PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Barney Noble (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dante Exum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Exum has chosen No Games as his entrance music. Barney Noble has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Noble
vs
Exum

210 cm
18
278 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

195 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Barney Noble!
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, Dante Exum!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Edson Gomes and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Noble blocks a head kick by Exum.

Exum scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Exum throws a strike aimed at the side of Noble's head but Noble avoids it well.
The referee asks Exum politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Exum prefers to stall for the moment though.
Exum creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Noble sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Noble is not content to let Exum control the position.
Exum is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Exum is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Noble's shoulder. That is not cool.
Noble regains half guard.
Noble is staying active underneath Exum, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Exum content to control rather than advance.
Exum has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Noble is pressing down on Exum's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Exum not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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.

Exum bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Noble tries to buck Exum off but Exum is having none of it.
Exum remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Noble regains half guard.
Exum looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Noble wants to get back to full guard.
Noble is refusing to be controlled, as Exum sits in half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Noble manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Exum not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
It looks like Exum might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Exum wants to control from the top but Noble keeps moving.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Exum looking to sit in guard and control but Noble gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Noble gets to his feet - Exum follows without any prompting.
Exum doesn't manage to clinch there - Noble circles away.

Exum fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Noble to the ground. Exum is now in Noble's guard.
Exum wants to control from the top but Noble keeps moving.
Noble thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Noble wants to stand and escape but Exum is having none of it.
Noble wants to sweep but no luck.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Noble is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Exum is controlling him.
Exum trying to control but Noble is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Exum dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Exum closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Noble quickly recovers to half guard.
Exum prevents Noble from improving his position.
Noble wants to control but Exum is keeping busy.
Exum controlling the action here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Exum is looking to take a break and control but Noble is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noble tries to roll over but Exum keeps him under control.
Noble moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Noble tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Noble throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Exum controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Exum scores with a kick to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Exum closes the distance and pushes Noble back into the cage.

Exum ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Exum no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Exum managing to control the position.
Exum trying to keep a closed guard but Noble is proving a slippery customer.
Noble wants to control from the top but Exum keeps moving.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Exum holds on and takes a little breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Exum looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Noble postures up.
Exum working a defensive guard but Noble manages to pass into side control anyway.
You can see the frustration on Exum's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Noble in side control, throwing shots but Exum defends.
Exum tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Noble wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Exum. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Noble working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Exum can't do much from the bottom here.
Exum tries to bench press Noble off him but Noble keeps the position.

Noble decides to stand back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Exum.
Exum is breathing heavily.
Noble gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Exum showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Noble shoots in for a double leg but Exum sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A solid leg kick lands there for Exum.

Exum gets a double leg takedown into Noble's guard.
Exum content to stall in guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Exum wants to control from the top but Noble keeps moving.
Exum stopping the sweep attempt from Noble.
Noble keeping moving, preventing Exum from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noble looking to hit a scissor sweep but Exum is one step ahead there.
Noble trying to control the position.
Noble looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Exum lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Exum tries to keep at a distance but Noble has taken the fight into the clinch.
Exum pushes Noble back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Exum has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Noble uses from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Exum is adopting a defensive guard.
Noble postures up.
Exum seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Exum working a defensive guard here.
Exum pulls Noble in to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Noble stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Noble showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Exum.
Exum takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Exum chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Exum misses with a jab, cross combination.

Exum looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Noble!
Noble tries to improve position but can't.
Exum is looking to take a break and control but Noble is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Noble tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Exum wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Exum wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Noble, who protects the arm well.
Noble is trying to control Exum's posture but Exum avoids it.
Noble tries to buck Exum off but Exum is having none of it.
Exum trying to control the action but Noble is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Noble tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Exum wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dante Exum comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Exum has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dante Exum!
Post fight, Dante Exum stared into the camera and said 'I want to thank all my fans and managers and my opponent for a great fight and a great opportunity to show what i could do in this victory.'.