PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mifel Lalber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Rodrigo Nogueira
vs
Lalber

185 cm
25
212 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

188 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mifel Lalber!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Ian Loll and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nogueira tries to keep at a distance but Lalber has taken the fight into the clinch.
Nogueira looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Lalber is working for takedown but Nogueira is calmly controlling the position for now.

Lalber pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lalber is looking to clinch but Nogueira is avoiding it.

Lalber instigates a clinch.
Nogueira trying to stall but Lalber improves his position.

Lalber pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lalber is defended easily by Nogueira.
Lalber lands a nice looking body kick.
Lalber misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lalber misses with a wild combination.
Lalber stuffs the takedown.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nogueira looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Lalber closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lalber jumps into guard, dragging Nogueira to the mat.
Nogueira wants to stand but Lalber has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Nogueira trying to control but Lalber is working from the bottom.
Nogueira throws a big elbow that misses.
Nogueira has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Lalber is proving hard to escape from.

Nogueira drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nogueira jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Lalber uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lalber avoids the head kick by Nogueira.

Lalber has closed the distance and engaged Nogueira in a clinch.

Lalber's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lalber lands a nice shot to the body.
Nogueira tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Lalber clinches.

Lalber breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lalber lands with a right hand.
Lalber connects with a leg kick. Nogueira looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

Lalber moves into the clinch.
Lalber lands a knee to the head.
Lalber displaying some good clinch control by pressing Nogueira up against the cage.
Lalber connects with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira is trying to stall.

Lalber pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nogueira is defended easily by Lalber.
Nogueira tries to clinch there but Lalber circles away.
A right-left combo lands from Lalber.
Nogueira closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lalber circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lalber buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Lalber gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Lalber pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lalber rushes Nogueira and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Lalber decides to pull guard.
Nogueira wants to control from the top but Lalber keeps moving.
Nogueira would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Nogueira wants to control from the top but Lalber keeps moving.
Nogueira has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Lalber is proving hard to escape from.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nogueira wants to control from the top but Lalber keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mifel Lalber dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nogueira throws a head kick that misses.
Lalber shoots in for a takedown but Nogueira shows good takedown defense.
Nogueira tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Lalber manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lalber feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Nogueira's calf.
Nogueira takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

It looks like Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira has been cut.
Lalber slaps away a takedown attempt from Nogueira, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Lalber defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Nogueira.
Mifel Lalber seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nogueira takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Mifel Lalber seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nogueira misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Lalber has managed to clinch.
Nogueira is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nogueira is trying to break free.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nogueira tries to pull guard but Lalber holds him up against the cage and eventually Nogueira drops back down to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lalber lands an elbow inside that Nogueira shrugs off.

Lalber breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lalber goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Lalber turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nogueira looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lalber lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Lalber stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lalber wants it to stay on the feet.

Lalber has taken the fight to the clinch.

Lalber pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lalber throws a one two combo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lalber checks a leg kick nicely.

Lalber has Nogueira up against the cage in a clinch.
Lalber lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Lalber.
Nogueira tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Lalber just stands there and leans against the cage.

Lalber escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Lalber forces Nogueira back against the cage and clinches.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Nogueira. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Lalber is trying to pull guard but Nogueira turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Lalber pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Lalber closes the distance and clinches.
Lalber softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Lalber has Nogueira pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nogueira manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nogueira is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Lalber is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Nogueira gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Nogueira working hard to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Lalber is keeping busy.
Lalber stops a takedown attempt from Nogueira.
Lalber using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Lalber.
Nogueira stalling in the clinch but Lalber improves position.

Lalber pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nogueira shoots in for a double leg but Lalber sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Lalber gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Lalber escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nogueira looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Lalber is fending him off so far but Nogueira persists. Nope, Lalber circles away and we're back to standing.
Lalber shoots in but Nogueira avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira takes one to the chin there.
Lalber scores with a shot to the body.
Nogueira shoots for a takedown but Lalber saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Lalber fails with a takedown attempt.
Nogueira avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nogueira tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Lalber gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lalber lands a knee to the head.

Lalber breaks from the clinch.
A punch combination from Lalber misses.
Nogueira shoots in for a double leg but Lalber sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mifel Lalber showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Lalber leaves Nogueira with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Lalber slips a jab and a cross from Nogueira.
Lalber cracks Nogueira with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Lalber moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Lalber avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Lalber shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Nogueira eats them both and turns towards Lalber to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Lalber gets caught flat footed, as Nogueira shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Lalber manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Lalber has hold of Nogueira's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Nogueira manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lalber controlling the position easily from mount.
Lalber really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nogueira. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lalber jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Nogueira is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Nogueira and Lalber has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Nogueira wants to get back to his feet.
Nogueira is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Lalber off and has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nogueira looking for the rear naked choke. And he's got it! Lalber taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira!