PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Saúl Tacoronte (ranked 823 p4p, 665 weight class) and Anderson Nogueira (ranked 118 p4p, 93 weight class). Saúl Tacoronte has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Tacoronte
vs
Nogueira

190 cm
42
208
27 - 18 - 3

175 cm
34
209
13 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
World class MT
Granite chin

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Shadow Realm Apparel

HELLBENT

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 27 - 18 - 3, fighting out of Amsterdam, Saúl Tacoronte!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anderson Nogueira !
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Glass and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nogueira rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tacoronte moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Nogueira rushes Tacoronte and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nogueira misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nogueira tries a body shot but Tacoronte blocks it.

Tacoronte breaks the clinch.
Nogueira tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nogueira tries to clinch but Tacoronte moves out of range.
Tacoronte with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Nogueira to score with a decent uppercut.
Nogueira misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Tacoronte moves into the clinch successfully.
Tacoronte taking a breather.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nogueira .
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tacoronte lands a hook to the side of the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Nogueira throws an elbow but misses.
Nogueira creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Tacoronte managing to block the knees to the body from Nogueira .
Nogueira creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira misses with the head strike.
Nogueira tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Tacoronte avoids it.
Nogueira misses with some punches.
Tacoronte pushes Nogueira back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Nogueira misses with some punches.
Nogueira doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tacoronte goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A body shot lands from Tacoronte.
Tacoronte misses with some punches.
Nogueira throws a punch but it's blocked by Tacoronte.
Nogueira tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tacoronte avoiding damage as Nogueira throws knees to the body.
Nogueira lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Tacoronte effectively controlling the action here.
Tacoronte lands a hook that snaps the head of Nogueira backwards.

Tacoronte pulls guard.

Tacoronte working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nogueira doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Nogueira manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Nogueira preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tacoronte wants to improve his position but instead Nogueira has moved into half guard.
Nogueira missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Tacoronte wants to improve his position but Nogueira is controlling well.
Tacoronte is trying to maintain the position but Nogueira is very close to passing his half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tacoronte desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tacoronte has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nogueira is working away from the top position though.
Nogueira perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Nogueira prevents Tacoronte from improving his position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Nogueira is pressing down on Tacoronte's thigh, looking to free his foot. Tacoronte is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Tacoronte is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nogueira passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Tacoronte!
Nogueira controlling from mount.
Tacoronte tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nogueira trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nogueira tries to clinch up
and Tacoronte counters with a stiff right hand.
Nogueira fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tacoronte appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Tacoronte thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nogueira tries to clinch up
and Tacoronte counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Tacoronte is looking to land body kicks.
Nogueira unleashes a big counter combination but Tacoronte bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Nogueira misses with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nogueira tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tacoronte swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nogueira tries to clinch up.
Nogueira blocks a head kick by Tacoronte.

Nogueira has closed the distance and engaged Tacoronte in a clinch.
Tacoronte trying to stall but Nogueira improves his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tacoronte lands with a right to the head.
Nogueira missing with knees to the body.
A short right from Nogueira .
Nogueira misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tacoronte blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tacoronte misses with a hook from the clinch.
Tacoronte blocks an uppercut.
Tacoronte lands a right hand.
Tacoronte tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tacoronte taking a breather.
Tacoronte blocks an elbow strike from Nogueira .
Nogueira throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tacoronte blocks it with crossed arms.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Tacoronte creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Nogueira misses with the head strike.
Nogueira blocks a body shot from Tacoronte.
A right hook to the body lands for Nogueira .
Nogueira tries to land knees in the clinch but Tacoronte avoids the damage to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tacoronte misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nogueira can't find room to land a body shot as Tacoronte controls the action.
Tacoronte misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nogueira tries to throw a body punch but Tacoronte avoids it by throwing Nogueira back against the cage.
Nogueira tries a knee to the head but Tacoronte blocks it.
Tacoronte on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tacoronte has Nogueira pushed against the cage.
Tacoronte just leaning against Nogueira , taking a breather.
Nogueira is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Tacoronte is defending well for now.
Nogueira working aggressively here.
Anderson Nogueira seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Tacoronte scores with a shoulder strike.
Tacoronte blocks a body shot from Nogueira .
Nogueira throws a punch but it's blocked by Tacoronte.
Nogueira misses with a hook from the clinch.
Tacoronte blocks an elbow strike from Nogueira .
Nogueira blocks a body shot from Tacoronte.
Tacoronte blocks an elbow strike.
Tacoronte on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Tacoronte.
Nogueira throws a punch but it's blocked by Tacoronte.
Tacoronte blocks the elbow strike.
Nogueira tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tacoronte's elbow.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Nogueira .
Nogueira lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Tacoronte or not.
Tacoronte misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Tacoronte tries to throw a body punch but Nogueira avoids it by throwing Tacoronte back against the cage.
Nogueira pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nogueira .
Nogueira tries to throw a body punch but Tacoronte avoids it by throwing Nogueira back against the cage.
Tacoronte tries to pull guard but Nogueira forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Tacoronte slows down the pace here.
Good body shot from Tacoronte.
Tacoronte lands a left hand.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Tacoronte takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira scores with a knee to the head.
Nogueira lands a hook that snaps the head of Tacoronte backwards.
Tacoronte lands a shoulder strike.
Tacoronte tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
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!
Nogueira can't find room to land a body shot as Tacoronte controls the action.
Nogueira tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Tacoronte avoids it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tacoronte.
With the fighters up against the cage, Nogueira throws an elbow but misses.
Nogueira working aggressively here.
Nogueira with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Tacoronte will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Nogueira up against the cage.
Nogueira misses with a punch on the inside.
Nogueira trying to land knees to the body.

