants it to stay on the feet.
Antonio Nunes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nunes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Antonio Nunes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nunes.
Nunes fails with the takedown

and Popo counters by clinching up.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Nunes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Popo stalling against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Nunes just misses with a elbow thrown towards Popo's brow.
Nunes is trying to push Popo away but Popo has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Popo jumps guard but Nunes turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nunes is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Nunes tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nunes is trying to stall.
Popo tries for a takedown but Nunes manages to get underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Nunes dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Popo drives through with a takedown into Nunes's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Nunes has his foot on Popo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Popo works his way back into a safe position though.
Popo throws a big elbow that misses.
Popo with a nice head shot there.
Popo looking to pass the guard.
Popo wants to control from the top but Nunes keeps moving.
Popo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popo postures up.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ace Popo.
Nunes fails to land the takedown.

Popo closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nunes did well to prevent Popo getting side control.
Popo not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Popo tries to pass to full mount but Nunes defends it.
Popo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nunes's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nunes's head.
Popo wants to take a breather but Nunes is having none of it.
Popo content to control rather than advance.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Ace Popo has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Nunes fails with the takedown.
Popo misses with a takedown attempt - Nunes sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nunes shoots in looking for a takedown but Popo manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Nunes's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Nunes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nunes shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Nunes is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Popo doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Nunes.
Popo works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popo is trying to control the position but Nunes postures up.
Nunes wants to pass the guard but Popo is keeping the position.
Antonio Nunes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nunes wants to control from the top but Popo keeps moving.

Nunes drops back, looking for a kneebar! Popo looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Popo looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Popo!
Check out the look on Popo's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

And that's the end of the fight!
Ace Popo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nunes 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antonio Nunes!
A victorious Antonio Nunes thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.