PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Art Vandalay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nogueira has chosen Entrance as his entrance music. Art Vandalay has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Vandalay
vs
Rodrigo Nogueira

195 cm
32
239 lbs
22 - 3 - 0

191 cm
30
265 lbs
18 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

KAISER Nutrition (160!)
KAISER

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Art Vandalay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nogueira scores with a hook.
Vandalay throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Art Vandalay seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vandalay connects with a nice looking jab.
Vandalay lands a nice leg kick that just misses Nogueira's sensitive parts.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Nogueira, right into the meat.
Vandalay jabs Nogueira to the body, keeping him at a distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vandalay cracks a nice hook into Nogueira's ribs.
Nogueira scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Vandalay shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A swing and a miss from Vandalay.
Nogueira fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nogueira connects with a leg kick. Vandalay looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vandalay defending well as Nogueira loads up on a big left hand.
Vandalay moves in looking to clinch but Nogueira pushes him off.
Vandalay takes a swing at Nogueira's ribcage but misses.
Vandalay fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Vandalay throws a leg kick

and Nogueira counters with a shoot takedown. Vandalay fights it but they end up in guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Vandalay holds on and takes a little breather.
Vandalay trying to keep a closed guard but Nogueira is proving a slippery customer.
Nogueira lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nogueira pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vandalay is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nogueira postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Art Vandalay just wasn't active enough.
Nogueira misses the shot to the body.
Art Vandalay is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nogueira lands a slapping body shot.
Vandalay motions for Nogueira to come forward. Vandalay throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Nogueira fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Vandalay to the ground. Nogueira is now in Vandalay's guard.
Vandalay pulls Nogueira in close to prevent any damage.
Nogueira in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nogueira looking to sit in guard and control but Vandalay gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira trying to keep a closed guard but Vandalay is proving a slippery customer.

Nogueira working for a triangle but Vandalay defends it easily.
Vandalay won't allow Nogueira to sweep him here.
Nogueira wants to hit a switch here but Vandalay passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Nogueira there!
Nogueira regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira is trying to control but Vandalay passes into side control!
Nogueira tries to buck Vandalay off but Vandalay is having none of it.
Nogueira manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The fighters are battling for position here. Vandalay manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Nogueira throws a big right hand that misses.
Vandalay has control of Nogueira's left arm, preventing Nogueira from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nogueira accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Vandalay working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Nogueira stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vandalay swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nogueira with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Vandalay to score with a decent uppercut.
Vandalay misses with a jab to the body

and Nogueira decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Vandalay's guard.
Nogueira is looking to work some ground and pound but Vandalay has wrist control.
Nogueira postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Vandalay is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira has got the better of the ground game so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nogueira trying to control the position from guard on top but Vandalay is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nogueira advances position into side control!
Vandalay managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Nogueira.
Nogueira working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vandalay prevents Nogueira from improving position.
Nogueira throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Vandalay gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Nogueira wants to control but Vandalay is keeping him busy.
Vandalay preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Nogueira looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Nogueira thows a huge punch but Vandalay dodges it nicely.
Nogueira has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira wants to pass the guard but Vandalay is defending well.
Vandalay blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nogueira.
Nogueira is pressing down on Vandalay's thigh, looking to free his foot. Vandalay is holding on for now.
Nogueira is nestled in close to Vandalay, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Nogueira wants to control but Vandalay is keeping him busy.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Nogueira connects with a nice short shot to Vandalay's temple.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vandalay is trying to maintain the position but Nogueira is very close to passing his half guard.
Nogueira seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Vandalay does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Vandalay is looking to control Nogueira's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Vandalay avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vandalay blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nogueira.
Nogueira is trying to control the action in half guard but Vandalay is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Vandalay is controlling Nogueira's trapped leg to prevent Nogueira from advancing to side control.
Nogueira landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Nogueira wants to pass the guard but Vandalay is defending well.
Vandalay is trying to get back to full guard.
Nogueira not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Vandalay has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nogueira is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira wants to control but Vandalay is keeping him busy.
Nogueira throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nogueira stalling away here and it's allowed Vandalay to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Nogueira throws a strike but Vandalay rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Nogueira looking for a sweep. Not yet Nogueira, not yet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Nogueira throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Vandalay trying to control but Nogueira is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Vandalay throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nogueira needs to keep his hands up - Vandalay had a free shot at his head there.
Vandalay cracks Nogueira with an open hand slap.
Nogueira misses with a jab to the body
and Vandalay counters with a leg kick.
Vandalay throws a hook to the side of Nogueira's head but Nogueira sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A low kick from Vandalay misses
and Nogueira counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Nogueira is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Vandalay.
Nogueira throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Vandalay fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Nogueira has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Vandalay misses with a low kick.
Nogueira moves out of range as Vandalay throws a body kick.
Nogueira lands a nice looking body shot.
Nogueira on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Vandalay throws a leg kick that misses.
Vandalay attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Vandalay throws a low kick, looking for Nogueira's leg but Nogueira calmly moves out of range.
Nogueira shoots for a double leg takedown but Vandalay sprawls well. He's pushed Nogueira's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nogueira will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Art Vandalay has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira tries to score a power double leg takedown but Vandalay sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nogueira somewhat.
Vandalay throws a body kick that misses.
Nogueira takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Art Vandalay is winning the standup battle so far.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Vandalay throws a right hand that Nogueira ducks under and follows up with a left that Nogueira also avoids with ease.
Vandalay slips a jab from Nogueira.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Nogueira crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Vandalay - the referee stops the clock and Nogueira gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Vandalay. Nogueira manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Vandalay lands a jab to Nogueira's midsection.
Nogueira takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vandalay thows a leg kick but Nogueira checks it
letting Nogueira counter with a right hand.
A head kick misses from Vandalay.
Nogueira misses with a wild body shot.
Nogueira throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nice uppercut lands for Vandalay. That snapped Nogueira's head back.
Nogueira dips to his left and cracks Vandalay with an uppercut!
Nogueira cracks Vandalay with an open hand slap.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Nogueira shoots in and bounces Vandalay off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Nogueira is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nogueira got a little sloppy there for a moment and Vandalay has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nogueira has managed to get both his arms back between Vandalay's legs - danger averted.
Nogueira trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Vandalay looking for a sweep. Not yet Vandalay, not yet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nogueira tries to free his leg and advance position but Vandalay is retaining full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Art Vandalay showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nogueira has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira!
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.