PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Diego Nogueira (ranked 1219 p4p, 1112 weight class) and Anderson Gracie (ranked 161 p4p, 38 weight class). Nogueira kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Bloodthirsty. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nogueira
vs
Gracie

190 cm
29
215
9 - 7 - 0

190 cm
34
218
9 - 5 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Red Belt
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Conquer
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Diego Nogueira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Anderson Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Richard Clark and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nogueira tries to clinch up but Gracie circles away and keeps his distance.
Gracie swings for the body but Nogueira moves out of range.
Nogueira steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gracie.

Nogueira closes the distance and clinches.

Nogueira decides to pull guard.
Gracie content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Nogueira preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nogueira is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Gracie is refusing to be controlled, as Nogueira sits in half guard.
Still in half guard, Nogueira seems content to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nogueira is working for a kimura but Gracie is defending it quite comfortably.
Nogueira is trying to control. Gracie wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira prevents Gracie from improving his position.
Nogueira is looking to take a break and control but Gracie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gracie is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Nogueira's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Nogueira's back!
Nogueira rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Gracie working his ground and pound in the gym.
Gracie trying to control the action but Nogueira is working from the bottom.
Nogueira moves into full guard.
Gracie landing some decent shots from guard.
Nogueira is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie passes Nogueira's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Nogueira gets back to full guard.

Nogueira is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Gracie avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gracie distracts Nogueira with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Nogueira tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Nogueira keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Nogueira looking for a sweep. Not yet Nogueira, not yet.
Nogueira is trying to keep Gracie in close.
Gracie passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Nogueira is letting Gracie control him for a moment.
Gracie working away.
Gracie is putting a hurting on Nogueira here, landing some big shots from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira trying to control but Gracie flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Nogueira trying to control but not successfully.
Gracie really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Nogueira.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nogueira tries to escape but Gracie has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Gracie biding his time, controlling Nogueira.
Nogueira tries to break free.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nogueira trying to control the position but Gracie manages to sink in the hooks.
Gracie doesn't have the hooks in and Nogueira manages to turn into his guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Anderson Gracie will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nogueira clinches up against the cage.

Gracie lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Gracie stalling.
Gracie lands with a punch from half guard.
Gracie scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nogueira tries to roll over but Gracie keeps him under control.

Nogueira actively working from the bottom here.
Nogueira is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nogueira is trying to control but can't.
Gracie is trying to control the action in half guard but Nogueira is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Nogueira is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Nogueira is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gracie is pressing down on Nogueira's thigh, looking to free his foot. Nogueira is holding on for now.
Gracie working Nogueira over with strikes.
Nogueira trying to control here.
Nogueira tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.
Nogueira trying to control but Gracie postures up.
Anderson Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nogueira is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Gracie not doing much here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Nogueira is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Gracie in particular looking to stall.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nogueira tries to clinch but Gracie moves away
and Gracie counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Nogueira thinking.
Nogueira looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Nogueira lands a glancing blow to the side of Gracie's head.
Nogueira staying out of range there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gracie. Nogueira does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nogueira looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gracie is fending him off so far but Nogueira persists. Nope, Gracie circles away and we're back to standing.
Nogueira shoots for a double leg takedown but Gracie sprawls well. He's pushed Nogueira's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nogueira moves in looking to clinch but Gracie pushes him off.
Gracie connects with the punch.
Diego Nogueira seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Nogueira rushes Gracie and presses him up against the cage.
Nogueira fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diego Nogueira. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie lands with a light punch inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira throws a punch but it's blocked by Gracie.
Gracie misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gracie lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Gracie throws a punch but it's blocked by Nogueira.

Nogueira manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Gracie's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Gracie scoring with punches to the head and body.
Gracie lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Nogueira keeps moving.
Nogueira is looking to sweep but instead, Gracie has passed into half guard.
Still in half guard, Gracie seems content to control.
Nogueira wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy.
Nogueira wants to get back to full guard.
Gracie has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to control but Nogueira is keeping him busy.
Gracie lands with a punch from half guard.
Nogueira tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Gracie looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Nogueira with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Nogueira is holding on to half guard well.
Nogueira trying to control here.
Nogueira tries to roll over but Gracie keeps him under control.
Gracie sitting and controlling from the half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Nogueira's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nogueira is defended easily by Gracie.
Gracie misses with a hook. Nogueira ducked under it nicely.

Nogueira moves into the clinch successfully.
Gracie lands a right hand that snaps the head of Nogueira backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gracie.
Nogueira fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gracie misses with a punch on the inside.
Nogueira misses with some punches.
Gracie tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Gracie tries to throw a body punch but Nogueira avoids it by throwing Gracie back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie lands with a light punch inside.
Nogueira tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gracie's elbow.
Nogueira misses with some punches.
Gracie lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Nogueira throws a punch but it's blocked by Gracie.

Nogueira manages to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira pulls Gracie in close to prevent any damage.
Gracie lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Nogueira keeps moving.
Nogueira being controlled here, momentarily.
Nogueira can't keep his opponent in guard - Gracie advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Gracie trying to control from half guard but Nogueira is working away.
Gracie looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Gracie is continuing to stall.
Nogueira is trying to control but can't.
Nogueira wants to improve his position but Gracie is controlling well.
Nogueira regains full guard. Nicely done.
Nogueira working a defensive guard here.
Nogueira has control of Gracie's left arm, preventing Gracie from doing any damage.
Nogueira is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie 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 referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Gracie throws a body shot but no joy.
Gracie throws a body shot but no joy.
Nogueira shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gracie defends it nicely.
Nogueira ducks under a wild hook from Gracie.
Nogueira is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nogueira tries to move into range but Gracie moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Gracie looks to score with a jab to the body but Nogueira is just out of range.
Nogueira tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Gracie defends well and Nogueira ends up having to push Gracie into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diego Nogueira. That's going to take a lot out of him.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nogueira.
Nogueira jumps guard but Gracie turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Anderson Gracie is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira blocks a body shot from Gracie.
Gracie blocking some punches.
Nogueira misses with some punches.
Nogueira fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nogueira tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gracie's elbow.
Gracie blocks an uppercut.
Nogueira misses with a hook from the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nogueira working aggressively here.
Nogueira tries to pull guard but Gracie forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Diego Nogueira has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nogueira misses with a shot to the kidneys.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anderson Gracie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gracie 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anderson Gracie!
After winning the bout, Anderson Gracie thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.