PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kert Nigobson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Belmonte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Belmonte has chosen Dump Dump as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Nigobson
vs
Belmonte

188 cm
27
213 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

189 cm
26
212 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

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 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kert Nigobson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rodrigo Belmonte!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Chris Downing and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nigobson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Belmonte avoids it really well and circles away.
A head kick misses from Belmonte.
Nice defenses there by Nigobson.
Belmonte keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Nigobson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Nigobson scoring with punches to the head and body.
Nigobson postures up and lands a big shot to Belmonte's brow.
Belmonte working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nigobson.
Belmonte trying to control the position.
Nigobson trying to control the position from guard on top but Belmonte is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Belmonte is trying to control the position but Nigobson postures up.
Nigobson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Belmonte swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nigobson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Belmonte wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nigobson connects with a couple of short punches.
Belmonte lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nigobson!
Nigobson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Nigobson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Nigobson blocking the ground and pound.
Belmonte misses with a head shot.
Nigobson holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Belmonte tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Nigobson is trying to escape the mount.
Nigobson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nigobson is looking to get to half guard.
Nigobson sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Belmonte is keen to just control but Nigobson is a slippery customer.
Belmonte is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Belmonte prevents Nigobson from improving his position.
Nigobson trying to control but Belmonte postures up.
Belmonte passes to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nigobson tries to hold on but Belmonte pushes him away.
Belmonte prevents Nigobson from getting the reversal.
Belmonte trying to control but Nigobson is having none of it.
Nigobson working to try and regain half guard.
Belmonte sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Nigobson wants to control but Belmonte is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belmonte thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Nigobson tries to lock up and control but Belmonte gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Belmonte looking to finish with strikes here!
Belmonte avoids the attempt from Nigobson to control.
Nigobson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Nigobson wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Belmonte.
Belmonte thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Belmonte has control of Nigobson's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Nigobson regains control of the situation pretty easily.
We've been informed that Belmonte has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nigobson blocking the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kert Nigobson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Belmonte ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nigobson moves away.
Belmonte throws a half hearted mid kick.
Nigobson feints and then cracks Belmonte's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Belmonte down.
Nigobson misses with a hook.
Belmonte moves out of range of the strikes.
Belmonte moves out of range of the strikes.
Nigobson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nigobson throws a head kick that misses.
Belmonte swings for the body but Nigobson moves out of range.
Nigobson scores with the left hand. Belmonte knows he should have avoided that one.
Nigobson misses with a leg kick
and Belmonte connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nigobson tries a head kick but it misses.
Belmonte slips a jab and a cross from Nigobson.
Nigobson fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Belmonte.
Belmonte keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belmonte swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rodrigo Belmonte is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A good leg kick by Nigobson.
Nigobson throws a good cross that connects.
Nigobson misses with an attempted mid kick.
Nigobson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Belmonte moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nigobson throws a shot from downtown. Belmonte moves away and avoids it.
Belmonte misses the shot to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nigobson is defended easily by Belmonte.
Nigobson throws a good cross that connects.
Nigobson avoids the body shot from Belmonte.
Belmonte walks into a left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nigobson throws a looping overhand right but Belmonte ducks down to avoid it.
Good exchange - Nigobson coming out on top.
Kert Nigobson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nigobson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nigobson chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Belmonte throws a looping overhand right but Nigobson ducks down to avoid it.
Nigobson is looking to clinch but Belmonte is avoiding it.
Nigobson lands with a nice combination. Belmonte backs away looking to recover.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The fighters circling - Belmonte throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Belmonte scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Nigobson doesn't seem bothered though.
Nigobson misses with an attempted mid kick.
Belmonte has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Nigobson.
Nigobson lands with a kick to the ribs.
Nigobson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Belmonte but Belmonte pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A swing and a miss from Belmonte.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nigobson throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nigobson fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Belmonte checks it well.
Nigobson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Belmonte has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Belmonte there as he acknowledges the shot.
Nigobson chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A telegraphed right hand from Nigobson misses the target.
Belmonte uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nigobson.
Belmonte throws a looping overhand right but Nigobson ducks down to avoid it.
Nigobson misses with a takedown attempt - Belmonte sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kert Nigobson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Belmonte slips a jab and a cross from Nigobson.

Nigobson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nigobson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Belmonte does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Belmonte tries to roll over but Nigobson keeps him under control.
Belmonte wants to control but Nigobson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Nigobson trying to control the action but Belmonte is working from the bottom.
Belmonte taking some punishment here, with Nigobson in his half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Belmonte avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nigobson.
Belmonte is concentrating on defense, preventing Nigobson from advancing position.
Belmonte keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nigobson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Belmonte defending well though.
Belmonte is trying to control but can't.
Nigobson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Belmonte is trying to control but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kert Nigobson dominated that second round.
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!

Nigobson misses with a wild body shot.
Kert Nigobson is winning the standup battle so far.
Belmonte throws a body punch but Nigobson moves out of range.
Nigobson connects with a nice looking jab.
Belmonte throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Belmonte misses with a straight right.
Nigobson lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Nigobson misses with a body kick.
Nigobson darts in looking for a takedown but Belmonte gets double underhooks and turns Nigobson into the cage.
Nice body punch from Nigobson - that landed with a thud.
Belmonte stalling in the clinch but Nigobson improves position.

Nigobson gets control of Belmonte's arms and successfully pulls guard. Nigobson will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Nigobson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Belmonte is one step ahead there.
Nigobson is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belmonte loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nigobson wants to sweep here but Belmonte controlling him for the moment.
Nigobson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Nigobson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Belmonte does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Belmonte trying to control but Nigobson postures up.
Belmonte is trying to get back to full guard.
Nigobson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rodrigo Belmonte has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belmonte trying to control here.

Rodrigo Belmonte has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Nigobson ducks under a wild hook from Belmonte.
A looping hook to the body misses from Belmonte. Nigobson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Belmonte on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Nigobson. Nigobson obviously looking to wear him down.
Nigobson lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
A jab from Nigobson misses.
Belmonte slips a jab from Nigobson.
A nice combination there by Nigobson.
Nigobson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Belmonte moves away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nigobson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Belmonte just misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nigobson throws a low kick but Belmonte avoids it.
Nigobson lands with a nice body punch.
Nigobson throws a right and a left that both miss.
A big left from Belmonte misses.
Belmonte looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A left lands for Nigobson.
Belmonte looks to score with a jab to the body but Nigobson is just out of range.
Nigobson thuds his shin into the meat of Belmonte's side.
Nigobson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Belmonte.
Belmonte stuffs the takedown attempt from Nigobson. Nigobson gets slowly back to his feet.
Nigobson lands a really nice looking cross but Belmonte seems unphased.
Belmonte missing with a left hand there. Nigobson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belmonte avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Nigobson clinches up with Belmonte and pushes him back against the cage.
Belmonte throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Belmonte misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nigobson.
Nigobson jumps guard but Belmonte turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kert Nigobson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nigobson dodges an elbow strike from Belmonte.
Nigobson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Belmonte pulls his leg out and moves away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nigobson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nigobson throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Belmonte on the side of the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nigobson lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Nigobson connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Belmonte throws a leg kick but Nigobson sees it coming and moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kert Nigobson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nigobson 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kert Nigobson!
Kert Nigobson was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.