PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Filipe Nunes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Franklin Avela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Avela comes into a darkened arena with his song building. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOz_pe2cZgI kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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?

Nunes
vs
Avela

182 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

189 cm
23
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Filipe Nunes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Franklin Avela!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Thiago Cunha and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nunes misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Nunes closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Avela tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Nunes pulls guard.
Avela wants to stand but Nunes is controlling his posture from full guard.
Nunes keeping moving, preventing Avela from controlling successfully.
Avela pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nunes is keeping the position for now.
Nunes throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nunes trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Avela would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nunes working for a triangle but Avela defends it easily.
Nunes is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nunes is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Avela defends well.
Avela trying to control the position from guard on top but Nunes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Avela stays in close to Nunes's body and controls the position.
Avela trying to control but Nunes is working from the bottom.
Avela must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

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.

Franklin Avela has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
A left and a right from Avela both land. Nice combination.
Avela misses with the combination.
Nunes fails with a takedown attempt.
Avela avoids a punch combination nicely.
Avela misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Avela throws a nice head kick!
Nunes throws a right and a left that Avela avoids nicely.
Avela lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Avela closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Avela forces Nunes back against the cage and clinches.
Avela is trying to drag Nunes to the mat but Nunes just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Avela landing knees to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Avela jumps guard and drags Nunes to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Avela wants to sweep but no luck.
Nunes throws a strike but Avela rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Avela pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nunes is keeping the position for now.
Avela wants to control from the top but Nunes keeps moving.

That's four 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.

Avela got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nunes has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Avela has managed to get both his arms back between Nunes's legs - danger averted.
Avela pushes down on Nunes's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Avela is looking to take a break and control but Nunes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Avela takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Avela wants to take a breather but Nunes is having none of it.
Avela wants to free his trapped foot but Nunes is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Franklin Avela dominated that 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.

Avela misses with a double jab.
Avela with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Good leg kick by Avela there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Avela shoots and misses

and Nunes counters with a takedown into side control.
Avela is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Nunes is looking to advance position but Avela won't allow it.
Avela is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Nunes's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Nunes's back!
Nunes rolls, trying to escape but Avela keeps control of the position.
Nunes prevents Avela from getting a body triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Nunes's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Avela is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Nunes. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Avela is looking to control Nunes but Nunes is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Avela misses with an elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nunes is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Avela.
Avela is looking to control Nunes but Nunes is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Nunes trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Avela trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Nunes doesn't escape.
Avela scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Nunes is looking for a way out.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Avela controlling the positon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avela lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Avela trying to control.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nunes rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Nunes trying to hold on to Avela's head to control him but Avela postures up.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Franklin Avela has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Avela clinches.
Avela with a knee to the head.
Avela misses with a knee strike.
Avela wants a takedown but no success here.
Nunes fails to pull the fight into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Franklin Avela showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nunes rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Avela moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Avela darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Avela trying to pass the guard but Nunes defending well.
Avela is trying to control. Nunes wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Avela might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Nunes kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nunes flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Franklin Avela was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Avela scores with a three punch combo!
Avela bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Avela shoots in looking for a takedown but Nunes manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Avela's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Avela throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Nunes.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Avela throws a nice outside leg kick.
Avela misses with a combination
and Nunes counters with a two punch combo.
Filipe Nunes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Avela moves into the clinch.
Avela looking to throw knees to the head but Nunes is blocking nicely.
Nunes avoiding damage as Avela throws knees to the body.

Nunes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nunes throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Avela's waist but Avela gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Nunes off to one side.

Avela moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nunes wants a takedown.
Avela looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Nunes tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Filipe Nunes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Avela breaks from the clinch.

Avela scores with a takedown into Nunes's guard.
Avela wants to control from the top but Nunes keeps moving.
Avela forces his way into half guard.
Nunes gets back to full guard.
Avela trying to control the position from guard on top but Nunes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avela wants to pass the guard but Nunes is keeping the position.
Avela controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Nunes keeping moving, preventing Avela from controlling successfully.

Nunes looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Avela has picked Nunes up and slammed him! Nunes can't keep hold of the triangle and Avela manages to pass to side control!
You can see the frustration on Nunes's face as Avela controls the position.
Nunes struggling a bit here.
Franklin Avela has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Avela is looking to take a break and control but Nunes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Filipe Nunes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Avela decides to stand back up. Avela steps back and let's Nunes get back to his feet.
Avela is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Avela.
Avela goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Nunes enables Avela to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Nunes manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Avela content to sit in guard, stalling... Great. Oh but he could get punished here because Nunes has locked up a guillotine! Nunes's face is contorted as he sqeezes tight on the submission attempt - will he finish? Avela is holding on here and Nunes must be using up a lot of energy. Avela has gone limp! He's out! He's out cold! Nunes gets to his feet, tossing aside his stricken foe. Arms raised, he milks the applause from the crowd. Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Filipe Nunes!