PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Mir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Nogueira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Nogueira's choice of entrance music: just lose it. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mir
vs
Nogueira

191 cm
19
240 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

189 cm
18
265 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Blue 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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Frank Mir!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Antonio Nogueira!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nogueira tries to clinch up but Mir circles away and keeps his distance.
Nogueira tries to land a front kick but Mir steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Nogueira is looking to clinch.
Mir stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mir wants it to stay on the feet.

Nogueira scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Nogueira is pressing down on Mir's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mir is holding on for now.
Mir is looking for a sweep. Nogueira is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mir is working hard here to advance position.
Nogueira looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Mir is trying to get back to full guard.
Nogueira wants to free his trapped foot but Mir is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Nogueira wants to stand up but Mir has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nogueira looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mir misses with a takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mir is defended easily by Nogueira.
Mir changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nogueira tries to avoid it but Mir manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nogueira to the ground. Nogueira escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Mir. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nogueira doesn't manage to clinch there - Mir circles away.
Mir tries to score a power double leg takedown but Nogueira sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mir somewhat.
Nogueira fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nogueira fails in his attempt to clinch.

Nogueira rushes Mir and presses him up against the cage.
Nogueira misses with a knee to the head.

Nogueira jumps into guard, dragging Mir to the mat.

Nogueira manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Nogueira.
Mir tries for a takedown but Nogueira circles away easily

and Nogueira counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Nogueira.
Nogueira wanted to stand there but Mir had control of the position.
Mir bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nogueira's guard.
Mir stopping the sweep attempt from Nogueira.

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

Nogueira looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mir controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira keeping moving, preventing Mir from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mir is really struggling to control Nogueira but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Nogueira wants to stand up but Mir is controlling him.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nogueira shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mir pinned against the cage. Mir gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Mir shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Nogueira is trying to defend but Mir finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mir wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nogueira keeps working.
Nogueira is looking to improve his position.
Nogueira is refusing to be controlled, as Mir sits in half guard.
Well, if Mir is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Nogueira is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Nice strikes from Mir there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Nogueira dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Mir shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Nogueira's guard.

Nogueira has his feet on Mir's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Mir changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nogueira tries to avoid it but Mir manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nogueira to the ground. Nogueira escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nogueira is defended easily by Mir.
Nogueira fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mir fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Frank Mir is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nogueira tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mir swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Nogueira bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Mir is looking for a sweep.
Nogueira has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Mir!
Mir is desperately trying to improve his position but Nogueira has a good base and remains in mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mir has given up his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mir tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Mir is trying desperately to improve position.

Nogueira stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Mir shoots in for a takedown but Nogueira shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Mir. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nogueira is looking to clinch but Mir is avoiding it.

Mir gets caught flat footed, as Nogueira shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Mir is working an open guard so Nogueira takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Nogueira looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Mir!
Mir sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Nogueira wants to pass to mount but Mir is defending the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mir kicks Nogueira off and gets back to his feet.
Mir fails to land with a series of punches.
Nogueira stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nogueira wants it to stay on the feet.
Nogueira throws a head kick that misses.
Nogueira tries to clinch up but Mir circles away and keeps his distance.

Nogueira forces Mir back against the cage and clinches.

Nogueira's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Nogueira closes the distance and clinches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mir tries for a takedown. No joy.

Nogueira pulls Mir into guard.

Nogueira is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mir is aware though and is defending well.
Mir stops Nogueira from standing up.
Mir wants to control from the top but Nogueira keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nogueira had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Mir 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 Mir's back instead.

Mir showing good submission defense here.

Nogueira tightening his grip on Mir, looking for the choke.
Antonio Nogueira has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mir manages to reverse the position and now he's in Nogueira's guard. Nice work there by Mir.
Nogueira keeping moving, preventing Mir from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nogueira is looking to stand up but Mir isn't so interested in that idea.
Mir trying to control the position from guard on top but Nogueira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nogueira looking for a sweep. Not yet Nogueira, not yet.
Nogueira wants to stand and escape but Mir is having none of it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Mir closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Nogueira tries to get to full guard but Mir has control of the leg.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mir controlling the action here.
Mir's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Nogueira showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Nogueira drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Nogueira has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Mir fails with the takedown
and Nogueira counters with a nice leg kick.
Nogueira with a lazy takedown attempt

and Mir counters with a shoot takedown. Nogueira fights it but they end up in guard.
Nogueira bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mir's guard.

Nogueira gets to his feet. Mir looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Nogueira tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nogueira misses with a takedown attempt

and Mir counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nogueira keeping moving, preventing Mir from controlling successfully.
Nogueira tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nogueira is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nogueira has his foot on Mir's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mir works his way back into a safe position though.
Mir's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Nogueira wants to stand and escape but Mir is having none of it.
Mir trying to control the position from guard on top but Nogueira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nogueira wants to sweep here but Mir controlling him for the moment.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nogueira is looking to clinch but Mir is avoiding it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mir is defended easily by Nogueira.
Mir circles away from the clinch attempt
and Mir counters with a one-two to the body.

Nogueira moves into range and clinches up with Mir.

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.
Mir being controlled against the cage.
Nogueira tries to land a knee to the head but Mir blocks with his arms.

Mir gets control of Nogueira's arms and successfully pulls guard. Mir will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Nogueira trying to stand up but can't free himself from Mir's guard.
Mir not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nogueira would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Frank Mir has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Antonio Nogueira is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mir is on top in guard.
Nogueira looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nogueira being controlled here, momentarily.
Mir trying to control but Nogueira is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nogueira looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Mir content to stall in guard here.
Nogueira is controlling Mir's posture.
Nogueira wants to sweep but no luck.
Mir is working Nogueira over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Nogueira is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Mir slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mir keeping moving, preventing Nogueira from controlling successfully.
Mir is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Nogueira decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Mir swats away the attempt to clinch by Nogueira.
Mir is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nogueira sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Frank Mir.
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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29

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