PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simon Williams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nogueira comes to the cage accompanied by Entrance. Williams is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by UFC: Closer to the Edge (Jared Leto). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rodrigo Nogueira
vs
Williams

191 cm
27
255 lbs
11 - 1 - 0

193 cm
26
275 lbs
13 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Brute
Reaper Combatwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Simon Williams!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Paul Aken and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nogueira doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Nogueira ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Williams moves away.
Nogueira misses with a looping right.
Williams fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nogueira manages to avoid it.
Nogueira doesn't manage to clinch there - Williams circles away.

Nogueira shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Williams manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Nogueira 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.
Nogueira looking to sit in guard and control but Williams gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Williams pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nogueira is keeping the position for now.
Williams tries to stand but Nogueira is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams throwing strikes but missing.

Nogueira looking for a guillotine here but Williams defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nogueira has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Williams can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Nogueira utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Nogueira looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Williams has picked Nogueira up and slammed him! Nogueira can't keep hold of the triangle and Williams manages to pass to side control!
Nogueira sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Nogueira moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Williams controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nogueira looking for a guillotine here but Williams defends easily.
Williams trying to control the position from guard on top but Nogueira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Williams really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nogueira. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Williams preventing the sweep.
Williams is stalling in the full guard.
Williams trying to control the position from guard on top but Nogueira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Simon Williams wasn't active enough on the ground.
Williams misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nogueira.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira slips a jab and a cross from Williams.
Nogueira fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Williams throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Nogueira stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Nogueira smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Nogueira cracks Williams with a right hand to the side of the head.
Williams cracks Nogueira with a good jab.
Williams throws a hook to the side of Nogueira's head but Nogueira sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nogueira throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Williams.
Nogueira fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Williams clinches up with Nogueira and pushes him back against the cage.

Williams escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Williams with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Williams on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Williams takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
No joy there for Williams, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira lands a right hook to the body.
Nogueira throws a jab but it's blocked by Williams.
A swing and a miss from Nogueira.
Williams tries to score with a low kick but Nogueira moves his leg out of the way.
Williams connects with a high kick.

Nogueira fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Williams sprawls well initially but Nogueira persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Williams manages to get to full guard.
Nogueira postures up.
Nogueira trying to control but Williams is working from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Williams wants to stand but Nogueira is controlling the position.
Williams wants to sweep here but Nogueira controlling him for the moment.
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 Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Williams pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nogueira throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Williams on the side of the head.
Nogueira misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Williams.
Nogueira checks a leg kick.
Williams drops his hands momentarily and Nogueira takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Williams wants to clinch.
Williams displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nogueira.
Nogueira slips under a jab from Williams.
Nogueira cracks Williams with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Nogueira throws a looping overhand right but Williams ducks down to avoid it.
Nogueira fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nogueira swings away with a body shot that misses
and Williams counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A big left from Williams misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nice sprawl there from Williams as Nogueira shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Williams missing with a left hand there. Nogueira was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice sprawl there from Williams as Nogueira shoots in.
Williams walks into a jab.
Horrible takedown by Nogueira or perhaps it was just good defense by Williams which made him look bad.
Nogueira scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Williams slips under a jab.
Williams tries to score with a low kick but Nogueira moves his leg out of the way.
Nogueira jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nogueira looks to throw the jab but Williams is out of range.
Nogueira shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Williams but Williams pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Williams rushes Nogueira and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nogueira misses with a knee strike.
A short right from Nogueira.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams lands with a right to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nogueira misses with the head strike.
Nogueira fails to pull guard.
Nogueira avoiding damage as Williams throws knees to the body.

Williams pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Williams misses with a series of wild punches.
The fight stays on the outside here - Williams looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Williams keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nogueira changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Williams tries to avoid it but Nogueira manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Williams to the ground. Williams escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Nogueira misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Williams.
Nogueira throws a nice looking combination but Williams bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nogueira slips under a jab.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Williams.
Williams moves in looking to clinch but Nogueira pushes him off.
Williams lands a head kick!

