PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marco Noriega (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mirko Cro Cop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marco Noriega has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Noriega
vs
Cro Cop

176 cm
18
192 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

198 cm
22
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

Dangerous GnP
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marco Noriega!
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, Mirko Cro Cop!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Leandro Rodrigues and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Cro Cop as Noriega shoots in.
Noriega keeps the fight on the outside.
Noriega throws a series of punches but Cro Cop moves out of range.
Cro Cop is looking to clinch.
Cro Cop tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Noriega swivels and escapes.
Cro Cop is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cro Cop tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Noriega paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cro Cop is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cro Cop looks for a takedown but Noriega sprawls well.
Noriega shoots in for a takedown but Cro Cop shows good takedown defense.
Cro Cop tries to clinch but Noriega is having none of it.
Noriega looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cro Cop is fending him off so far but Noriega persists. Nope, Cro Cop circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marco Noriega. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Noriega keeps the fight on the outside.
Noriega lands a jab to Cro Cop's midsection.
Cro Cop tries to clinch there but Noriega circles away.
Cro Cop fails with an attempt to clinch.

Noriega closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Cro Cop throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Noriega taking a breather here.
Noriega working the ground and pound from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cro Cop throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Cro Cop tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Noriega controlling from side mount.
Cro Cop is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Noriega has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Noriega's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Cro Cop is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Noriega is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Cro Cop throwing hammer fists to the chest of Noriega. What's that going to do exactly?
Cro Cop tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Noriega is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Cro Cop can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Cro Cop throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Noriega working the ground and pound effectively.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Noriega breaks from Cro Cop's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Noriega looking to isolate an arm here. Cro Cop doesn't see it coming and as Noriega extends the arm, he's forced to tap out! Nice submission by Noriega!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:05 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Marco Noriega!