PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bastian Nokia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alberto Del Rio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Del Rio is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Requiem for a dream. The key to victory for Bastian Nokia has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Nokia
vs
Del Rio

182 cm
31
197 lbs
3 - 21 - 0

197 cm
32
200 lbs
6 - 14 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bastian Nokia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alberto Del Rio!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Del Rio shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Del Rio prevents Nokia from standing back up.
Del Rio is trying to control. Nokia wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Del Rio tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Alberto Del Rio.
Del Rio tries to clinch
and Nokia counters with a head kick.

Del Rio shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Del Rio wants to get up but he can't break Nokia's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Del Rio tries to free his leg and advance position but Nokia is retaining full guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Alberto Del Rio hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Del Rio throws a sloppy head kick and Nokia moves out of range easily.
Del Rio fails with an attempt to clinch.
Del Rio tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nokia manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Del Rio changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Nokia looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nokia is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Del Rio tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

Del Rio decides to stand back up. Del Rio steps back and let's Nokia get back to his feet.

Del Rio closes the distance and pushes Nokia back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Del Rio is trying to break the clinch but Nokia has him pressed against the cage.

Del Rio pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Del Rio pivots, looking for a leg kick but Nokia is out of range and Del Rio settles back down.
Del Rio tries to clinch but Nokia moves out of range.
Alberto Del Rio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Del Rio throws a head kick that misses.
Del Rio misses with an uppercut
and Nokia counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Del Rio moves in looking to clinch but Nokia pushes him off.
Nokia keeps the fight on the outside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Del Rio throws an off balance right hand
and Nokia counters with a big head kick but Del Rio shrugs it off.

Del Rio closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Nokia quickly recovers to half guard.
Nokia is trying to stand up here but Del Rio is controlling him well.
Del Rio really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nokia. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Del Rio clinches up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Del Rio has Nokia pushed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Del Rio tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Del Rio tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nokia manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nokia swats away the attempt to clinch by Del Rio.

Del Rio closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Nokia's guard.
Del Rio trying to control but Nokia is working from the bottom.

Alberto Del Rio has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Del Rio closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Del Rio wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nokia keeps working.
Del Rio looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Nokia is avoiding damage well.
Nokia is not content to let Del Rio control the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Del Rio wants to stand but Nokia is controlling his arm.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Alberto Del Rio was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Del Rio misses with an uppercut

so Nokia counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Del Rio wants to get back to his feet but Nokia is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Del Rio is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Alberto Del Rio was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Del Rio is looking to clinch.

Del Rio shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Del Rio was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Nokia pushes Del Rio away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Del Rio gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Del Rio stands up.

Nokia tries to keep at a distance but Del Rio has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Del Rio's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Del Rio breaks the clinch.
Del Rio tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nokia swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Del Rio throws a lazy uppercut

and Nokia counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Del Rio working a defensive guard but Nokia passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alberto Del Rio showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nokia circles away from the clinch attempt
and Nokia counters with a head kick.
Del Rio tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nokia paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Del Rio.
Del Rio is looking to take a break and control but Nokia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Del Rio tries to get to his feet but Nokia is in the middle of advancing position himself and ends up with Del Rio in his guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Del Rio trying to control the position from guard on top but Nokia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Alberto Del Rio.

Del Rio closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Del Rio lands in his opponent's guard.
Del Rio must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Del Rio wants to stand but Nokia has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Nokia wants to get back to his feet but Del Rio is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Alberto Del Rio was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Del Rio closes the distance and pushes Nokia back into the cage.

Nokia breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Del Rio drives through and clinches with Nokia against the cage.
Del Rio throws a head punch that misses.

Del Rio ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Del Rio no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Del Rio is looking to stand up but Nokia isn't so interested in that idea.
Nokia 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 four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Bastian Nokia.

Del Rio drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Nokia is trying to buck Del Rio off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alberto Del Rio really dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Del Rio fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nokia slips under a jab from Del Rio.
Del Rio tries a head kick but it misses.

Del Rio shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Nokia keeping moving, preventing Del Rio from controlling successfully.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Alberto Del Rio hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Del Rio wants to clinch up but Nokia keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nokia swats away the attempt to clinch by Del Rio.
Del Rio lands a head kick. Nokia smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Del Rio throws a body punch but Nokia moves out of range.
Del Rio wants to clinch.

Del Rio gets a double leg takedown into Nokia's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nokia wriggles free and stands up.

Del Rio darts in and clinches Nokia up against the cage.

Del Rio has picked Nokia up - he's going for a ride! Del Rio dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
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!
Del Rio is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Nokia!
Nokia wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Del Rio is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Nokia'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.
Nokia is squirming around, avoiding Del Rio's attempts to control the action.
Alberto Del Rio has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nokia really wants to buck Del Rio off and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Del Rio unloads with some shots from mount but Nokia bucks and avoids them well.
Del Rio tries to control but Nokia wriggling away.
Nokia is in a horrible position here. Del Rio smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Del Rio tries to control but Nokia wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alberto Del Rio dominated that fourth round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Del Rio drives through with a takedown into guard.
Del Rio tries to free his leg and advance position but Nokia is retaining full guard.
Del Rio looking to sit in guard and control but Nokia gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Del Rio wants to stand up but Nokia is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Del Rio keeping moving, preventing Nokia from controlling successfully.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Alberto Del Rio wasn't active enough on the ground.
Nokia moves out of range as Del Rio strikes.
Del Rio tries to clinch but Nokia is having none of it.
Del Rio rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Nokia counters with a big head kick but Del Rio shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Del Rio closes the distance and pushes Nokia back into the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Nokia's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nokia blocks an elbow strike.
Del Rio is trying to push Nokia away but Nokia has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Del Rio stalling the fight.
Del Rio lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Del Rio misses with a hook to the ribs.
Well,Nokia is on his way to losing a decision here. Can he use his experience to pull something off in the closing minutes?
Del Rio pressing his opponent against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nokia is trying to force a seperation but Del Rio has the dominant position.
Nokia prevents Del Rio from breaking the clinch.
Nokia looking for a takedown.
Nokia looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Del Rio tries to break free but Nokia pushes him back against the cage.

Del Rio manages to break the clinch.
Del Rio misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Del Rio wants to clinch.
Nokia avoids the head kick by Del Rio.
Nokia avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Del Rio tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bastian Nokia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alberto Del Rio is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Del Rio scores with a takedown into Nokia's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alberto Del Rio comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Del Rio has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Alberto Del Rio!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Alberto Del Rio!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Alberto Del Rio!

Alberto Del Rio wins by unanimous decision!