PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Loren Nolan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cassio Venas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Venas is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Chatuba de Mesquita. Cassio Venas is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Nolan
vs
Venas

208 cm
24
279 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

193 cm
24
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Loren Nolan!
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, Cassio Venas!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Matheus Silva and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Venas tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nolan swivels and escapes.
Nolan is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Venas shoots in looking for a takedown. Nolan tries to sprawl out of it but Venas keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Nolan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Venas goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Venas with a lazy takedown attempt
and Nolan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Loren Nolan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cassio Venas.
Nice takedown defense from Nolan. No joy for Venas on that attempt.
A counter left hand to the body from Nolan misses its target.
Venas displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nolan.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Venas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Venas throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Nolan's waist but Nolan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Venas off to one side.
Venas throws a sloppy head kick and Nolan moves out of range easily.
Nolan shoots in for a double leg but Venas sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Venas gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Nolan counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Venas.
Venas looks winded!
Venas throws out a powerful jab.
Nolan cracks Venas with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Venas shoots in for a double leg but Nolan sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nolan will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Venas shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nolan as he jumps to the side.
Venas fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Venas stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Venas wants it to stay on the feet.
Venas will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A counter left hand to the body from Nolan misses its target.

Nolan shoots in and bounces Venas off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Venas looking to control.
Nolan trying to control the position from guard on top but Venas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Venas looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nolan is one step ahead there.
Nolan working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Venas's head.
Nolan has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Venas tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nolan wants to control from the top but Venas keeps moving.
Nolan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nolan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Nolan jumps guard but Venas turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Nolan tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Venas is trying to force a seperation but Nolan has the dominant position.
Nolan tries to pull guard but Venas forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Venas is struggling to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nolan has Venas pressed against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Venas creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

It looks like Loren Nolan has been cut.
Venas tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Nolan drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Venas gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Venas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Venas tries to pull guard but Nolan holds him up against the cage and eventually Venas drops back down to his feet.
Venas drops down looking for an ankle pick but Nolan pulls his leg out and moves away.
Venas misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Loren Nolan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Loren Nolan's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nolan pushes Venas up against the cage in a clinch.
Nolan wants a takedown but no success here.
Nolan tries to pull guard but Venas holds him up against the cage and eventually Nolan drops back down to his feet.
Venas jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Nolan walks away with a smile on his face. Venas gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Venas shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Venas throws a leg kick
and Nolan counters with a nice kick to the body.
Venas doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Venas takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Loren Nolan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cassio Venas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Venas looks to land a combination. Nolan sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Venas is breathing heavily.
Venas shoots in looking for a takedown but Nolan manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Venas's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A little feinted left hand from Nolan on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Cassio Venas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Venas fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nolan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Venas can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.

Venas closes the distance and clinches.

Nolan ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Nolan no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Nolan keeping moving, preventing Venas from controlling successfully.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Nolan trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Nolan looking to control.
Venas trying to control but Nolan is working from the bottom.
Nolan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Venas trying to control but Nolan is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Venas fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nolan was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

Nolan has managed to clinch.
Nolan tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Venas just stands there and leans against the cage.
Nolan tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Venas smiles and moves away.
Nolan has a takedown stuffed.
Nolan takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Venas shoots and misses
and Nolan counters with a big head kick but Venas shrugs it off.
Venas throws out a loose jab but Nolan uses good head movement to avoid it.

Nolan has taken the fight to the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Venas as Nolan tries to tie him up.
Nolan jumps guard but Venas stands there with Nolan around his waist. Nolan gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nolan jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Venas walks away with a smile on his face. Nolan gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Venas shoots for a takedown but Nolan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nolan throws a head kick that Venas semi-blocks.
Venas throws a right and a left that Nolan avoids nicely.
Venas swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Venas throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Nolan's waist but Nolan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Venas off to one side.
Nolan throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Nolan is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

Nolan manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Venas on his heels. He'll look to pass Venas's guard now, I'm sure.
Venas manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nolan manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nolan has his hands on Venas's head, controlling the position.
Venas's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Nolan will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Nolan is pulling down on Venas's head to control his posture.
Venas 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.
Nolan looking for a sweep. Not yet Nolan, not yet.
Venas's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Venas won't allow Nolan to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Loren Nolan dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Loren Nolan's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Horrible takedown attempt by Venas or perhaps it was just good defense by Nolan, which made it look bad.
Loren Nolan is winning the standup battle so far.
Nolan is looking to clinch but Venas is avoiding it.
Horrible takedown attempt by Nolan or perhaps it was just good defense by Venas, which made it look bad.
Venas tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Venas shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nolan defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice sprawl there from Nolan as Venas shoots in.
Loren Nolan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cassio Venas.
Venas misses with a combination
and Nolan counters with a nice kick to the body.
Venas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Venas tries to land a front kick but Nolan steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nolan lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Venas fails with the takedown
and Nolan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Venas throws a sloppy head kick
and Nolan counters with a nice uppercut.
Nolan shoots in looking for a takedown but Venas manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Nolan's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nolan shoots in and drives through. Venas sprawls well.
Venas is looking for the big counter here.
Nolan shoots in for a double leg but Venas sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nolan shoots in looking for a takedown. Venas tries to sprawl out of it but Nolan keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Venas manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Venas fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Nolan, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Venas scores with a nice short uppercut.
Nolan tries to pull guard but Venas won't allow it.
Venas is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Nolan is defending well.
Venas taking a breather.
Nolan tries to pull guard but Venas forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Nolan is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Venas is keeping busy.
Nolan drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nolan has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Venas avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Nolan is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Venas controlling the action here for a moment.
Nolan looking to stall.
A right hand to the body from Venas.
Venas tries to break the clinch but Nolan is controlling the position.
Venas lands a right hand that snaps the head of Nolan backwards.
Venas tries to circle away but Nolan has him pinned against the cage.
Venas works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Venas takes a knee right on the jaw!
Venas tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Nolan smiles and moves away.
Venas finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Venas rushes Nolan and presses him up against the cage.
Venas lands a right hand.

Venas is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Nolan can't fight it off and eventually Venas manages to take the fight to the floor. Nolan looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Nolan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nolan will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Cassio Venas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Loren Nolan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Venas throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cassio Venas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nolan has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Loren Nolan!