PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Helio Nogueira (ranked 2977 p4p, 3168 weight class) and George Russell (ranked 324 p4p, 348 weight class). Helio Nogueira had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Nogueira
vs
Russell

175 cm
25
160
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
161
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

Big Island Nutrition

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Helio Nogueira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, George Russell!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Winston Alpacca and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nogueira uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Russell.

Russell closes the distance and clinches.
Russell lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Russell misses with a short punch on the inside.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Russell has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Nogueira after a bit of a struggle.
Russell lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nogueira.
Nogueira blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Russell gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Russell trying to control the position from guard on top but Nogueira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Russell stopping the sweep attempt from Nogueira.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira seems keen to control Russell's posture.
Russell looking to pass the guard.

Nogueira looking for subs off his back but Russell has passed one foot through into half guard.

Russell is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nogueira defends it well.
Nogueira slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Russell tries to free his leg and advance position but Nogueira is retaining full guard.
Russell looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Nogueira is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Russell tries to free his leg and advance position but Nogueira is retaining full guard.
Russell trying to control but Nogueira is working from the bottom.
Nogueira trying to keep a closed guard but Russell is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Nogueira misses with a few strikes there.

Russell gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell prevents Nogueira from breaking the clinch.
Russell throws a punch but it's blocked by Nogueira.
Russell is looking for a takedown.
A head punch on the inside from Russell fails to land.
Russell lands a hook that snaps the head of Nogueira backwards.
Russell has a couple of punches blocked by Nogueira.
Nogueira tries to pull guard but Russell won't allow it.

Russell has picked Nogueira up - he's going for a ride! Russell dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Russell is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Russell blocks the strikes from Nogueira.

Russell is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Nogueira has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira tries to get to full guard but Russell has control of the leg.

Russell is looking for a kimura here.

Russell wants to work for an arm triangle but Nogueira is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nogueira has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Russell is working away from the top position though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

George Russell dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Russell closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nogueira circles away.
Nogueira drops down looking for a counter takedown but Russell sprawls and moves away.

Russell gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Nogueira sitting in guard here, content to control.

Russell looking for a guillotine here but Nogueira defends easily.
Russell tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Russell looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Nogueira passes into half guard.
Russell is staying active underneath Nogueira, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Russell looking for submissions off his back.
Russell has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Russell has hold of Nogueira's hands but Nogueira slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Russell tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Nogueira has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Russell is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Nogueira in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Russell is squirming around, avoiding Nogueira's attempts to control the action.
Nogueira prevents Russell from getting the reversal.
Nogueira tries to control but Russell wriggling away.

Nogueira goes for an armbar but Russell turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Russell.
Nogueira keeping full guard, as Russell tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Russell manages to get himself to full guard.

Nogueira connects with a couple of short punches.

Russell has his foot on Nogueira's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nogueira works his way back into a safe position though.
Russell has a closed guard, preventing Nogueira from standing up.
Nogueira trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Nogueira looking to sit in guard and control but Russell gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira has control of Russell's left arm, preventing Russell from doing any damage.
Nogueira keeping moving, preventing Russell from controlling successfully.
Nogueira wants to control but Russell passes easily into half guard.

Russell is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Nogueira is just riding it out for now. Russell eventually gives up the hold.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Russell wants to advance to full mount but Nogueira doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Helio Nogueira dominated that second round.
That's time! Nogueira's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nogueira looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nogueira staying out of range there.
Nogueira shoots for a double leg takedown but Russell sprawls well. He's pushed Nogueira's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Russell has Nogueira up against the cage in a clinch.
Nogueira is trying to break the clinch but Russell is controlling him.
Russell will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Nogueira up against the cage.
Nogueira tries to pull guard but Russell holds him up against the cage and eventually Nogueira drops back down to his feet.
Nogueira is pressed up against the cage. Russell has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nogueira down to the mat. Nogueira avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Russell with a nice cross.
George Russell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nogueira takes a jab right on the kisser.

It looks like Helio Nogueira has been cut.
Nogueira slips a jab from Russell.
Nogueira throws a head kick but Russell moves out of range.
A slow jab from Russell misses its intended target.

Nogueira looking to score a takedown here. Russell is defending well but Nogueira drives through and ends up in Russell's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell keeping moving, preventing Nogueira from controlling successfully.
Russell tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nogueira throws a big right hand that misses.

Russell looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Nogueira passes into side control.
Russell looks to move to half guard but instead Nogueira has passed into mount! Damn!
Nogueira tries to control but Russell wriggling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira controlling the position easily from mount.

Nogueira swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Russell is now in Nogueira's guard. A big mistake from Nogueira there, giving up the dominant position!

Nogueira had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Russell defends it easily.
Russell slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell looking to control but instead Nogueira has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Nogueira is trying to get back to full guard.
Helio Nogueira overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Russell wants to work for an arm triangle but Nogueira is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Russell is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Nogueira tries to kick Russell off but Russell keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Russell is looking for a kimura here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nogueira slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Russell is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Nogueira is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Nogueira has escaped and now he's on top!

Nogueira trying to control the position from guard on top but Russell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Russell is looking for a triangle here but Nogueira uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Helio Nogueira.
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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:29
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Helio Nogueira!