PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zica Brava (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexandre Nieto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brava comes to the cage accompanied by Chimaira - Nothing Remains. Nieto has chosen Bullet the Blue Sky as his entrance music. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Alexandre Nieto enters the cage!

Brava
vs
Nieto

168 cm
28
142 lbs
18 - 7 - 1

170 cm
27
162 lbs
16 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Granite chin

STEEL PENN'S 160 OF STEEL $50 Hilo

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 7 - 1, fighting out of New York, Zica Brava!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexandre Nieto!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Steve Smith and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brava looks to score with a jab to the body but Nieto is just out of range.
Zica Brava seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Brava throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A shot to the body from Nieto misses
and Brava counters with an outside leg kick.

Nieto moves into range and clinches up with Brava.
Nieto stalling the fight.
Brava tries to throw a body punch but Nieto avoids it by throwing Brava back against the cage.
Brava scores with a shot to the side of Nieto's head.
Brava tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nieto misses with a body punch.
Brava makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Nieto wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Nieto misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nieto lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Nieto is trying to stall.
Nieto working aggressively here.
Brava misses with a hook to the ribs.
Brava misses with a punch to the body.
Brava throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nieto's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Nieto tries a body shot but Brava blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brava misses with a punch to the body.
Brava blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nieto manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Brava tries to throw a body punch but Nieto avoids it by throwing Brava back against the cage.
Brava blocks a body shot from Nieto.
Nieto struggles to land a body shot inside as Brava controls his hands.

Nieto pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nieto stuns Brava with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Nieto is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nieto misses with a body shot.
Nieto lands a right hook to the body.
Nieto throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Brava falls off balance throwing a combination
and Nieto counters with a slapping leg kick.
Nieto fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Brava is out of range.
Brava lands with a cross.
Brava lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nieto tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Brava was well out of range. Poor timing from Nieto.
Brava lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Nieto at a distance.
Nieto is looking to clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Brava looks to score with a jab to the body but Nieto is just out of range.
Nieto fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Brava is out of range.
Brava swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nieto keeps the fight on the outside.
Nieto attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Nieto fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Brava looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Brava keeps the fight on the outside.
Nieto swings for the body but Brava moves out of range.
Brava jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Brava uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nieto.
Nieto misses with a hook to the body
and Brava counters with a nice body kick.
Nieto is looking to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Brava looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nieto tries to work over Brava's front leg with a kick but Brava checks it.
Nieto shoots in but Brava avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brava loads up on a big right hand but Nieto slips the punch.
Nieto throws a body punch but Brava moves out of range.
Nieto tries to close the distance and clinch but Brava swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Brava pushes Nieto up against the cage in a clinch.
Brava misses with a punch to the body.
Nieto prevents a body shot from Brava.
Brava wants to break free but Nieto has control.
A short left from Brava.
Brava scores with a nice hook to the head.
Nieto doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nice body punch from Brava.
A short right from Brava on the inside.
Nieto holding his opponent close, against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Nieto misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nieto scores with a nice hook to the head.
Nieto throws a head punch that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nieto lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Brava tries a body shot but Nieto blocks it.

Nieto jumps into guard, dragging Brava to the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Nieto working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Brava doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Brava manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Nieto is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Brava is aware though and is defending well.
Brava not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Brava trying to control but Nieto is working from the bottom.

Brava stands up from Nieto's guard - Brava perhaps looking for a knockout.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Brava lands a right hook to the body.
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 Zica Brava will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nieto turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Brava closes the distance and clinches.
Nieto is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Brava.
Nieto misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Brava.
Nieto struggles to land a body shot inside as Brava controls his hands.
Brava presses Nieto against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Brava misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short body shot lands from Brava as the two fighters clinch.
Zica Brava has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Nieto can't find room to land a body shot as Brava controls the action.
Brava misses with a short punch on the inside.
Brava tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nieto's elbow.
Brava lands with a light punch inside.
A body shot lands from Brava.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head punch on the inside from Nieto fails to land.
Nieto has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Brava is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Brava lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Nieto or not.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brava makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Nieto is breathing heavily.
Nieto is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Brava lands with a short shot to the head.
Brava goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Brava gets through Nieto's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Brava here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

Brava manages to break the clinch.
Brava lands a head kick. Nieto smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

It looks like Alexandre Nieto has been cut.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Brava!
Brava lands with a thumping leg kick.
Brava throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Brava smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Nieto takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Nieto on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Nieto throws a body punch but Brava moves out of range.
Brava lunges at Nieto with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Nieto's hand.
A leg kick checked by Brava.
Nieto thows a body shot but no joy.
Nieto misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brava works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Brava ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Brava misses with a few strikes there.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Brava scores with a punch to the head.
Nieto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zica Brava is winning the standup battle so far.