Tacoronte breaks from the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Anderson Nogueira will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Nogueira tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Saúl Tacoronte has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nogueira tries to clinch up.
Tacoronte thinks about countering with a body kick.
Nogueira pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Tacoronte closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Nogueira lands a good knee to the midsection. Tacoronte won't want to take too many of those.
Tacoronte lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Tacoronte tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Still in the clinch, Tacoronte scores with a nice short uppercut.
Tacoronte blocks a body shot from Nogueira .
Nogueira has Tacoronte pressed against the cage, preventing Tacoronte from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Tacoronte blocks the elbow strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tacoronte manages to break the clinch.
Tacoronte gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Nogueira .
Nogueira fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
It looked like Tacoronte was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Nogueira .
Nogueira keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tacoronte.
Tacoronte circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tacoronte scores with a punch to the head.
Nogueira doesn't manage to clinch there - Tacoronte circles away.
Tacoronte circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nogueira tries to clinch there but Tacoronte circles away.
Tacoronte is looking to counter punch.
Anderson Nogueira seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nogueira throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Saúl Tacoronte is winning the standup battle so far.
Nogueira fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nogueira fails in his attempt to clinch.

Nogueira clinches with his opponent.
Nogueira lands a good knee to the midsection. Tacoronte won't want to take too many of those.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Nogueira as Tacoronte tries to tie him up.
Nogueira working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tacoronte dodges an elbow strike from Nogueira .
Nogueira misses with some punches.
Tacoronte is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Tacoronte blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nogueira has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nogueira tries to land a knee to the head but Tacoronte blocks with his arms.
Nogueira unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Tacoronte misses with some punches.
Nogueira letting Tacoronte take a breather here.
Nogueira throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nogueira throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nogueira with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Tacoronte stalls.
Nogueira misses with some punches.
Tacoronte blocks an elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Tacoronte in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Nogueira tries a body shot but Tacoronte blocks it.
Nogueira tries a body shot but Tacoronte blocks it.
Nogueira stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Nogueira misses with an elbow strike.
Nogueira misses with a punch on the inside.
Nogueira lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Tacoronte escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nogueira catches Tacoronte with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Tacoronte throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nogueira lands with a nice combination. Tacoronte backs away looking to recover.
Nogueira is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nogueira tries to clinch there but Tacoronte circles away.
Good exchange - Nogueira coming out on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira swings widly with a right hand
and Tacoronte cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nogueira uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tacoronte.
Tacoronte defending well as Nogueira loads up on a big left hand.
Tacoronte takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Nogueira takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Nogueira lands with a nice combination. Tacoronte backs away looking to recover.
Nogueira doesn't manage to clinch there - Tacoronte circles away.
Nogueira throws a nice head kick!
Nice defenses there by Nogueira .
Nogueira scores with a jab. Tacoronte acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Nogueira tries to close the distance and clinch but Tacoronte swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nogueira lands a nice shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anderson Nogueira comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nogueira 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anderson Nogueira !