PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Frank Nove (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joao Tostao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Nove
vs
Tostao

175 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

176 cm
25
170 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Frank Nove!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joao Tostao!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Daniel Cesar and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nove falls off balance throwing a combination

and Tostao counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nove won't be happy with that.
Nove is trying to improve his position.
Tostao looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Nove is avoiding damage well.
Tostao is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Nove will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Let's hope that Tostao has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nove is trying to improve his position.
Nove seems a little lost for a moment, as Tostao dominates the positioning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nove is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Tostao has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Tostao lands a decent elbow from side control.
Tostao slows the pace down.
The strikes coming from Tostao are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Tostao scoring with punches and elbows.

That's two 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.
Nove trying to remain calm as Tostao controls from the top position.
Tostao working away.
Tostao controlling the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nove shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tostao as he jumps to the side.
Nove is looking to score with low kicks.
Nove tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tostao swivels and escapes.
Nove looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tostao is fending him off so far but Nove persists. Nope, Tostao circles away and we're back to standing.
Tostao drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Nove defends it well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Nove. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nove looks to clinch

and Tostao counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Tostao's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tostao won't allow Nove to sweep him here.
Nove is breathing heavily.
Tostao showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Tostao's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
More stalling from Tostao.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Nove shoots and misses

and Tostao decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Nove's guard.
Tostao sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Nove's guard.
Tostao controlling the pace.
Tostao trying to mount his opponent but Nove defends it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tostao trying to control the pace.
Nove slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Tostao dominated that round.
That's time! Nove's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Tostao slaps away a takedown attempt from Nove, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Tostao with the counter takedown but Nove avoids it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nove looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nove moves to clinch but Tostao breaks away

and Tostao counters with a single leg into guard. Nove didn't expect that.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tostao seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Nove can't keep his opponent in guard - Tostao advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tostao is controlling the pace.
Joao Tostao has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tostao with more of the same as he continues to hold on.
Nove won't allow Tostao to pass to mount.

That's two 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.
Tostao trying to control the pace.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Tostao.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Tostao connects with a nice short shot to Nove's temple.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Tostao in particular looking to stall.
Tostao drops an elbow to the side of Nove's head.
Tostao slows the pace down in half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nove looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tostao is fending him off so far but Nove persists. Nope, Tostao circles away and we're back to standing.
Tostao feints the counter takedown.
Tostao swats away the attempt to clinch by Nove.

Nove clinches up with Tostao and pushes him back against the cage.
Nove is pressed up against the cage. Tostao has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nove down to the mat. Nove avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Frank Nove is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nove shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Tostao defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Nove. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nove closes the distance and clinches up with Tostao, looking for a takedown. Nove pushes Tostao against the cage but Tostao circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Tostao feints the counter takedown.
Nove misses with a head kick.
Tostao changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Nove changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tostao tries to avoid it but Nove manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tostao to the ground. Tostao escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Tostao changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nove swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Tostao counters with a takedown into side control.
Tostao in side control lands a decent elbow.
Tostao has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tostao scoring with punches and elbows.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A lull in the action here.
Tostao lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Tostao showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nove tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Tostao manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nove shoots in and drives through. Tostao sprawls well.
Tostao circles away from the clinch attempt

and Tostao counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Nove!
Tostao takes a little break here. Nove wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tostao is putting a hurting on Nove here, landing some big shots from side control.
Tostao controlling the position from side mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tostao scores with a couple of short elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tostao working the body and head with strikes.
Nove gets back to half guard.
Tostao trying to mount his opponent but Nove defends it.
Ground and pound from Tostao.
Tostao content to control rather than advance.
Tostao sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nove defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tostao tries to pass to full mount but Nove defends it.
Nove is looking for a sweep. Tostao is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Tostao perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nove throws a lazy body kick

and Tostao counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Nove!
Nove is looking for a sweep.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tostao 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nove takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Nove is trying to escape the position but Tostao is controlling the position.

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.
You can see the frustration on Nove's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Nove is trying to escape the position but Tostao is controlling the position.
Tostao working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Tostao taking a breather here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Frank Nove has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joao Tostao is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nove wants to clinch

and Tostao counters with a takedown into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joao Tostao comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Tostao winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 25:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 25:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joao Tostao!