It looks like Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira throws a one two combo.
Williams misses with a low kick as Nogueira jumps back.
Nogueira throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Williams tries to close the distance and clinch but Nogueira swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A big left from Williams misses.
Williams thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Nogueira if he has to take too many more of those.
Williams misses with a hook. Nogueira ducked under it nicely.
Williams pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nogueira throws a right and a left that both miss.
Williams jabs at Nogueira's body.
Nogueira lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Nogueira.
Simon Williams is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nogueira throws a looping overhand right but Williams ducks down to avoid it.
Simon Williams seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Williams scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Williams looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Williams wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams is looking to slow Nogueira down with leg kicks.
Nogueira throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Williams ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Williams swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A slow jab from Williams misses its intended target.
Williams swinging wildly here.
Nogueira throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Williams goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nogueira is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Nogueira avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nogueira avoids the body shot from Williams.
Nogueira fails in his attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Williams showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nogueira wants to clinch.
Nogueira tries to score a power double leg takedown but Williams sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nogueira somewhat.
Nice uppercut lands for Williams. That snapped Nogueira's head back.
A jab from Nogueira misses.
Williams swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Nogueira.
A clash of legs there as Nogueira blocks the low kick.
Good leg kick by Williams there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Williams takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Williams clinches with his opponent.
Nogueira is looking for a takedown.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Williams tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nogueira swings wildly with an uppercut but Williams uses good head movement to avoid it.
Williams using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nogueira has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams blocks an elbow strike.
Nogueira tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Williams's elbow.
Nogueira lands a body shot in the clinch.
Williams is trying to break the clinch but Nogueira is controlling him.
Nogueira lands a left hand.

Nogueira breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nogueira tries to clinch but Williams is having none of it.
Nogueira tries for a takedown but Williams sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nogueira uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Williams.
A slow jab from Williams misses its intended target.
Williams misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nogueira.
The fighters circling - Nogueira throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nogueira misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nogueira looks to throw the jab but Williams is out of range.
Nogueira avoids the head kick by Williams.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nogueira is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Williams's half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nogueira wants to take a breather but Williams is having none of it.
Williams pushes Nogueira off looking to stand but Nogueira dives back in and keeps control.
Nogueira is pressing down on Williams's thigh, looking to free his foot. Williams is holding on for now.
Williams wants to get back to his feet.
Williams is refusing to be controlled, as Nogueira sits in half guard.
Nogueira wants to pass the guard but Williams is defending well.
Nogueira thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Williams's head.
Williams is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Nogueira is staying active.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Williams listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Nogueira moves away from the strike by Williams.
Nogueira scores with a nice head shot.
Nogueira moves in looking to clinch but Williams pushes him off.

Williams takes the fight into the clinch.
Nogueira working hard to break the clinch.
Williams landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Williams trying to stall but Nogueira improves his position.
Nogueira gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Simon Williams has been cut.
Nogueira swings wildly with an uppercut but Williams uses good head movement to avoid it.
Williams misses with a body punch.
Williams blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams is pressed up against the cage. Nogueira has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Williams down to the mat. Williams avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nogueira missing with a left hand there. Williams was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nogueira misses with a hook. Williams ducked under it nicely.
Nogueira lands with an overhand left.
Nogueira wants to clinch.

Williams gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nogueira missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Williams can't keep his opponent in guard - Nogueira advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nogueira works his way into side control.
Nogueira throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Williams works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira clearly takes that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Nogueira's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A clash of legs there as Nogueira blocks the low kick.
Nogueira moves out of range as Williams strikes.
Williams drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Sloppy strikes from Nogueira. Those never looked like landing.
Nogueira throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Williams looks for the body kick but Nogueira saw that one coming.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nogueira is defended easily by Williams.
Williams tries to clinch up but Nogueira circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice jab there from Williams.
Nogueira shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Williams uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nogueira.
Nogueira takes a swing at Williams's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nogueira misses with a hook. Williams ducked under it nicely.
Nogueira blocks a leg kick.
Nogueira misses with a jab, cross combination.
Williams misses with a leg kick.

