PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bastian Nokia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manuel Noriega (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Noriega has chosen Manuel Noriega as his entrance music. Manuel Noriega has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nokia
vs
Noriega

182 cm
31
197 lbs
3 - 23 - 0

170 cm
21
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bastian Nokia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Manuel Noriega!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Noriega darts in trying to clinch
and Nokia counters with a head kick.
Nice uppercut lands for Noriega. That snapped Nokia's head back.
Noriega moves to clinch but Nokia breaks away
and Nokia counters with a big head kick but Noriega shrugs it off.
Noriega tries to close the distance and clinch but Nokia swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Noriega tries to clinch but Nokia moves away
and Nokia counters with a head kick. That will keep Noriega thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Noriega wants to clinch.
Nokia moves out of range as Noriega strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nokia swats away the attempt to clinch by Noriega.

Noriega clinches up with Nokia and pushes him back against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Noriega manages to break the clinch.
Noriega misses with a series of wild punches.
Noriega tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nokia paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Noriega fails with an attempt to clinch.
Noriega closes the distance but Nokia moves to the side

and Nokia counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Nokia won't allow Noriega to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Noriega is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Noriega wants to improve his position but instead Nokia has moved into half guard.
Nokia seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noriega is trying to maintain the position but Nokia is very close to passing his half guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Manuel Noriega wasn't active enough on the ground.
Noriega fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Nokia is out of range.
Nokia avoids a punch combination nicely.
Manuel Noriega seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Noriega misses with an uppercut.
Noriega fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Noriega closes the distance looking to clinch
and Nokia counters with a head kick.
Noriega tries to clinch up
and Nokia counters with a head kick.
Noriega moves in looking to clinch but Nokia pushes him off.
Noriega darts in trying to clinch
and Nokia counters with a head kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nokia circles away from the clinch attempt.
Noriega swings away with a body shot that misses
enabling Nokia to counter with a crisp jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Manuel Noriega will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Noriega misses with a body shot.
Noriega is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Noriega tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nokia swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Noriega has managed to clinch.
Noriega throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A head punch on the inside from Noriega fails to land.
Noriega is trying to push Nokia away but Nokia has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Nokia jumps guard and drags Noriega to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Nokia keeping moving, preventing Noriega from controlling successfully.
Noriega throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noriega is looking to pass into half guard but Nokia pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Nokia is in guard.
Noriega is trying to hold Nokia in close to prevent damage but Nokia has managed to pass into half guard.
Nokia stalling.
Noriega is trying to control but Nokia passes into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nokia working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Noriega tries to improve position but can't.
Noriega is trying to control Nokia's posture but Nokia avoids it.
Nokia wants to control but Noriega is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noriega is trying to work for a sweep but Nokia has mounted him!
Nokia will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Nokia takes Noriega's back, avoiding a couple of desperation strikes from the bottom.
Noriega is in bad spot here.
Nokia is not going to allow Noriega to sit and survive in this position.
Nokia keeps control of the position as Noriega tries to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nokia gets his hands free as Noriega looks to control.
Nokia controls the action.
Bastian Nokia overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Noriega has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Noriega is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manuel Noriega showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Noriega looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Noriega fails in his attempt to clinch.
Noriega is looking to land body kicks.
Noriega tries to clinch but Nokia moves away

and Nokia counters with a nice double leg into side control. Noriega won't be happy with that.
Noriega looking for a sweep but Nokia has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Nokia can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Noriega is looking to escape.
Nokia manages to capitalize on a mistake by Noriega to take his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noriega is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Nokia controls the action.
Noriega is keeping busy.
Nokia is hanging on to Noriega's back as he tries to escape.
Manuel Noriega is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Noriega looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Noriega is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Nokia is staying active.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Nokia just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noriega tries to break free.
Noriega staying busy and making it hard for Nokia to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Noriega fails with an attempt to clinch.
Noriega is looking to clinch but Nokia is avoiding it.
Noriega tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nokia avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noriega is looking to clinch.
Noriega lands a right hook to the body.
Nokia circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Noriega looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Good exchange - Noriega coming out on top.
Nokia swats away the attempt to clinch by Noriega.
Noriega is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nokia avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Manuel Noriega.
I've got Noriega winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manuel Noriega!
A less than humble Manuel Noriega misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.