PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Paulo Nogueira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Torres (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nogueira is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. Antonio Paulo Nogueira has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Paulo Nogueira
vs
Torres

193 cm
22
264 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Paulo Nogueira!
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, Marcus Torres!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Matheus Silva and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nogueira throws a series of punches but Torres moves out of range.
Nogueira is breathing heavily.

Torres closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Torres is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Nogueira will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

Torres decides to stand back up. Torres steps back and let's Nogueira get back to his feet.
Torres lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends Nogueira sprawling to the canvas. Torres follows him down, looking for the kill. Can Nogueira hang on?

It looks like Antonio Paulo Nogueira has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Torres is controlling the pace.

Torres decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Torres moves into the clinch successfully.

Torres gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Torres thows a huge punch but Nogueira dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Torres stands up and beckons Nogueira to join him on the feet.

Torres has closed the distance and engaged Nogueira in a clinch.
Torres throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nogueira blocks it with crossed arms.

Torres has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Nogueira clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Torres biding his time, looking for the opening.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Torres's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira trying to get back to his feet but Torres is in full control for now.

Torres is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Torres really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Nogueira.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
I looks like Torres might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Torres loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Nogueira hold on?

Torres looking for the RNC.
Torres misses with punches from the back.
Torres controlling from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Despite being in the dominant position, Marcus Torres just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Torres gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Torres connects with a nasty looking knee right to Nogueira's face.
A knee to the head by Torres.
Torres landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Torres has picked Nogueira up - he's going for a ride! Torres dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Torres decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Torres throws a jab when Nogueira was well out of range.
Nogueira closes the distance looking to clinch

and Torres counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Torres has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Nogueira uses from the top position.
Torres managing to control the position.

Nogueira drops back, looking for a kneebar! Torres looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Torres looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Torres!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Torres dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Antonio Paulo Nogueira's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Torres has managed to clinch.
Torres unloads a knee to the mid-section. Nogueira lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Torres lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Torres seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Torres 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.
Torres trying to control the pace.

Torres decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Torres moves into the clinch successfully.
Torres using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nogueira has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nogueira throws a punch but it's blocked by Torres.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nogueira is fighting off a takedown attempt but Torres is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Nogueira to the mat. Nogueira regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Torres wants to stand and escape but instead Nogueira has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Torres looking to control.
Torres wants to stand up but Nogueira is controlling him.
Nogueira wants to control from the top but Torres keeps moving.
Nogueira advances to half guard.
Nogueira is trying to control the action in half guard but Torres is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Torres is trying to stand up here but Nogueira is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira wants to control but Torres is keeping him busy.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nogueira misses with a takedown attempt

and Torres counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Nogueira's guard now.

Nogueira looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Torres has picked Nogueira up and slammed him! Nogueira can't keep hold of the triangle and Torres manages to pass to side control!

Torres stands up and beckons Nogueira to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Torres gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Torres gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Nogueira is looking for a sweep. Torres is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nogueira is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Torres is taking a breather. Nogueira says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Nogueira looking for submissions off his back.
Torres wants to get back to his feet.
Nogueira missing with punches from the bottom.

Nogueira is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Torres pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Torres tries to stand and escape but Nogueira is controlling the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Torres clinches.

Torres lands a takedown into guard.
Torres trying to control the position from guard on top but Nogueira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Torres wants to stand but Nogueira has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Torres won't allow Nogueira to sweep him here.

Nogueira escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Torres gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Torres showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Antonio Paulo Nogueira's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Torres closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Torres gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Torres decides to return to a standing position.

Torres clinches up against the cage.

Torres has Nogueira pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Torres pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Nogueira tumbling to the mat - Torres dives into Nogueira's guard.
Nogueira trying to keep a closed guard but Torres is proving a slippery customer.
Nogueira looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Marcus Torres has got the better of the ground game so far.

Nogueira looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Torres sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Nogueira is looking for a triangle but Torres pushes his legs off easily.
Nogueira being controlled here, momentarily.
Nogueira throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nogueira throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Torres has closed the distance and engaged Nogueira in a clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Torres.

Torres lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Nogueira is looking to improve his position.
Nogueira trying to control but Torres postures up.
Nogueira gets full guard.

Torres gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Nogueira throws a solid leg kick but Torres takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Nogueira.

Torres closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Torres lands in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nogueira has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Torres can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Torres wants to stand but Nogueira has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Nogueira not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nogueira has a closed guard, preventing Torres from standing up.
Nogueira wants to sweep here but Torres controlling him for the moment.

That's four 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.

Torres avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Torres decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Nogueira, up you get!

Torres drives through and clinches with Nogueira against the cage.

Torres has hold of one of Nogueira's legs. Nogueira is fighting the takedown attempt but Torres gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nogueira working a defensive guard here.
Torres would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Torres comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Torres 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 26:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 26:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Torres!