Williams clinches with his opponent.
Williams with a knee to the head.
Nogueira can't find room to land a body shot as Williams controls the action.
Williams working aggressively here.
Nogueira lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Williams working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Nogueira as Williams tries to tie him up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nogueira throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Williamss head.
Nogueira missing with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Williams trying to land knees to the body.
Nogueira drops down looking for an ankle pick but Williams pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nogueira misses with a wild body shot.
Williams slaps away a takedown attempt from Nogueira, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nogueira ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Williams moves away.
Williams throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nogueira tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Williams paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Williams steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nogueira.
Williams takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Nogueira ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Williams moves away.
Nogueira tries for a takedown but Williams sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nogueira slips a straight right by Williams.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira scores with a nice right hand.
Williams tries to clinch but Nogueira moves out of range.
Williams scores with a sloppy right hand. Nogueira should have avoided that one.
Nogueira dips to his left and cracks Williams with an uppercut!
Williams is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nogueira.
Williams keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nogueira lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Williams circles away quickly and effectively.
Williams gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Nogueira bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nogueira misses with a body shot.
Williams leaves Nogueira with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nogueira pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Williams has Nogueira up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira tries to throw a body punch but Williams avoids it by throwing Nogueira back against the cage.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Nogueira throws a head punch that misses.
Nogueira has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Nogueira misses with the head strike.
Nogueira makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Williams goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Williams tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Nogueira avoids it.
Nogueira working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Williams misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Williams drops Nogueira with a big knee straight up the middle! Nogueira is covering up against the cage but manages to escape and gets back to his feet!
Williams throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nogueira.
Williams throws a combination. Nogueira tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Nogueira is rocked!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nogueira connects with a jab.
Oh Nogueira is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Williams throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nogueira seems to have got his legs back now.
Nogueira swinging wildly here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Simon Williams will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Williams throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
A slow jab from Nogueira misses its intended target.
Nice jab there from Williams.
Nogueira shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Williams pinned against the cage. Williams gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Williams throws out a loose jab but Nogueira uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nogueira dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Williams lands with a nice body kick.
Williams tries to clinch up but Nogueira circles away and keeps his distance.
Williams stuffs the takedown attempt from Nogueira. Nogueira gets slowly back to his feet.
Williams misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nogueira blocks the body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams slips a jab and a cross from Nogueira.
Williams circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nogueira misses with a two punch combination.
Williams tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nogueira fails in his attempt to clinch.
Williams lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Nogueira circles away quickly and effectively.
Nogueira shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Williams as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Nogueira scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A head kick misses from Williams.

Nogueira scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Nogueira sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Williams defending well though.
Williams is trying to stand up here but Nogueira is controlling him well.
Nogueira is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Williams wants to control but Nogueira is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Nogueira scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Williams?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nogueira throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Williams because Nogueira loaded up on that one.
Nogueira looking to control but Williams is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Williams wants to control but Nogueira is having none of it.
Nogueira in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Nogueira landing strikes from the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nogueira goes for an armbar but Williams turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Williams.
Nogueira tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Nogueira escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Williams gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Nogueira keeping moving, preventing Williams from controlling successfully.
Nogueira pulls Williams in close to prevent any damage.
Nogueira looking for a sweep. Not yet Nogueira, not yet.
Williams postures up in Nogueira's guard and throws a big left but Nogueira blocks it.
Williams must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Williams stopping the sweep attempt from Nogueira.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira wants to stand up but Williams is controlling him.
Williams throwing strikes but missing.
Williams controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Nogueira working for a triangle but Williams defends it easily.

Nogueira throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Nogueira escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Williams gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nogueira 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 48:47
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 48:47
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 48:48

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira!
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira retains his heavyweight title!
A victorious Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.