PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Don Handle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rodrigo Nogueira
vs
Handle

191 cm
21
240 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

190 cm
20
235 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

The Fighter's Ultimate Nutrition

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Don Handle!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Daniel Cesar and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Handle has a takedown stuffed.
Left hook, right uppercut from Nogueira.
Handle connects with a high kick.
Nogueira with a poor takedown
and Handle counters with an inside leg kick.

Handle moves into the clinch successfully.
Handle keeps control of Nogueira as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Handle looking for a takedown.

Handle gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Handle seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nogueira does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Handle is controlling the pace.
Nogueira wants to control but Handle is keeping busy.
Handle trying to control the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira is staying active underneath Handle, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nogueira wants to improve his position but Handle is controlling well.

Handle is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nogueira with a lazy takedown attempt

and Handle counters with a shoot takedown. Nogueira fights it but they end up in guard.
Handle missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Nogueira looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Handle passes into half guard.
Nogueira is breathing heavily.

Handle looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Handle performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Handle has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

Nogueira defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Handle.
Handle fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Handle looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Nogueira is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Handle is going olschool here, as he tries to force Nogueira to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Nogueira shrugs it off.
Handle tries to control but Nogueira wriggling away.

Handle swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Nogueira is now in Handle's guard. A big mistake from Handle there, giving up the dominant position!
Nogueira slips nicely into half guard.
Handle is trying to get back to full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Nogueira wants to lay and pray for a moment but Handle keeps working.

Nogueira is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Handle defends it well.
Nogueira looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Handle wants to control but Nogueira is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Handle controlling the position for now.
Nogueira is thwarting Handle's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Nogueira is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Handle defends it well.
Nogueira missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Handle dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Handle with a poor takedown

and Nogueira counters with a takedown into side control.

Nogueira is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Handle is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Handle sneaks back into half guard.
Handle makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Handle.

Handle wriggles free and stands up.
Nogueira gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Handle counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Nogueira!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Handle scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The referee warns Nogueira that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Handle jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Nogueira manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Nogueira tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Handle looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Nogueira manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Nogueira looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nogueira wants to get back to full guard.
Handle perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Handle is looking for a kimura here.

Nogueira is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Handle pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Handle is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Nogueira makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Nogueira.
Nogueira looking for a sweep. Not yet Nogueira, not yet.
Handle 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.

Handle drops back looking for a leg! Nogueira is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nogueira manages to kick Handle off! Handle jumps back into Nogueira's guard.

Handle has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Nogueira to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Handle is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Nogueira pulls down on the head and he's put Handle to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira!