PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Nogueira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Minoru Cho Choi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cho Choi has chosen Gerry & The Pacemakers - You'll Never Walk Alone as his entrance music. Minoru Cho Choi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nogueira
vs
Cho Choi

189 cm
25
212 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

194 cm
26
220 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Zentrope Fighting Universe
Zentrope Fighting Universe

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Ricardo Nogueira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Minoru Cho Choi!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Chris Edwards and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nogueira moves out of range of the strikes.
Nogueira shoots for a takedown but Cho Choi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Nogueira checks a leg kick.
Nogueira tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cho Choi sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nogueira somewhat.
Cho Choi misses with a low kick.
Nogueira misses the shot to the body.

Nogueira gets a takedown into half guard.
Nogueira trying to mount his opponent but Cho Choi defends it.
Cho Choi is trying to stand.

Nogueira is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Nogueira throwing shots but Cho Choi is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira wants to free his trapped foot but Cho Choi is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Cho Choi is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Nogueira scores with a couple of nice shots.

Nogueira is looking for a kimura here.
Nogueira not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nogueira seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cho Choi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nogueira thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cho Choi's head.

Nogueira is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cho Choi is just riding it out for now. Nogueira eventually gives up the hold.

Nogueira is looking for a kimura but Cho Choi is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nogueira to get the leverage.
Nogueira missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cho Choi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Nogueira trying to control the action but Cho Choi is working from the bottom.
Nogueira thows a huge punch but Cho Choi dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nogueira is working for a kimura but Cho Choi is defending it quite comfortably.
Nogueira not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cho Choi won't allow Nogueira to pass to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nogueira is keen to just control but Cho Choi is a slippery customer.
Nogueira missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cho Choi is refusing to be controlled, as Nogueira sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nogueira is nestled in close to Cho Choi, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Nogueira not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nogueira thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nogueira thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cho Choi's head.
Nogueira is trying to control the action in half guard but Cho Choi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Nogueira throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nogueira looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Nogueira dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cho Choi looks to score with a jab to the body but Nogueira is just out of range.

Nogueira shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Cho Choi manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Nogueira loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nogueira throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nogueira has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Nogueira thows a big elbow that misses.
Nogueira postures up in Cho Choi's guard and throws a big left but Cho Choi blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nogueira accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nogueira scoring with some ground and pound.
Nogueira trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nogueira trying to control the position from guard on top but Cho Choi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nogueira wants to control from the top but Cho Choi keeps moving.
Nogueira loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nogueira trying to control but Cho Choi is working from the bottom.
Nogueira trying to move into half guard but instead Cho Choi has managed to sweep!
Nogueira is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
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.

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.
Nogueira thows a huge punch but Cho Choi dodges it nicely.
Nogueira not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Nogueira trying to control the action but Cho Choi is working from the bottom.
Nogueira thows a huge punch but Cho Choi dodges it nicely.
Nogueira takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cho Choi can do anything to dispel that myth.
Nogueira throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Nogueira is looking to take a break and control but Cho Choi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nogueira throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cho Choi is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Nogueira is keen to just control but Cho Choi is a slippery customer.
Nogueira working over Cho Choi with some ground and pound. Cho Choi looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Nogueira looks to land a strike but Cho Choi avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Nogueira throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cho Choi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nogueira missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nogueira tries to free his leg and advance position but Cho Choi is retaining full guard.
Nogueira throws a big right hand that misses.
Nogueira throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nogueira is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Nogueira trying to control but Cho Choi is working from the bottom.
Nogueira looking to pass the guard.
Nogueira is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Nogueira dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Nogueira moves out of range of the body kick from Cho Choi.
Cho Choi throws a half hearted mid kick.
Cho Choi tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Nogueira shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Nogueira pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cho Choi is keeping the position for now.
Nogueira trying to control the position from guard on top but Cho Choi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cho Choi can't keep his opponent in guard - Nogueira advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Nogueira is looking for a kimura but Cho Choi is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nogueira to get the leverage.
Cho Choi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Nogueira is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Cho Choi defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cho Choi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nogueira. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Nogueira not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nogueira sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cho Choi defending well though.
Cho Choi wants to get back to full guard.

Nogueira is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Cho Choi has managed to free his arm - good work.
Nogueira is trying to control. Cho Choi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Minoru Cho Choi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Nogueira lands with a punch from half guard.
Nogueira is just content to waste time from the top position. Cho Choi takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Nogueira won't allow Cho Choi to get back to his feet.
Nogueira passes Cho Choi's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Nogueira is trying to control. Cho Choi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Nogueira works his way into side control.
Nogueira is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Nogueira trying to control the action but Cho Choi is working from the bottom.
Ricardo Nogueira is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nogueira controls the position from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ricardo Nogueira has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Cho Choi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nogueira.
Cho Choi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nogueira manages to avoid it.
Nogueira shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cho Choi sprawls well. Cho Choi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nogueira gets slowly back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricardo Nogueira showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nogueira, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27

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