PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Longobardo Nicola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joao Ninguem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Nicola
vs
Ninguem

178 cm
25
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Longobardo Nicola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joao Ninguem!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Thiago Cunha and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Nicola. No joy for Ninguem on that attempt.

Nicola gets a clinch.

Ninguem manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Ninguem is trying to control the position but Nicola postures up.

Ninguem looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ninguem wants to sweep here but Nicola controlling him for the moment.
Nicola trying to control the position from guard on top but Ninguem is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nicola is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Ninguem is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Longobardo Nicola.
Nicola scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ninguem lands a jab.
Nicola with a jab.
Nicola lunges at Ninguem with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Ninguem's hand.
Nicola wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Nicola throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nicola scoring well with a low kick there.

Ninguem looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ninguem wants to pass the guard but Nicola is keeping the position.
Ninguem throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ninguem 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.
Ninguem pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nicola is keeping the position for now.
Ninguem would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Ninguem stands and throws Nicola's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Nicola wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Ninguem passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Nicola!
Nicola is trying to stand.
Nicola holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Ninguem tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicola tries to buck Ninguem off but he can't manage it.
Ninguem lands a nice shot to the head.
Nicola wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Ninguem.
Ninguem has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nicola tries to buck Ninguem off but he can't manage it.
Nicola is breathing heavily.

Ninguem has control of Nicola's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Nicola regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Nicola wants to try and get back to his feet.
Ninguem tries to control but Nicola wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicola blocking the ground and pound.
Ninguem throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Ninguem has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Nicola's face.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nicola is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Nicola knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ninguem on the ground.
Ninguem landing strikes, looking to finish!
Nicola is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Nicola wants to try and get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ninguem trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ninguem lands with some strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Ninguem dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nicola avoids the body shot from Ninguem.
Nicola tries to land a front kick but Ninguem steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Nicola fails to land with a series of punches.
Ninguem shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nicola as he jumps to the side.

Ninguem has closed the distance and engaged Nicola in a clinch.

Nicola manages to break the clinch.
Ninguem is looking to clinch.
Ninguem throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Nicola instigates a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Nicola's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nicola is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Ninguem tries to keep at a distance but Nicola has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ninguem lands a body punch in the clinch.

Nicola's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice body punch from Nicola.

Nicola takes the fight into the clinch.
Nicola blocks a body shot from Ninguem.

Nicola's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Ninguem has taken the fight to the clinch.
Nicola has Ninguem pressed against the cage, preventing Ninguem from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nicola escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Longobardo Nicola is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nicola throws a push kick but Ninguem slaps the foot to one side.
Nicola stuffs the takedown.

Ninguem shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Ninguem is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nicola is trying to stand up here but Ninguem is controlling him well.
Nice strikes from Ninguem there.
Ninguem thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nicola wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nicola is in trouble now - Ninguem has advanced to mount!

Ninguem working for a guillotine from mount but Nicola is in no mood to give up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ninguem looking to finish with strikes here!
Nicola's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Nicola taking shots to the head.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Ninguem cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ninguem throws some wild stikes that Nicola manages to avoid easily.
Ninguem wants to control the pace but Nicola is squirming around nicely.

Ninguem working for a submission but Nicola is keeping him at bay.
Nicola takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Ninguem working Nicola over with strikes here.
Joao Ninguem has got the better of the ground game so far.
BOOM! Ninguem connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Ninguem controlling from the full mount.
BOOM! Ninguem connects with a massive shot to the dome!
BOOM! Ninguem connects with a massive shot to the dome!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ninguem with a couple of short strikes.
Nicola squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Nicola holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Ninguem tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Ninguem throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Nicola because Ninguem loaded up on that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Ninguem showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Nicola has managed to clinch.
Nicola tries to circle away but Ninguem has him pinned against the cage.
Ninguem tries to pull guard but Nicola holds him up against the cage and eventually Ninguem drops back down to his feet.

Ninguem escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nicola feints a jab promting Ninguem to slip. Nicola then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Ninguem slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Ninguem fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Nicola to the ground. Ninguem is now in Nicola's guard.
Nicola is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ninguem is controlling him.
Ninguem stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nicola swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ninguem working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ninguem trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nicola keeping moving, preventing Ninguem from controlling successfully.

Nicola pushes Ninguem off and gets back to his feet.
Ninguem wants to clinch up but Nicola keeps it at a distance.
Nicola misses with an attempted mid kick.

Ninguem closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Nicola's guard.
Ninguem trying to control the position from guard on top but Nicola is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicola wants to stand up but Ninguem is controlling him.
Nicola might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ninguem throws a big right hand that misses.
Ninguem cracks Nicola with a solid left hand.
Ninguem wants to pass the guard but Nicola is keeping the position.
Nicola is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ninguem throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nicola works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ninguem pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nicola is keeping the position for now.
Ninguem controls from within his opponent's guard.
Longobardo Nicola has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ninguem passes into half guard.

Ninguem seems to be looking for submissions.
Ninguem is taking a breather. Nicola says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Ninguem lands with a punch from half guard.

Ninguem is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Nicola pushes Ninguem off looking to stand but Ninguem dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ninguem uses his free foot to push down on Nicola's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Nicola.
You get the feeling that Nicola really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Ninguem lands with some strikes.
Joao Ninguem is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ninguem controlling from mount.
Ninguem throws some wild stikes that Nicola manages to avoid easily.
Ninguem content just to control the position here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee warns Nicola that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joao Ninguem comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ninguem 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joao Ninguem!