PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Edgy Brah (ranked 730 p4p, 1223 weight class) and Pablo Noriega (ranked 78 p4p, 130 weight class). Brah comes to the cage accompanied by Dropped by Smoke Serpent. Noriega has chosen MS-13 Mara Salvatrucha as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Brah
vs
Noriega

173 cm
36
155
19 - 15 - 1

181 cm
39
148
24 - 13 - 1

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Arcticus University: London

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 15 - 1, fighting out of London, Edgy Brah!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Pablo Noriega!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Thiago Cunha and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Noriega misses with a head kick.
Noriega displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Brah.
And Noriega responds with a good body kick, but Brah manages to step out the way in time.
Brah throws the left hand but Noriega avoids the punch easily.
Brah throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Noriega is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Brah looks to land a left hand but Noriega moved out of range nicely.
Noriega lands with a cross.
Brah bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Brah moves out of range of the strikes.
Brah attempts a counter takedown but Noriega avoids it well and moves away.
Noriega ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Brah throws a leg kick
letting Noriega counter with a right hand.
Brah displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Noriega throws out the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Noriega throws a right and a left that both miss.
Brah tries to land a front kick but Noriega steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Brah fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Noriega to the ground. Brah is now in Noriega's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Brah chips away with some ground and pound.
Brah slips nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brah is trying to control the action in half guard but Noriega is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Brah trying to control the pace.
Brah is pressing down on Noriega's thigh, looking to free his foot. Noriega is holding on for now.
Brah looks to land a strike but Noriega avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Brah pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Noriega is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Noriega is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Brah slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Brah wants to pass the guard but Noriega is keeping the position.
Brah trying to control but Noriega is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brah tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Noriega defends well and Brah ends up having to push Noriega into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Noriega misses with a hook from the clinch.
Brah stalling against the cage.
Noriega trying to land knees to the body.
Noriega lands an elbow inside that Brah shrugs off.
Noriega lands a nice shot to the body.
Brah looking to stall.
Noriega can't find room to land a body shot as Brah controls the action.
Brah lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Brah breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Brah has been working on his balance at Bop HQ, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Noriega.
Brah moves into range and connects with a jab.
Brah lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Brah throws a push kick but Noriega slaps the foot to one side.
Noriega connects with an inside leg kick.
Noriega throws a jab when Brah was well out of range.
Brah wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noriega scores with a jab.

Brah dives in and scores a takedown into Noriega's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Noriega keeping moving, preventing Brah from controlling successfully.
Brah trying to move into half guard but instead Noriega has managed to sweep!

Brah trying to strike off his back.

Brah throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Brah working for a triangle but Noriega defends it easily.
Noriega looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Edgy Brah will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Brah scores with a body shot.
Noriega defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Brah.
It seemed like Noriega was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Noriega is looking to chop away at Brah's legs.
Brah appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
A lazy body kick from Brah
and Noriega counters with a good low kick that Brah was not able to check.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Noriega crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Brah - the referee stops the clock and Noriega gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Brah. Noriega manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Brah throws a leg kick but Noriega sees it coming and moves out of range.
Some wild striking there from Brah.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Noriega moves out of range of the strikes.
A lazy body kick from Noriega

so Brah counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Brah slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Noriega keeping moving, preventing Brah from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noriega seems keen to control Brah's posture.
Brah controlling from the top position.
Brah trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Brah wants to control from the top but Noriega keeps moving.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Brah connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Brah is trying hard to land a takedown here. Noriega sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Noriega throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Brah misses with a hook. Noriega ducked under it nicely.
Noriega fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Brah.
Brah throws a poor cross that misses
and Noriega cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Noriega has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Noriega lands a nice looking body shot.
Brah throws a head kick that misses.
Noriega moves out of range of the body kick from Brah.
Brah fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Edgy Brah. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Noriega lands with a thumping leg kick.
Brah avoids a kick to the body.
Brah thuds a left hand into Noriega's body.
Pablo Noriega seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brah takes a swing at Noriega's ribcage but misses.
Brah throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Noriega just misses with a punch to the body.
Brah ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Noriega dips to his left and cracks Brah with an uppercut!
Noriega chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Brah can pounce on him.
Brah throws a right hand that misses
and Brah takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nice jab there from Noriega.
Noriega avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Some wild striking there from Brah.
Noriega works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Pablo Noriega seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Noriega throws a leg kick but Brah moved away.
Noriega lands a leg kick that knocks Brah off balance momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Noriega as Brah shoots in.
Noriega cracks a nice hook into Brah's ribs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A good leg kick by Noriega.
Noriega throws a half hearted mid kick.
Noriega throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Noriega throws a lazy body kick
and Noriega takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Noriega moves out of range as Brah throws a body kick.
Brah feints and then cracks Noriega's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Noriega down.
Brah misses with a straight left.
Noriega dodges the punch combination from Brah.
Noriega connects with a right hand. Brah shakes it off.
Noriega throws a leg kick

and Brah counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Noriega!
Brah wants to control but Noriega is keeping him busy.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Pablo Noriega will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Noriega thows a leg kick but Brah checks it

and Brah counters with a takedown into side control.
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Brah throwing strikes but Noriega manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Noriega wants to lay and pray for a moment but Brah keeps working.
Brah is trying to work for a sweep but Noriega has mounted him!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brah is trying to escape the mount.
Brah is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brah sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Brah wants to control but Noriega is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Noriega slows the pace down in half guard.
Brah is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Brah looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Brah tries to get to full guard but Noriega has control of the leg.

Brah looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Brah wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brah wants to control but Noriega is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Brah has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Noriega escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Noriega!
Noriega controls the position.
Brah tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Noriega wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Noriega advances to mount.

Noriega get's back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
That kick from Noriega tenderised Brah's leg. Brah is trying to keep his angry face on.
Noriega tried to score with a low kick but Brah checks it.
Brah changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Noriega jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Noriega just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromBrah.
Noriega has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Noriega lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Brah misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Noriega.
Brah misses with a wild combination.
That kick from Brah tenderised Noriega's leg. Noriega is trying to keep his angry face on.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Brah keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Brah throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Brah throws a head kick but Noriega moves out of range.
Brah misses with a takedown attempt - Noriega sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pablo Noriega comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Noriega has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pablo Noriega!
Pablo Noriega took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.