PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ronaldo Goncalves (ranked 7127 p4p, 7289 weight class) and Nico Inces (ranked 657 p4p, 668 weight class). Nico Inces has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Goncalves
vs
Inces

187 cm
25
192
0 - 1 - 0

199 cm
24
185
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ronaldo Goncalves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Nico Inces!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Santiago Holmes and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Inces clinches.
Goncalves stalling in the clinch but Inces improves position.
Inces with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Inces stalling against the cage.
Goncalves keeps control of Inces as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Inces wants to get back to striking at distance but Goncalves won't allow it.
Inces effectively controlling the action here.
Inces taking a breather.

Inces breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Inces has taken the fight to the clinch.
Goncalves has Inces pressed against the cage, preventing Inces from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Inces is trying to break free.
Inces is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goncalves has Inces pressed against the cage, preventing Inces from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Inces lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Goncalves drops down looking for an ankle pick but Inces pulls his leg out and moves away.
Goncalves throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Goncalves missing with a left hand there. Inces was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Inces is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Inces has taken the fight to the clinch.
Goncalves keeps control of Inces as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Inces tries to break free but Goncalves pushes him back against the cage.
Goncalves wants a takedown.
Goncalves tries for a takedown but Inces manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ronaldo Goncalves. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Inces has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Inces makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Inces breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Inces moves into range and clinches up with Goncalves.

Inces pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Goncalves tries to clinch but Inces moves out of range.

Inces fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Goncalves, pushing him back against the cage.
Goncalves tries to pull guard but Inces won't allow it.
Goncalves tries to circle away but Inces has him pinned against the cage.
Goncalves blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Inces misses with an elbow strike.
A frustrated look appears on Inces's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Goncalves fails to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Goncalves's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Inces slowing the pace effectively.
Inces lands a right hand.
Inces looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Inces stops a takedown attempt from Goncalves.
Inces wants to get back to striking at distance but Goncalves won't allow it.
Inces is trying to push Goncalves away but Goncalves has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Goncalves is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Inces to keep the fight standing.

Inces escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Inces has closed the distance and engaged Goncalves in a clinch.
Inces is pressed up against the cage. Goncalves has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Inces down to the mat. Inces avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Inces has Goncalves up against the cage in a clinch.
Inces's coach down at Cozad The Island was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Inces's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Inces breaks from the clinch.

Goncalves gets tackled into the cage by Inces. Inces maintains the clinch.
Inces lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Inces digs a right hand into Goncalves's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Goncalves's gas tank.
A nice right hand lands inside from Inces.

Inces manages to break the clinch.

Inces closes the distance and clinches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Goncalves is trying to drag Inces to the mat but Inces just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Inces has had enough of the clinch but Goncalves keeps him there for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nico Inces dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Inces has taken the fight to the clinch.
Inces prevents the takedown attempt.
Inces works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Inces lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Goncalves wants a takedown.
Goncalves tries for a takedown but Inces manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ronaldo Goncalves. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Goncalves has Inces pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Inces manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Inces manages to break the clinch.

Inces closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Goncalves jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Inces walks away with a smile on his face. Goncalves gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Inces closes the distance and pushes Goncalves back into the cage.

Inces breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Inces gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Inces.
Goncalves keeps control of Inces as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Goncalves looking for a takedown.
Goncalves is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Inces tries to break free but Goncalves pushes him back against the cage.
Nico Inces seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Goncalves tries to score a body lock takedown but Inces shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Inces breaks from the clinch.

Inces has closed the distance and engaged Goncalves in a clinch.
Inces just leaning against Goncalves, taking a breather.
Goncalves tries to pull guard but Inces won't allow it.
Inces is trying to break the clinch but Goncalves has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goncalves is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Inces gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Goncalves prevents Inces from breaking the clinch.

Inces breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Goncalves looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Nico Inces is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Inces pushes Goncalves up against the cage in a clinch.
Goncalves fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Inces is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Goncalves tries to pull guard but Inces won't allow it.
Inces wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Goncalves has him pressed against the cage.
Goncalves tries to pull guard but Inces holds him up against the cage and eventually Goncalves drops back down to his feet.
Goncalves misses with a short punch on the inside.

Inces pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Goncalves gets tackled into the cage by Inces. Inces maintains the clinch.

Inces escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Goncalves shoots in but Inces avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Inces drives through and clinches with Goncalves against the cage.
Goncalves letting Inces take a breather here.
Goncalves fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Inces tries to break free but Goncalves pushes him back against the cage.

Inces escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Goncalves misses the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goncalves tries to clinch up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Inces wants to break the clinch but can't.
Inces is trying to force a seperation but Goncalves has the dominant position.
Inces tries to break the clinch but Goncalves is controlling the position.
Inces slowing the pace effectively.
Goncalves keeps control of Inces as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Goncalves is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Inces is defending well.
Goncalves jumps guard but Inces stands there with Goncalves around his waist. Goncalves gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Inces wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Goncalves has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nico Inces showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Inces lands a really nice looking cross but Goncalves seems unphased.
Ronaldo Goncalves is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Goncalves is looking to clinch but Inces is avoiding it.

Inces moves into range and clinches up with Goncalves.
Goncalves prevents Inces from breaking the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Inces.
Goncalves has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Inces after a bit of a struggle.
Inces wants to get back to striking at distance but Goncalves won't allow it.
Goncalves is looking to take this one to the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Inces throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Goncalvess head.

Inces escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Inces takes the fight into the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Inces scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Inces wants to break free but Goncalves has control.
Inces has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Goncalves is trying to break free.
Inces working hard to break the clinch.
Inces is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ronaldo Goncalves. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Goncalves keeps control of Inces as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A short uppercut from Inces.
Inces lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A short right from Inces on the inside.
Goncalves tries to score a body lock takedown but Inces shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Inces tries to break the clinch but Goncalves is controlling the position.
Inces wants to break free but Goncalves has control.
Nico Inces 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.
Goncalves can't get the takedown.
A right handed body shot lands from Inces.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Inces's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Goncalves tries for a takedown but Inces sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Inces looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Inces has taken the fight to the clinch.

Inces breaks the clinch.

Inces closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Inces looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Inces tries to break free but Goncalves pushes him back against the cage.

Inces breaks from the clinch.

Inces has Goncalves up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Inces wants to break the clinch but can't.
Goncalves taking a breather.
Goncalves is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Inces is defending well.
Inces lands a body punch in the clinch.
Inces pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Inces tries to break the clinch but Goncalves is controlling the position.

Inces breaks from the clinch.

Inces moves into the clinch.
Goncalves jumps guard but Inces turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Inces working hard to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Inces tries to circle away but Goncalves has him pinned against the cage.
Inces stops a takedown attempt from Goncalves.
Goncalves is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Inces pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Inces wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Inces is trying to force a seperation but Goncalves has the dominant position.
Goncalves has Inces pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Inces manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Goncalves jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Inces walks away with a smile on his face. Goncalves gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Inces gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Inces breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Inces wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nico Inces comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Inces has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 24:30
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 24:30
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nico Inces!