PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo Matos Viana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Nogueira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matos Viana comes to the cage accompanied by Eminen-Lose yourself. Nogueira has chosen My Time as his entrance music. Rodrigo Matos Viana has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Matos Viana
vs
Nogueira

188 cm
22
229 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

191 cm
22
234 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rodrigo Matos Viana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Nogueira!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Seu Braga and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nogueira drives through and clinches with Matos Viana against the cage.

Matos Viana pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice takedown defense from Nogueira. No joy for Matos Viana on that attempt.
Nogueira rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Matos Viana moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Matos Viana fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Nogueira sprawls well initially but Matos Viana persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Nogueira has one foot on Matos Viana's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Matos Viana fails to land the takedown.
Matos Viana dives in and grabs Nogueira's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nogueira pushes down on Matos Viana's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigo Matos Viana. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matos Viana tries for a takedown but Nogueira sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Nogueira pushes Matos Viana up against the cage in a clinch.
Matos Viana wants to get back to striking at distance but Nogueira won't allow it.

Nogueira gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Matos Viana misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Nogueira is taking a breather. Matos Viana 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matos Viana trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira controlling the position easily from mount.
Matos Viana is wriggling around trying to escape.
Nogueira in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Matos Viana is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Nogueira takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matos Viana is looking to get to half guard.

Nogueira is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Matos Viana has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Matos Viana!
Matos Viana throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nogueira works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nogueira working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Matos Viana.
Matos Viana has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira pulls Matos Viana in close to prevent any damage.
Matos Viana trying to control the position from guard on top but Nogueira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matos Viana is looking to stand up but Nogueira won't let him.
Matos Viana throws a big right hand that misses.
Nogueira striking off his back but it's not causing Matos Viana any problems.
Nogueira is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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

Nogueira looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Matos Viana!
Nogueira looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nogueira goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Matos Viana turns into him and now he's in Nogueira's guard.
Matos Viana trying to stand up but can't free himself from Nogueira's guard.
Matos Viana thows a big elbow that misses.
Matos Viana postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Nogueira dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Matos Viana with a lazy takedown attempt

and Nogueira counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Matos Viana wants to get back to full guard.
Matos Viana trying to control from the bottom.
Matos Viana is pressing down on Nogueira's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Matos Viana is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nogueira is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Matos Viana keeping moving, preventing Nogueira from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matos Viana throws a couple of heel strikes.
Nogueira advances to half guard.
Matos Viana trying to control here.
Nogueira is trying to control the action in half guard but Matos Viana is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Nogueira drops an elbow to the side of Matos Viana's head.
Matos Viana is trying to get back to full guard.
Matos Viana works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's two 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.
Matos Viana wants to get back to his feet but Nogueira is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Nogueira thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Matos Viana wants to hit a switch here but Nogueira passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Matos Viana there!
Nogueira lands a nice shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matos Viana tries to hold on but Nogueira pushes him away.
Matos Viana has given up his back here.
Matos Viana wants to escape the position.
Matos Viana breaks Nogueira's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Matos Viana would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Matos Viana looking to sit in guard and control but Nogueira gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Nogueira must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Matos Viana manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

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.
Matos Viana thowing shots but they're missing.
Matos Viana throws some wild stikes that Nogueira manages to avoid easily.
Nogueira is trying to escape the mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nogueira is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
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.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nogueira is defended easily by Matos Viana.
Matos Viana shoots in looking for a takedown. Nogueira tries to sprawl out of it but Matos Viana keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Nogueira manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Matos Viana.

Nogueira looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Matos Viana!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira working a defensive guard here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Matos Viana postures up in Nogueira's guard and throws a big left but Nogueira blocks it.
Matos Viana is looking to work some ground and pound but Nogueira has wrist control.
Matos Viana thows a big elbow that misses.

Matos Viana is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Matos Viana wants to control from the top but Nogueira keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Matos Viana scoring with punches to the head and body.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nogueira misses with a wild body shot.

Nogueira rushes Matos Viana and presses him up against the cage.
Matos Viana is trying to drag Nogueira to the mat but Nogueira just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigo Matos Viana. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matos Viana tries for a takedown. No joy.

Nogueira gets control of Matos Viana's arms and successfully pulls guard. Nogueira will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Matos Viana wanted to stand there but Nogueira had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Nogueira is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Matos Viana is aware though and is defending well.
Matos Viana throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nogueira works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Antonio Nogueira is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nogueira is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Matos Viana in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

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.
Matos Viana trying to control but Nogueira is working from the bottom.
Nogueira trying to control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Matos Viana with a lazy takedown attempt

and Nogueira counters with a shoot takedown. Matos Viana fights it but they end up in guard.
Nogueira wants to control from the top but Matos Viana keeps moving.
Antonio Nogueira has got the better of the ground game so far.
Matos Viana trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Matos Viana wants to stand up but Nogueira is controlling him.
Rodrigo Matos Viana has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Matos Viana looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Nogueira passes into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antonio 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30

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