PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Royler Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Nogueira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Antonio Nogueira has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Royler Gracie's chin.

Gracie
vs
Nogueira

225 cm
25
300 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Big heart

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Royler Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Nogueira!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Paulo Santos and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie fails to land the takedown.
Nogueira looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Nogueira gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Gracie controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Nogueira pulls Gracie in close to prevent any damage.
Nogueira is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Gracie has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Nogueira is proving hard to escape from.
Gracie controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

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

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gracie.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Nogueira has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Gracie is working for takedown but Nogueira is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Royler Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gracie manages to pull guard.
Gracie is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Nogueira from controlling successfully.
Nogueira seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Royler Gracie.
Gracie blocks a head kick by Nogueira.
Gracie looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Gracie gets a takedown into half guard.
Gracie is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Nogueira!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
We've been hearing that Gracie has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Gracie wants to control the pace but Nogueira is squirming around nicely.
Gracie controlling from mount.
Gracie trying to control but Nogueira is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Gracie moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like Antonio Nogueira has been cut.
Gracie throws a wild body kick that Nogueira sees coming a mile off.
Gracie fakes the leg kick and cracks Nogueira in the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Gracie has closed the distance and engaged Nogueira in a clinch.
Gracie tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Gracie lands a takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royler Gracie dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Antonio Nogueira's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gracie lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Gracie wants to clinch.

Gracie fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Nogueira to the ground. Gracie is now in Nogueira's guard.
Gracie is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Nogueira avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Nogueira is retaining full guard.
Nogueira is breathing heavily.
Gracie wants to get up but he can't break Nogueira's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Gracie sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Royler Gracie just wasn't active enough.

Gracie is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Nogueira's half guard.
Gracie throwing shots but Nogueira is blocking nicely.
Nogueira wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura but Nogueira is defending well.
Gracie moves into full mount! Nogueira won't be happy about that!
Gracie raining down hammerfists from mount.
Gracie can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Nogueira is looking to escape.
Gracie thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira has given up his back. Will we see Gracie going for some submissions?
Gracie struggling to keep hold of the position.

Gracie working for the choke.
Gracie lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Gracie thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Nogueira is taking damage to the body and head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie has Nogueira flattened out and is raining down punches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nogueira trying to control but not successfully.
Good control from Gracie.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royler Gracie dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Antonio 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!

Gracie feints and as Nogueira raises his hands in defense, Gracie changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gracie looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Nogueira keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gracie is really struggling to control Nogueira but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Nogueira takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gracie throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nogueira works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Royler Gracie wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Nogueira gets caught flat footed, as Gracie shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Nogueira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Royler Gracie just wasn't active enough.
Gracie closes the distance and clinches up with Nogueira, looking for a takedown. Gracie pushes Nogueira against the cage but Nogueira circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nogueira defends it nicely.

Nogueira tries to sprawl but Gracie drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Nogueira tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nogueira keeps working.
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!
Gracie not doing much here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Royler Gracie has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Nogueira keeps the fight on the outside.

Gracie throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Nogueira was covering up waiting for the punch and Gracie finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Nogueira looking to control.
Gracie's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Nogueira looking for a sweep. Not yet Nogueira, not yet.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Nogueira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Royler Gracie wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Gracie closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Nogueira is not content to let Gracie control the position.

Gracie is looking for a kimura here.
Gracie thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nogueira's head.
Antonio Nogueira has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Royler Gracie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Nogueira looking for submissions off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Royler Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gracie has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:26
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:26
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Royler Gracie!