PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fedor Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nogueira comes into the arena with Gimme Shelter blaring out of the sound system. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rodrigo Nogueira
vs
Emelianenko

191 cm
22
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fedor Emelianenko!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Konstantin Menshow and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelianenko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nogueira moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A cross from Nogueira lands.
Emelianenko misses with a wild combination.
Nogueira lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Emelianenko backs up against the cage.

Emelianenko is rocked!
Emelianenko misses with a double jab
and Nogueira counters with a stiff right hand.
Emelianenko is still on wobbly legs! Can Nogueira finish him?
Nogueira scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Nogueira fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Emelianenko misses with a double jab

and Nogueira counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nogueira tries to advance to mount but can't.

Nogueira is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Emelianenko is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Emelianenko is trying to get back to half guard.
Emelianenko seems to have recovered his senses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nogueira tries for a kimura but Emelianenko is defending well.
Emelianenko struggling a bit here.

Nogueira working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Nogueira tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Nogueira has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Nogueira is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Emelianenko knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Emelianenko trying to hold on to Nogueira's head to control him but Nogueira postures up.
Nogueira stops Emelianenko from getting back to his feet.
Emelianenko gets full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nogueira wants to pass the guard but Emelianenko is keeping the position.
Emelianenko is looking to stand up but Nogueira isn't so interested in that idea.
Emelianenko looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nogueira thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
A combination from Emelianenko does no damage.
Emelianenko misses with a double jab
and Nogueira counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Emelianenko fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Nogueira sprawls well initially but Emelianenko persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Emelianenko working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Nogueira wants to get back to full guard.
Emelianenko wants to control but Nogueira is keeping him busy.
Nogueira is looking to improve his position.
Nogueira regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Nogueira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Nogueira is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nogueira keeping moving, preventing Emelianenko from controlling successfully.

Nogueira had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Emelianenko is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Nogueira Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Emelianenko's back instead.
Emelianenko trying to control the hands but Nogueira won't let him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nogueira keeps control of the position as Emelianenko tries to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nogueira cracks Emelianenko with a right hand to the side of the head.
Nogueira with a lazy takedown attempt

and Emelianenko decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Nogueira's guard.
Emelianenko has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Nogueira is proving hard to escape from.

Nogueira has his foot on Emelianenko's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Emelianenko works his way back into a safe position though.
Emelianenko wants to control from the top but Nogueira keeps moving.
Emelianenko 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.
Emelianenko working some strikes from top position.

Emelianenko avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Nogueira working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Emelianenko doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Emelianenko manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Emelianenko advances to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko trying to control the action but Nogueira is working from the bottom.
Emelianenko is looking to advance position but Nogueira won't allow it.

Emelianenko decides to return to a standing position.
Nogueira tries for a takedown but Emelianenko circles away easily

so Emelianenko counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Nogueira keeping moving, preventing Emelianenko from controlling successfully.
Nogueira manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Emelianenko manages to get himself to full guard.

Emelianenko looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira won't allow Emelianenko to get back to his feet.

Nogueira drops back looking for a leg! Emelianenko is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Emelianenko manages to kick Nogueira off! Nogueira jumps back into Emelianenko's guard.
Emelianenko trying to control the position here.
Emelianenko keeping full guard, as Nogueira tries to pass.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nogueira is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Emelianenko throws a combination that misses
and Nogueira connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Emelianenko misses with a wild combination.
Nogueira tries to close the distance and clinch up but Emelianenko swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Emelianenko falls off balance throwing a combination

and Nogueira counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Nogueira is working for a kimura but Emelianenko is defending it quite comfortably.
Emelianenko won't allow Nogueira to pass to mount.
Emelianenko manages to get to full guard.
Emelianenko wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nogueira drops back looking for a leg! Emelianenko is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Emelianenko manages to kick Nogueira off! Nogueira jumps back into Emelianenko's guard.

Emelianenko wriggles free and stands up.

Emelianenko fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Nogueira sprawls well initially but Emelianenko persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Nogueira manages to get to full guard.

Emelianenko stands up and waves to Nogueira to follow him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Emelianenko gets caught flat footed, as Nogueira shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Fedor Emelianenko will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Nogueira fails with the takedown.

Emelianenko gets a clinch.
Emelianenko taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Nogueira tries to pull guard but Emelianenko holds him up against the cage and eventually Nogueira drops back down to his feet.

Emelianenko manages to break the clinch.

Emelianenko instigates a clinch.

Emelianenko gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Nogueira has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Emelianenko can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Nogueira looking for a guillotine here but Emelianenko defends easily.
Emelianenko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Emelianenko controls the pace.
Emelianenko would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Nogueira working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Emelianenko doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Nogueira is tightening it up a little... Emelianenko has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Emelianenko reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Emelianenko taps out! nice BJJ there by Nogueira!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira!