PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jorik Vartanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ronan Nogueira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Vartanov
vs
Nogueira

190 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

184 cm
23
185 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Big heart

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jorik Vartanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ronan Nogueira!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Daniel Cesar and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

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

Nogueira escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vartanov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Nogueira tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vartanov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Vartanov trying to control but Nogueira is working from the bottom.
Vartanov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Nogueira keeping full guard, as Vartanov tries to pass.
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.
Nogueira looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

We're going to have a standup here because Jorik Vartanov wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Vartanov takes the fight into the clinch.
Vartanov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Nogueira pulls guard effortlessly.
Nogueira keeping moving, preventing Vartanov from controlling successfully.
Vartanov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira wants to sweep here but Vartanov controlling him for the moment.
Vartanov trying to control but Nogueira is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jorik Vartanov wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Nogueira closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Vartanov to the mat! Vartanov manages to get full guard.
Nogueira won't allow Vartanov to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nogueira trying to control the position from guard on top but Vartanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vartanov looking to control.
Vartanov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nogueira on the ground.
Vartanov is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Nogueira is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Jorik Vartanov has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Vartanov misses with a few strikes there.

Nogueira feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Vartanov holds on and takes a little breather.

Nogueira drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nogueira jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vartanov keeping full guard, as Nogueira tries to pass.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Vartanov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nogueira defends it easily.
Vartanov is breathing heavily.
Nogueira pushing down on Vartanov's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Nogueira is keen to just control but Vartanov is a slippery customer.
Nogueira wants to pass the guard but Vartanov is defending well.

Nogueira 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.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nogueira is trying to work for a kimura but Vartanov is defending well.
Vartanov tries to get to full guard but Nogueira has control of the leg.
Vartanov is trying to control but can't.

Nogueira seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vartanov looking for submissions off his back.
Nogueira trying to control the action but Vartanov is working from the bottom.
Nogueira is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Nogueira is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Vartanov defends it well.

Nogueira is looking for a kimura but Vartanov is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nogueira to get the leverage.

Nogueira is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vartanov trying to control here.

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

Ronan Nogueira dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Vartanov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nogueira moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Nogueira drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Nogueira works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Vartanov is looking to improve his position.

Nogueira is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Vartanov sees it coming and defends easily.
Vartanov is trying to control but can't.
Vartanov is doing well to control the position and prevent Nogueira from advancing to side control.
Nogueira prevents Vartanov from improving his position.
Nogueira is thwarting Vartanov's attempts to control the position.

Nogueira is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Vartanov sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nogueira is working for a kimura but Vartanov is defending it quite comfortably.

Nogueira has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Vartanov defend it? Nogueira steps over the head and cranks it - Vartanov is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Nogueira!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:13 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Ronan Nogueira!