PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sen Nguyen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrei Shleifer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nguyen comes to the cage accompanied by "House of the Rising Sun" by the Animals. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Nguyen
vs
Shleifer

170 cm
29
181 lbs
14 - 12 - 1

193 cm
25
175 lbs
10 - 9 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Very strong

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sen Nguyen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Andrei Shleifer!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Thiago Cunha and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nguyen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Shleifer throws out a powerful jab.
Shleifer fails with a takedown attempt.
Nguyen shoots for a double leg takedown but Shleifer sprawls well. He's pushed Nguyen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Shleifer fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Nguyen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Shleifer throws a sloppy head kick and Nguyen moves out of range easily.
Nguyen lands a head shot.
Sen Nguyen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nguyen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nguyen tries to clinch but Shleifer moves out of range.
Shleifer lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Shleifer fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nguyen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sen Nguyen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shleifer keeps the fight on the outside.
Nguyen swinging wildly here.
Nguyen takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Shleifer fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shleifer tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Nguyen forces Shleifer back against the cage and clinches.
Nguyen misses with the head strike.
Shleifer misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nguyen.
Shleifer leaning his opponent against the cage.
Nguyen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Shleifer keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nguyen's efforts to push away.
Shleifer putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Nguyen in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Shleifer lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shleifer with a knee to the head.
Shleifer working Nguyen over with knees to the body.
Shleifer utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Shleifer unloads a knee to the mid-section.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nguyen working hard to break the clinch.
Shleifer lands a knee to the body.
Shleifer tries a knee to the head but Nguyen blocks it.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Shleifer obliges.
Shleifer using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nguyen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Shleifer crunches a lovely knee into Nguyen's ribcage.
Nguyen takes a knee right on the jaw!
Shleifer is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shleifer with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Shleifer landing knees to the body.
Shleifer throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nguyen managing to block the knees to the body from Shleifer.
Shleifer with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Nguyen fails to pull guard.
Shleifer landing knees to the head.
Shleifer misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nguyen.
Shleifer lands a nice knee to the body.
Nguyen will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Shleifer up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Shleifer.
Nguyen tries to pull guard but Shleifer holds him up against the cage and eventually Nguyen drops back down to his feet.
Shleifer with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Shleifer unloads a knee to the mid-section. Nguyen lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Nguyen stalling against the cage.
Shleifer is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Nguyen breaks from the clinch.

Nguyen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Shleifer sprawls well initially but Nguyen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Shleifer pushes Nguyen off looking to stand but Nguyen dives back in and keeps control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrei Shleifer 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.

Shleifer lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Nguyen drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Nguyen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Shleifer trying to strike off his back.
Nguyen sitting in guard here, content to control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Shleifer throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Shleifer being controlled here, momentarily.
Nguyen trying to control the position from guard on top but Shleifer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sen Nguyen wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Shleifer throws a head kick that misses.
A slapping body kick lands there for Shleifer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nguyen throws a left and a right that both miss
and Shleifer counters with a nice low kick that buckles Nguyen's knee momentarily.
Nguyen throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Shleifer counters with a head kick. That will keep Nguyen thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Nguyen throws a low kick but Shleifer avoids it.
Nguyen avoids the head kick by Shleifer.
Andrei Shleifer seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nguyen swinging wildly here.
A swing and a miss from Nguyen.
A punch combination from Nguyen misses.
Sloppy strikes from Nguyen. Those never looked like landing.
Shleifer throws out a powerful jab.

Nguyen shoots in and bounces Shleifer off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Shleifer is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Shleifer unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Shleifer has him pressed against the cage.
Shleifer connects with a nasty looking knee right to Nguyen's face.
Shleifer tries a knee to the head but Nguyen blocks it.
Shleifer lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Nguyen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Shleifer.
Shleifer thows a body shot but no joy.
Nguyen displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Shleifer has taken the fight to the clinch.
Nguyen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Nguyen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Shleifer connects with a knee to the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shleifer crunches a lovely knee into Nguyen's ribcage.
Shleifer trying to land knees to the body.
Shleifer working Nguyen over with knees to the body.
Shleifer is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nguyen is defending well for now.
Andrei Shleifer seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Shleifer using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Nguyen takes a knee to the side of the body.
Shleifer stalling.
Nguyen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Shleifer unloads a knee to the mid-section. Nguyen lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Knees in the clinch landing for Shleifer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shleifer connects with a knee to the head.
Shleifer slowing the pace effectively.
Nguyen misses with some punches.
Shleifer is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nguyen is defending well for now.
Shleifer with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Shleifer tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Nguyen avoids it.
Shleifer using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Nguyen managing to block the knees to the body from Shleifer.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Shleifer.
Shleifer trying to land knees to the body.
Nguyen managing to block the knees to the body from Shleifer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrei Shleifer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Nguyen fails with a takedown attempt.
Shleifer slips under a jab from Nguyen.
Shleifer lands a high kick!

Shleifer gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Shleifer scores a nice knee to the body.
Shleifer lands a knee to the body.
Shleifer comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Shleifer tries to land knees in the clinch but Nguyen avoids the damage to the body.
Shleifer is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nguyen is defending well for now.
Shleifer lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Shleifer avoiding damage.
Shleifer tries to land a knee to the head but Nguyen blocks with his arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shleifer with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Shleifer with a knee to the head.
Shleifer connects with a knee to the head.
Shleifer misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nguyen.
Shleifer takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nguyen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Shleifer throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nguyen blocks it with crossed arms.
Shleifer tries to land knees in the clinch but Nguyen avoids the damage to the body.
Shleifer tries to land a knee to the head but Nguyen blocks with his arms.
Shleifer trying to land knees to the body.
Shleifer tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Nguyen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen moves to clinch but Shleifer breaks away
and Shleifer counters with a head kick. That will keep Nguyen thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Shleifer clinches up with Nguyen and pushes him back against the cage.
Nguyen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Shleifer tries to land knees in the clinch but Nguyen avoids the damage to the body.
Nguyen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Shleifer unloads a knee to the mid-section. Nguyen lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Shleifer tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shleifer tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Nguyen avoids it.
Shleifer tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Shleifer throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nguyen blocks it with crossed arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen wants to break free but Shleifer has control.
Nguyen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Shleifer misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nguyen.
Nguyen dodges an elbow strike from Shleifer.
Shleifer tries to land knees in the clinch but Nguyen avoids the damage to the body.
Nguyen missing with knees to the body.
Nguyen is trying to push Shleifer away but Shleifer has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Shleifer taking a breather.
Shleifer looking to throw knees to the head but Nguyen is blocking nicely.
Shleifer trying to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shleifer using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nguyen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nguyen avoiding damage as Shleifer throws knees to the body.
Nguyen wants a takedown but no success here.
Shleifer is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nguyen is defending well for now.
Sen Nguyen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Andrei Shleifer is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A short right from Nguyen on the inside.
Shleifer has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Nguyen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Nguyen has had enough of the clinch but Shleifer keeps him there for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shleifer tries to land knees in the clinch but Nguyen avoids the damage to the body.
Shleifer tries to land a knee to the head but Nguyen blocks with his arms.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrei Shleifer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Shleifer winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrei Shleifer!
A determined Andrei Shleifer didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!