PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Nogueira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cristiano Fereira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Nogueira
vs
Fereira

189 cm
18
189 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
23
188 lbs
1 - 9 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Antonio Nogueira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Cristiano Fereira!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nogueira closes the distance and clinches up with Fereira, looking for a takedown. Nogueira pushes Fereira against the cage but Fereira circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nogueira lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Fereira fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nogueira throws a combination that misses

so Fereira counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Fereira throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nogueira controlling Fereira's posture.
Fereira is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Fereira postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Nogueira is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Fereira, into his guard.
Fereira is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Nogueira dives into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fereira is not content to let Nogueira control the position.
Fereira wants to get back to his feet but Nogueira drags him back down.
Nogueira has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Fereira avoids a series of strikes thrown by Nogueira.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira controlling from the full mount.
Nogueira wants to control the pace but Fereira is squirming around nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nogueira is really struggling to control Fereira but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Fereira wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Nogueira looking to ground and pound but Fereira is blocking nicely.
Nogueira wants to control the pace but Fereira is squirming around nicely.
You get the feeling that Fereira really doesn't like being in this position too much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira is trying to control here but Fereira has managed to regain half guard.
Nogueira with the ground and pound but Fereira uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Nogueira wants to stand but Fereira is controlling his posture from full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Fereira is working an open guard so Nogueira takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
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 Antonio Nogueira will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nogueira pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Fereira shoots for a takedown but Nogueira saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Fereira shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nogueira pinned against the cage. Nogueira gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nogueira shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nice sprawl there from Fereira as Nogueira shoots in.
Nogueira looks for a takedown but Fereira sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Nogueira. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fereira shoots in looking for a takedown but Nogueira manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Fereira's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A punch combination from Nogueira misses.
Fereira looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Fereira has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Nogueira.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fereira closes the distance and clinches up with Nogueira, looking for a takedown. Fereira pushes Nogueira against the cage but Nogueira circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Fereira is breathing heavily.
Nogueira is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nogueira waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Fereira.
Nogueira displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Fereira.

Fereira closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Nogueira's guard.
Nogueira controls Fereira momentarily but Fereira frees himself.
Fereira throwing strikes but missing.
Fereira trying to control the position from guard on top but Nogueira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fereira stopping the sweep attempt from Nogueira.

Nogueira working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Fereira doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Fereira manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fereira connects with a couple of short punches.
Fereira wants to control from the top but Nogueira keeps moving.
Fereira slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fereira lands a couple of elbows.
Fereira loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Fereira not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Nogueira keeping moving, preventing Fereira from controlling successfully.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Cristiano Fereira hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Nogueira shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Fereira fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Nogueira avoids it really well and circles away.
Nogueira fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fereira has managed to clinch.

Fereira has clasped his hands together around Nogueira's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Fereira lands an elbow.
Nogueira manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Fereira tries to kick Nogueira off but Nogueira keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Nogueira is trying to work for a kimura but Fereira is defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nogueira looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cristiano Fereira showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Fereira throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Nogueira tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Fereira is in Nogueira's guard.
Cristiano Fereira has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fereira stops Nogueira from standing up.
Nogueira lands with a heel strike from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Fereira accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Fereira thows a big elbow that misses.
Fereira missing there with some ground and pound from the 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.
Fereira is working Nogueira over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Fereira wants to control from the top but Nogueira keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Nogueira controls Fereira momentarily but Fereira frees himself.
Fereira 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 ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Cristiano Fereira wasn't active enough on the ground.

Fereira has closed the distance and engaged Nogueira in a clinch.

Fereira breaks from the clinch.
Nogueira tries to clinch up.
Fereira tries for a takedown but Nogueira sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Fereira tries to clinch but Nogueira moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira slaps away a takedown attempt from Fereira, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nogueira shoots for a takedown but Fereira saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nogueira looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Fereira is fending him off so far but Nogueira persists. Nope, Fereira circles away and we're back to standing.
Fereira tries for a takedown but Nogueira sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Antonio Nogueira has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cristiano Fereira.
Fereira changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nogueira tries to avoid it but Fereira manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nogueira to the ground. Nogueira escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Nogueira shoots in for a takedown but Fereira shows good takedown defense.
Nogueira with a poor takedown

and Fereira counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nogueira won't be happy with that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nogueira is looking for a sweep.
Fereira has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Nogueira!
Fereira trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Fereira.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Fereira cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Fereira takes Nogueira's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Nogueira is in trouble.
Nogueira rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Nogueira has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Fereira is working away from the top position though.

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

Fereira seems to be working for a kimura but Nogueira defends the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fereira wants to free his trapped foot but Nogueira is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Nogueira is looking to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nogueira taking some punishment here, with Fereira in his half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cristiano Fereira comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Fereira 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cristiano Fereira!