PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Ribery (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Nogueira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Ribery
vs
Nogueira

188 cm
23
213 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

204 cm
20
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Frank Ribery!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thiago Nogueira!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nogueira moves in looking to clinch but Ribery pushes him off.
Ribery looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Nogueira blocks a jab.
Nogueira shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ribery as he jumps to the side.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nogueira.
Thiago Nogueira seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nogueira shoots for a takedown but Ribery saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Frank Ribery has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thiago Nogueira.
Nogueira misses with a double jab.
Nogueira shoots in for a takedown but Ribery shows good takedown defense.
Ribery keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nogueira fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nogueira closes the distance and clinches up with Ribery, looking for a takedown. Nogueira pushes Ribery against the cage but Ribery circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ribery avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ribery rushes Nogueira and presses him up against the cage.

Ribery's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nogueira displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ribery throws out the jab.
Nogueira tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Nogueira takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ribery misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Ribery to counter with a crisp jab.
Nogueira is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Horrible takedown by Nogueira or perhaps it was just good defense by Ribery which made him look bad.
Nogueira shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nogueira fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nogueira takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
No luck for Nogueira with that takedown attempt.
Ribery throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nogueira shoots in for a takedown but Ribery shows good takedown defense.
Nogueira will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nogueira shoots in for a double leg but Ribery sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nogueira shoots in for a takedown but Ribery shows good takedown defense.
Ribery takes a swing at Nogueira's ribcage but misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nogueira.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ribery stuffs the takedown.
Nogueira throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ribery's waist but Ribery gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Nogueira off to one side.
Nogueira ducks under a wild hook from Ribery.
Nogueira shoots for a takedown but Ribery saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nogueira misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A combination from Ribery does no damage.
Ribery avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ribery swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Ribery as Nogueira shoots in.

Ribery clinches up against the cage.

Ribery manages to break the clinch.
Ribery pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nogueira shoots in for a double leg but Ribery sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ribery as he avoids it easily.
Nogueira fails with the takedown

and Ribery counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Ribery pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nogueira is keeping the position for now.

Nogueira looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ribery passes into side control.
Ribery remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Ribery wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nogueira keeps working.
Ribery is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Nogueira's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira is looking to reverse the position.
Ribery trying to control the action but Nogueira is working from the bottom.
Nogueira is looking to regain half guard here but Ribery keeps moving and retains side control.
An elbow from Ribery crashes against the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nogueira is looking to regain half guard here but Ribery keeps moving and retains side control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nogueira tries for a takedown but Ribery circles away easily
and Ribery counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Nogueira tries for a takedown but Ribery circles away easily
and Ribery counters with a nice uppercut.
Nogueira with a poor takedown
and Ribery counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Ribery dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nogueira with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ribery counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nogueira with a poor takedown

and Ribery counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Nogueira has his foot on Ribery's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ribery works his way back into a safe position though.
Ribery looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Ribery wants to control from the top but Nogueira keeps moving.

Nogueira has his foot on Ribery's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ribery works his way back into a safe position though.
Ribery 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.
Nogueira looking for a sweep. Not yet Nogueira, not yet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribery is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ribery missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ribery wants to control from the top but Nogueira keeps moving.

Nogueira had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Ribery is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Nogueira Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Ribery's back instead.

Nogueira is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Ribery defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Ribery is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Nogueira is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Ribery is defending well though. Nogueira let's go of the attempt for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira struggling to land strikes to the head as Ribery covers up.
Ribery prevents Nogueira from getting a body triangle.
Ribery looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Ribery controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad spot.

Nogueira working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ribery fending off the submission attempt from Nogueira.

Nogueira is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Ribery knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Ribery for a finish.

Ribery defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Nogueira's arms.
Nogueira doesn't have the hooks in and Ribery manages to turn into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira controls Ribery momentarily but Ribery frees himself.
Nogueira looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Ribery puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Nogueira is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Ribery pulls his head out easily.
Nogueira has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ribery is working away from the top position though.
Ribery not doing much here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nogueira is staying active underneath Ribery, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Nogueira showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Nogueira shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ribery as he avoids it easily.
Ribery throws the left hand but Nogueira avoids the punch easily.
Nogueira tries to clinch but Ribery moves out of range.
Nogueira throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ribery's waist but Ribery gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Nogueira off to one side.

Ribery closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ribery lands in his opponent's guard.
Ribery pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nogueira is keeping the position for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ribery accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Ribery has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Nogueira to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Ribery is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Nogueira pulls down on the head and he's put Ribery to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Thiago Nogueira!