PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nick Papageorgio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rogerio Antunes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Papageorgio comes to the cage accompanied by Holiday Road. Rogerio Antunes has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Papageorgio
vs
Antunes

175 cm
21
190 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

174 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Conviction

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nick Papageorgio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rogerio Antunes!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Emerson Jorge and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Antunes shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Antunes prevents Papageorgio from improving his position.

Antunes wants to work for an arm triangle but Papageorgio is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Antunes is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Papageorgio is just riding it out for now. Antunes eventually gives up the hold.

Antunes is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Papageorgio doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Antunes.

Antunes is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Antunes is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Papageorgio is just riding it out for now. Antunes eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papageorgio trying to hold on to Antunes's head to control him but Antunes postures up.
Papageorgio flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Antunes is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Antunes looks gassed!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Papageorgio works his way to full guard. Good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two 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.

Antunes drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Antunes jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Papageorgio controls Antunes momentarily but Antunes frees himself.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A punch combination from Papageorgio misses.
Papageorgio tries to close the distance and clinch but Antunes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Papageorgio tries to clinch up but Antunes circles away and keeps his distance.
Papageorgio tries to clinch but Antunes is having none of it.
Papageorgio connects with a high kick.

It looks like Rogerio Antunes has been cut.
Antunes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Papageorgio tries to close the distance and clinch up but Antunes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Antunes shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Papageorgio pinned against the cage. Papageorgio gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Papageorgio throws a nice head kick!

Papageorgio looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Papageorgio trying to control the action but Antunes is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Antunes looking for submissions off his back.
Papageorgio moves into full mount! Antunes won't be happy about that!
Papageorgio tries to control but Antunes wriggling away.
Antunes wants to control but Papageorgio is having none of it.

Papageorgio is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Antunes to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Antunes shrugs it off.
Antunes is wriggling around trying to escape.

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.
Papageorgio trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Papageorgio tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Papageorgio wants to control the pace but Antunes is squirming around nicely.
Antunes sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Papageorgio is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Antunes as he works his way to full guard.

Papageorgio got a little sloppy there for a moment and Antunes has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Papageorgio has managed to get both his arms back between Antunes's legs - danger averted.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Antunes looking for a guillotine here but Papageorgio defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nick Papageorgio will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rogerio Antunes's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Papageorgio tries to clinch up but Antunes circles away and keeps his distance.
Papageorgio scores with a head kick.
Papageorgio shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Antunes as he avoids it easily.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Papageorgio lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Antunes has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Antunes and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

Antunes closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Antunes lands in his opponent's guard.

Antunes is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Papageorgio looking to control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Papageorgio is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Antunes defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papageorgio tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Antunes trying to control the position from guard on top but Papageorgio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Antunes thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Antunes has gone for a leg lock! Papageorgio slips out almost immediately though and dives into Antunes's guard.

Antunes has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Papageorgio can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Antunes has his foot on Papageorgio's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Papageorgio works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Papageorgio loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Antunes working for a triangle but Papageorgio defends it easily.

Antunes is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Papageorgio postures up.
Papageorgio slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Antunes sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Papageorgio is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Papageorgio seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Antunes does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Antunes moves into full guard.

Antunes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Papageorgio gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Papageorgio tries to free his leg and advance position but Antunes is retaining full guard.

Antunes is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Antunes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Papageorgio gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Antunes working for a triangle but Papageorgio defends it easily.

Antunes had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Papageorgio defends it easily.
Papageorgio trying to control the position from guard on top but Antunes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Antunes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rogerio Antunes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rogerio Antunes's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Antunes avoids the head kick by Papageorgio.
Papageorgio shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Antunes counters with a takedown into side control.

Antunes working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Antunes working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Papageorgio is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Antunes asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Papageorgio is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Antunes wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Papageorgio, who protects the arm well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Papageorgio is trying to control Antunes's posture but Antunes avoids it.

Antunes is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Papageorgio has escaped the position, nice work there.

Papageorgio throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Papageorgio tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Antunes shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Papageorgio is defending against the submission attempts here by Antunes.

Antunes is working for a kimura but Papageorgio is defending it quite comfortably.
Papageorgio manages to get to full guard.

Antunes thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Antunes trying to control the position from guard on top but Papageorgio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Antunes drops back, looking for a kneebar! Papageorgio looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Papageorgio looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Papageorgio!
Antunes gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Antunes keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Papageorgio jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Antunes is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Antunes and Papageorgio has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Antunes is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Papageorgio's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Papageorgio thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Antunes's head.
It looks like Papageorgio is going to stand back up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Papageorgio wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Antunes uses the opportunity to regain full guard.

Antunes working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Papageorgio doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Antunes is tightening it up a little... Papageorgio has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Papageorgio reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Papageorgio taps out! nice BJJ there by Antunes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Rogerio Antunes!