PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleksandar Volkanovski (ranked 1626 p4p, 2073 weight class) and Anderson Nogueira (ranked 219 p4p, 275 weight class). Volkanovski's entrance music is 2pac - Hail Mary. A fine choice. This should be fireworks!

Volkanovski
vs
Nogueira

193 cm
30
217
11 - 12 - 0

175 cm
31
209
8 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
World class MT
Granite chin

HELLBENT

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 11 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Aleksandar Volkanovski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anderson Nogueira !
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Volkanovski darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Volkanovski slows the pace down in half guard.

Volkanovski is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Nogueira misses with some strikes from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkanovski is taking a breather. Nogueira says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Volkanovski wants to free his trapped foot but Nogueira is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Volkanovski prevents Nogueira from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkanovski content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nogueira is looking for a sweep. Volkanovski is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Volkanovski perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Volkanovski postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Nogueira to stand up.
Nogueira tries to close the distance and clinch but Volkanovski swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Volkanovski feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Nogueira s jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Volkanovski misses with a hook.
Volkanovski has been working on his boxing with his coaches at LAFC Training Center in the buildup to the fight.
Anderson Nogueira is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Volkanovski shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Volkanovski misses.
Volkanovski dives in for a single leg takedown but Nogueira sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Nogueira appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

Volkanovski breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nogueira fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nogueira has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Volkanovski swats away the attempt to clinch by Nogueira .
Volkanovski lands the left hand.
A combination from Volkanovski does no damage.
Nogueira wants to clinch up but Volkanovski keeps it at a distance.
Nogueira tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Volkanovski misses with a few strikes there.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkanovski tries to pull guard but Nogueira won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aleksandar Volkanovski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Nogueira .
Nogueira doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nogueira misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Volkanovski.
Nogueira lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Nogueira obliges.
Volkanovski is breathing heavily.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Nogueira creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Nogueira lands a knee to the body.
Nogueira pushes off an throws an elbow but Volkanovski leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Nogueira landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Nogueira scores with a shot to the side of Volkanovski's head.
Nogueira trying to land knees to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Volkanovski's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Volkanovski jumps guard but Nogueira stands there with Volkanovski around his waist. Volkanovski gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Nogueira .
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Volkanovski takes a knee to the side of the body.
Volkanovski dodges an elbow strike from Nogueira .
A quick uppercut on the inside from Nogueira .
Nogueira lands a knee to the body.
Nogueira misses with an elbow over the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Aleksandar Volkanovski has been cut.
Nogueira lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Volkanovski blocks an elbow strike from Nogueira .
Nogueira lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nogueira lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Nogueira throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nogueira throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Volkanovskis head.

Volkanovski escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nogueira scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Nogueira wants to clinch.
Nogueira swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nogueira with a hook.

Nogueira closes the distance and clinches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Nogueira dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Aleksandar Volkanovski's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Volkanovski lands an overhand right.
Nogueira is looking to clinch.
Volkanovski jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Nogueira lands with a shot to the body.

Nogueira has taken the fight to the clinch.
Anderson Nogueira seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Nogueira lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Volkanovski or not.
Volkanovski takes an elbow to the forehead.
Nogueira lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Volkanovski wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Knees to the body from Nogueira .
Nogueira lands with a light punch inside.
Nogueira lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Volkanovski backwards.
Nogueira lands with a left to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nogueira can't find room to land a body shot as Volkanovski controls the action.
Nogueira looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Volkanovski breaks the clinch.
Nogueira lands a big head kick that sends Volkanovski to the canvas! Nogueira follows up with strikes from the mount that forces the ref to step in and stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Anderson Nogueira !