PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Minotauro Nogueira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Al Blaze (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nogueira's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, The Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nogueira
vs
Blaze

192 cm
25
270 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

193 cm
20
250 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Brawler
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Minotauro Nogueira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Al Blaze!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, George Francis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blaze throws a body punch but Nogueira moves out of range.
Blaze thows a left - swing and a miss!
Blaze throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nogueira showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Blaze.
Nogueira fails with a takedown attempt.
Nogueira fails with the takedown.
Nogueira misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Minotauro Nogueira. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nogueira fails with the takedown.
Blaze throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nogueira shoots for a takedown but Blaze saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Blaze misses with a body shot.

Blaze is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Nogueira's half guard.
Nogueira is trying to get back to full guard.

Blaze is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Blaze is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaze is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Nogueira is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Blaze looking to control but Nogueira is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Blaze is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Nogueira is surviving well by controlling Blaze's body position as best he can.

Blaze is working for a guillotine from mount but Nogueira frees his head quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Blaze thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Nogueira tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Blaze goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Nogueira turns into him and now he's in Blaze's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nogueira tries to free his leg and advance position but Blaze is retaining full guard.
Nogueira wants to control from the top but Blaze keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blaze trying to keep a closed guard but Nogueira is proving a slippery customer.
Nogueira stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Blaze swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nogueira wants to control from the top but Blaze keeps moving.
Blaze tries to strike from the bottom.

Blaze throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Blaze throws a right and a left that both miss.
Al Blaze seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nogueira has a takedown stuffed.
Blaze misses the shot to the body.
Blaze tries for a takedown but Nogueira circles away easily

and Nogueira counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Blaze looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blaze keeping moving, preventing Nogueira from controlling successfully.

Blaze is looking for a triangle but Nogueira pushes his legs off easily.
Nogueira pushes down on Blaze's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Nogueira is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Blaze is just riding it out for now. Nogueira eventually gives up the hold.
Blaze is staying active underneath Nogueira, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Blaze shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Nogueira is looking for a sweep. Blaze is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nogueira won't allow Blaze to pass to mount.

Blaze is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Nogueira sees it coming and defends easily.
Nogueira moves into full guard.
Nogueira keeping moving, preventing Blaze from controlling successfully.

Blaze drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Nogueira dives on top into guard.
Blaze is breathing heavily.
Nogueira stands and throws Blaze's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nogueira swings around for an armbar but Blaze sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Nogueira's guard.
Blaze stopping the sweep attempt from Nogueira.
Blaze postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nogueira working a defensive guard here.
Nogueira looking to hit a scissor sweep but Blaze is one step ahead there.
Nogueira keeping full guard, as Blaze tries to pass.

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.
Blaze trying to control but Nogueira is working from the bottom.
Nogueira preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nogueira moves out of range of the strikes.
Nogueira will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nice sprawl there from Blaze as Nogueira shoots in.
Nogueira fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Blaze avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Minotauro Nogueira. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Blaze fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Nogueira sprawls well initially but Blaze persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Al Blaze has got the better of the ground game so far.

Blaze seems to be working for a kimura but Nogueira defends the submission attempt.
Blaze missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Blaze connects with a nice short shot to Nogueira's temple.
Nogueira makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Nogueira.

Nogueira working for submissions but it's allowed Blaze to get to half guard.
Blaze wants to pass the guard but Nogueira is defending well.

Blaze is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nogueira defends it well.
Blaze throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four 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.

Blaze is looking for a kimura but Nogueira is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Blaze to get the leverage.
Nogueira gets full guard.
Blaze working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Nogueira has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Blaze can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Nogueira tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Blaze trying to control but Nogueira is working from the bottom.

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

Blaze drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Nogueira dives on top into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Al Blaze will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Nogueira feints and as Blaze raises his hands in defense, Nogueira changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nogueira trying to control but Blaze is working from the bottom.
Nogueira stopping the sweep attempt from Blaze.
Nogueira tries to free his leg and advance position but Blaze is retaining full guard.

Blaze working for submissions but it's allowed Nogueira to get to half guard.

Blaze looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nogueira with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Blaze takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira trying to mount his opponent but Blaze defends it.

Nogueira is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Blaze doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Nogueira.

Blaze looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Blaze actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Nogueira is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Blaze doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Nogueira.
Blaze wants to control but Nogueira is keeping busy.

Nogueira is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Blaze looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira passes the guard and advances to mount!
Nogueira tries to control but Blaze wriggling away.
Blaze wants to control but Nogueira is having none of it.

Blaze defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Nogueira.
Nogueira prevents Blaze from getting the reversal.

That's four 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.
Blaze tries to improve his position but instead Nogueira has taken his back!
Blaze trying to control the hands but Nogueira won't let him.

Nogueira looking for the choke from the back.

Nogueira patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blaze tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Minotauro Nogueira showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Minotauro Nogueira!