PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Nogueira (ranked 3435 p4p, 313 weight class) and Luss Rittle (ranked 6123 p4p, 418 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Nogueira
vs
Rittle

210 cm
25
270 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

200 cm
24
245 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid 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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Nogueira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Luss Rittle!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Wesley Smith and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rittle clinches up with Nogueira and pushes him back against the cage.
Rittle has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Rittle wants the takedown. Nogueira is fighting it off but Rittle persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Nogueira's guard against the cage.
Nogueira manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rittle manages to get himself to full guard.

Rittle controls Nogueira momentarily but Nogueira frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nogueira tries to free his leg and advance position but Rittle is retaining full guard.
Nogueira definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Nogueira stands and throws Rittle's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Nogueira has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Rittle!
Rittle is squirming around, avoiding Nogueira's attempts to control the action.
Nogueira is really struggling to control Rittle but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Nogueira working for a submission but Rittle is keeping him at bay.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rittle wants to hold on but Nogueira pushes him away.

Nogueira goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Rittle turns into him and now he's in Nogueira's guard.
Nogueira is breathing heavily.
Rittle looking to pass the guard.

Nogueira has his foot on Rittle's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rittle works his way back into a safe position though.

Rittle got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nogueira has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rittle has managed to get both his arms back between Nogueira's legs - danger averted.
Rittle pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nogueira is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rittle controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rittle landing some decent shots from guard.
Rittle pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nogueira is keeping the position for now.
Nogueira trying to keep a closed guard but Rittle is proving a slippery customer.
Rittle 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rittle's guard.

Nogueira passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Rittle struggling a bit here.
Rittle really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nogueira. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Nogueira trying to control the position but Rittle is working away.
Nogueira taking a breather here.
Rittle tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nogueira wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Rittle's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Nogueira tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Nogueira tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Rittle tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nogueira wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nogueira wants to control but Rittle is keeping him busy.
Nogueira landing a few strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Nogueira dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nogueira gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rittle to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Nogueira bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rittle's guard.

Nogueira works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Rittle makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rittle.
Nogueira tries to free his leg and advance position but Rittle is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rittle can't keep his opponent in guard - Nogueira advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Nogueira prevents Rittle from improving his position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nogueira passes to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira punishing his opponent with strikes.

Nogueira looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Nogueira can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rittle is looking to escape.
Rittle wants to hold on but Nogueira pushes him away.
Nogueira trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Antonio Nogueira overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira lands a couple of good shots and Rittle has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Rittle turns into Nogueira and is now in his guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nogueira is on top in guard.

Nogueira passes Rittle's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nogueira is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Rittle!
Rittle regains half guard.

Nogueira is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rittle defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Rittle trying to control from the bottom.
Rittle keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Nogueira lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Rittle is in trouble now - Nogueira has advanced to mount!
Nogueira is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rittle can do to turn this around?
Nogueira trying to control but Rittle is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

Rittle has left one of his arms exposed and Nogueira doesn't need a second invitation. He's isolated it and locked on a tight armbar. Rittle screams and taps out, obviously in a lot of pain. Hopefully there isn't permanent damage to that arm.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Antonio Nogueira!
Antonio Nogueira decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.