PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ilir The Finisher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Nogueira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ilir The Finisher could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Ricardo Nogueira's chin.

The Finisher
vs
Nogueira

205 cm
27
226 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

189 cm
24
212 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Zentrope Fighting Universe

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 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ilir The Finisher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Ricardo Nogueira!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Sergei Dronov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The Finisher throws an overhand right that lands on Nogueira's shoulder, as Nogueira tries to avoid the shot.
Nogueira has a takedown stuffed.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Nogueira.
The Finisher takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

It looks like Ricardo Nogueira has been cut.
The Finisher misses with a straight left.
The fight stays on the outside here - The Finisher looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nogueira uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from The Finisher.
A looping hook to the body misses from The Finisher. Nogueira does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nogueira shoots in but no luck this time.
Ilir The Finisher has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Nogueira.
Nogueira will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nogueira keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira gets cracked there but stands up to it.

The Finisher gets caught flat footed, as Nogueira shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Nogueira lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Nogueira wants to pass the guard but The Finisher is keeping the position.
Nogueira throws a strike but The Finisher rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Nogueira manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. The Finisher manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nogueira trying to control the position from guard on top but The Finisher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nogueira is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Nogueira tries to free his leg and advance position but The Finisher is retaining full guard.
Nogueira postures up in The Finisher's guard and throws a big left but The Finisher blocks it.
Nogueira loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nogueira trying to control but The Finisher is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira scoring with some ground and pound.
Nogueira thows a big elbow that misses.
Nogueira trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The Finisher preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nogueira scoring with some ground and pound.
Nogueira throws and elbow that misses. The Finisher uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Nogueira's guard. Nice move by The Finisher!
The Finisher tries to free his leg and advance position but Nogueira is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nogueira working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. The Finisher doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. The Finisher manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Nogueira is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ricardo Nogueira will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ricardo Nogueira'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.

Nogueira loads up on a big right hand but The Finisher slips the punch.

Nogueira throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. The Finisher was covering up waiting for the punch and Nogueira finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Nogueira with a flurry of punches that miss.
The Finisher avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The Finisher preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nogueira landing with the ground and pound.
The Finisher working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nogueira.
The Finisher utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira throwing strikes but missing.
The Finisher trying to control the position.
Nogueira postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nogueira passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Nogueira is looking to take a break and control but The Finisher is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nogueira creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

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.
Nogueira wants to control but The Finisher is keeping him busy.
Nogueira throwing strikes but The Finisher manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Nogueira is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The Finisher tries to stand and escape but Nogueira is controlling the position.
Nogueira manages to get to full guard.
Nogueira is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira wants to sweep here but The Finisher controlling him for the moment.

That's four 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.
The Finisher is stalling in the full guard.
Nogueira looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Nogueira showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ricardo Nogueira'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!

The Finisher jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nogueira fails with a takedown attempt.
The Finisher thuds a left hand into Nogueira's body.
Nogueira shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as The Finisher sprawls well. The Finisher wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nogueira gets slowly back to his feet.
Ilir The Finisher seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nogueira shoots in looking for a takedown. The Finisher tries to sprawl out of it but Nogueira keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. The Finisher manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ilir The Finisher has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Nogueira.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck for Nogueira with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nogueira decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The Finisher wants to get back to full guard.
The Finisher is working hard here to advance position.
Nogueira is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nogueira missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nogueira wants to control from the top but The Finisher keeps moving.
Ilir The Finisher has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control The Finisher kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The Finisher can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nogueira controls the pace.
Nogueira trying to control the position from guard on top but The Finisher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nogueira has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
The Finisher looks to score with a jab to the body but Nogueira is just out of range.
No luck for Nogueira with that takedown attempt.
The Finisher pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira closes this distance looking for a takedown but The Finisher circles away.
The Finisher defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Nogueira.
Nogueira looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
The Finisher takes a swing at Nogueira's ribcage but misses.
Ricardo Nogueira is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The Finisher fails with an attempt to clinch.

Nogueira shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. The Finisher manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Nogueira looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira trying to control the position from guard on top but The Finisher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The Finisher pulls Nogueira in close to prevent any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nogueira trying to control but The Finisher is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ricardo Nogueira.
I've got Nogueira 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricardo Nogueira!