Brava gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Nieto wants to get back to striking at distance but Brava won't allow it.
Brava lands a left hand.
Brava lands with a light punch inside.
Brava misses with a body punch.
Brava lands with a light punch inside.
Nieto fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Brava blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nieto blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Brava lands with a short shot to the head.
Nieto using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Brava has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nieto looking to slow down the pace here.
Nieto is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brava works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Nieto blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Brava breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Brava fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Nieto looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Brava throws a sloppy head kick and Nieto moves out of range easily.
Nieto misses with a right hand
and Brava counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Nieto swats away the attempt to clinch by Brava.
Nieto shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Brava jabs Nieto right on the nose. Nieto blinks but takes it well.
Brava dips to his left and cracks Nieto with an uppercut!
Brava fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Nieto checks it well.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Brava checks a leg kick.
Brava throws a solid leg kick but Nieto takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Brava.
A cross from Brava lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nieto lands a nice looking body kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Brava instigates a clinch.
Brava is working Nieto over against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Brava.
Nieto tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Brava throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Nietos head.
Brava misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nieto is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Brava is keeping busy.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Brava creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Nieto misses with a short punch on the inside.
Brava lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Brava misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Brava has a couple of punches blocked by Nieto.
Nieto pushes Brava back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Nieto scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Brava lands with a short punch from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zica Brava dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Alexandre Nieto's cut.
That's time! Brava's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Nieto buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Nieto decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Brava has one foot on Nieto's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Nieto dives in and grabs Brava's left leg, looking for a takedown. Brava pushes down on Nieto's head and hops out.
Brava throws a shot to the body.
Brava throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Nieto misses with a jab to the body
and Brava counters with a right hand to the body.
Brava throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Nieto throws a leg kick but Brava checks it.
Nieto takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
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!
Brava moves in looking to clinch but Nieto pushes him off.
Nieto fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nieto swings for the body but Brava moves out of range.
Nieto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A head kick misses from Brava.
Left hook, right uppercut from Brava.

Nieto has managed to clinch.
Nieto is trying to break the clinch but Brava has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nieto dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Nieto tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Brava's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Brava throws a leg kick which misses Nieto's front leg but catches the back leg as Nieto tries to avoid it.
Brava lands a glancing blow to the side of Nieto's head.
Nieto tried to score with a low kick but Brava checks it.
Nieto digs a good hook to Brava's body.
Brava digs a good body shot into Nieto's ribs.
No luck for Nieto with that takedown attempt.
Zica Brava has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexandre Nieto.
Nieto swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Nieto throws a leg kick that misses.
Brava stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Nieto attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Brava lands with a right hand.
Brava thuds his shin into the meat of Nieto's side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nieto keeps the fight on the outside.

Brava moves into range and clinches up with Nieto.
Brava lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Brava pushes Nieto back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nieto is trying to maintain a safe position but Brava gets an underhook and turns Nieto into the cage.
Nice body punch from Brava.
Zica Brava is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nieto trying to control the position but instead, Brava has worked for underhooks and has pushed Nieto into the cage.
Brava working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Brava lands with a short shot to the head.
Nieto struggles to land a body shot inside as Brava controls his hands.
Nieto tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Brava's elbow.
Nieto swings wildly with an uppercut but Brava uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nieto lands a nice knee to the body.
Nieto scores with a shoulder strike.
Nieto is looking to control Brava's arms but Brava gets an underhook and turns him. Now Nieto has his back to the cage.
Brava pushes Nieto back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Brava working hard to break the clinch.
Brava misses with a body punch.
Nieto blocks an uppercut.
Brava blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Brava misses with a body punch.
Brava blocks a body shot from Nieto.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nieto prevents a body shot from Brava.
Brava lands a body punch in the clinch.
Nieto is looking to control Brava's arms but Brava gets an underhook and turns him. Now Nieto has his back to the cage.
Brava prevents a body shot from Nieto.
Nieto is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Nieto lands a body punch in the clinch.
Alexandre Nieto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nieto is stalling here.
Nieto tries to pull guard but Brava won't allow it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Brava tries to circle away but Nieto has him pinned against the cage.
Nice body punch from Brava.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zica Brava showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Brava, 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zica Brava!
After the fight, Zica Brava was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.