PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gesias Sobral (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and JB Nnep (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Sobral
vs
Nnep

182 cm
18
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

176 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gesias Sobral!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, JB Nnep!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Sobral misses.
Nnep should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Nnep will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
JB Nnep seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nnep throws the kick towards the body but Sobral avoids it.

Nnep instigates a clinch.
Sobral tries to land knees in the clinch but Nnep avoids the damage to the body.
Sobral fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sobral tries to pull guard but Nnep holds him up against the cage and eventually Sobral drops back down to his feet.
Nnep holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Nnep wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Nnep stalling the fight.
Sobral missing with knees to the body.
A bit of stalling here from Nnep.
Sobral wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The referee calls for Nnep to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by JB Nnep.
Sobral fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sobral avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nnep tries to clinch but Sobral moves out of range.

Nnep clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sobral breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nnep pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Nnep swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nnep wants to clinch up but Sobral keeps it at a distance.
Nnep swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Sobral counters with a flying knee that drops Nnep!

Nnep is rocked!
Sobral throwing strikes from guard but Nnep blocks nicely.
Sobral pushing down on Nnep's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Sobral is working for a submission of some sort.
Sobral wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nnep keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sobral thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nnep's head.
Sobral is trying to control the action in half guard but Nnep is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sobral missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Nnep tries to kick Sobral off but Sobral keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Sobral throws a strike but Nnep avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

Sobral drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sobral jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nnep can do anything to dispel that myth.
Sobral throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nnep works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sobral throws a series of punches but Nnep avoids them all with ease.
Nnep doesn't manage to clinch there - Sobral circles away.
Sobral tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nnep shoots and misses
and Sobral counters with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sobral lands with a cross.
Sobral fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nnep manages to avoid it.
Nnep lands a nice looking kick to the body. Sobral takes a step back to recover.
Nnep throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Nnep clinches.
Nnep avoiding damage as Sobral throws knees to the body.
Nice body punch from Sobral - that landed with a thud.
Nnep will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Sobral up against the cage.
Sobral lands a nice knee to the body.
Nnep looks gassed!
Sobral wants to get back to striking at distance but Nnep won't allow it.
Sobral looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Sobral tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Sobral breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Nnep clinches up against the cage.
Sobral has had enough of the clinch but Nnep keeps him there for the moment.
Good body shot from Sobral.
Nnep pressing his opponent against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sobral misses with a knee strike.
Sobral wants to break free but Nnep has control.
Nnep wants to stall.
Knees to the body from Sobral.
Nnep avoids the elbow strike from Sobral, against the cage.
Sobral works on Nnep's body with a couple of short punches.
Nnep stalling.
Sobral jumps guard but Nnep stands there with Sobral around his waist. Sobral gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gesias Sobral. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sobral misses with a punch to the body.
Nnep looking to slow down the pace here.
Sobral wants to break free but Nnep has control.
Sobral trying to stall but Nnep improves his position.
Sobral wants to get back to striking at distance but Nnep won't allow it.
Nice body punch from Sobral - that landed with a thud. A hook to the body from Sobral.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nnep leaning his opponent against the cage.
Sobral wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Nnep has him pressed against the cage.
Sobral using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nnep has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nnep stalling in the clinch.
Nnep receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gesias Sobral dominated that round.
That's time! Sobral's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nnep has taken the fight to the clinch.
Nnep prevents a body shot from Sobral.
Sobral wants to break free but Nnep has control.
Sobral tries to pull guard but Nnep holds him up against the cage and eventually Sobral drops back down to his feet.
Sobral wants to get back to striking at distance but Nnep won't allow it.
Sobral tries to break the clinch but Nnep is controlling the position.
Nnep has Sobral pushed against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by JB Nnep.
Sobral tries to clinch up but Nnep circles away and keeps his distance.
A low kick from Nnep misses

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
and Sobral counters by moving into the clinch.
The referee calls for Nnep to work.
Sobral tries to pull guard but Nnep won't allow it.
Sobral wants to stall.
Nnep prevents Sobral from breaking the clinch.
Nnep leaning against his opponent.
Nnep continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by JB Nnep.
Nnep wants to clinch.
Nnep throws a leg kick
and Sobral counters with a nice body kick.
Gesias Sobral is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nnep is breathing heavily.
Sobral tries to clinch up.
Sobral looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Nnep dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Sobral. That did some damage!
Nnep throws a combination that misses

and Sobral counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sobral.
Sobral can't break the clinch.
Nnep taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Sobral wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Nnep just leaning against Sobral, taking a breather.
Sobral throws a punch but it's blocked by Nnep.
Nnep has Sobral pressed against the cage.
Sobral trying to land knees to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Nnep.
Nnep wants to break free but Sobral has control.
Nnep taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by JB Nnep.
Sobral throws a head kick that misses.
Nnep swinging wilding here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nnep goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Nnep has Sobral up against the cage in a clinch.

Sobral breaks from the clinch.
Sobral shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gesias Sobral. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sobral fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Nnep sprawls well initially but Sobral persists and gets the takedown into half guard. Nnep wants to control but Sobral is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sobral tries to pass the half guard into mount. Nnep knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Nnep is trying to control but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sobral is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Nnep is just riding it out for now. Sobral eventually gives up the hold.
Nnep really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sobral. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Nnep trying to hold on to Sobral's head to control him but Sobral postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sobral is looking for a kimura here.
Sobral scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sobral is trying to control the action in half guard but Nnep is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sobral throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sobral seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nnep does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Sobral is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Sobral is looking to advance position but Nnep won't allow it.
Nnep is trying to maintain the position but Sobral is very close to passing his half guard.

Sobral is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Sobral is looking to take a break and control but Nnep is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gesias Sobral dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Nnep misses with a hook. Sobral ducked under it nicely.
Sobral tries to clinch there but Nnep circles away.
Nnep tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Sobral counters with a solid body kick.
Sobral wants to clinch up but Nnep keeps it at a distance.

Nnep clinches with his opponent.
Nnep stalls.
Sobral missing with knees to the body.

Sobral breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Nnep moves into the clinch.
Nnep content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Sobral keeps control of Nnep as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sobral fails to pull guard.
A bit of stalling here from Nnep.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sobral can't break the clinch.
Nnep wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sobral has him pressed against the cage.
The referee calls for Nnep to work.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by JB Nnep.

Nnep instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nnep on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Nnep wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Nnep looking to slow down the pace here.

Sobral breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nnep closes the distance looking to clinch
and Sobral connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nnep tries to clinch up.
Sobral wants to clinch up but Nnep keeps it at a distance.
Nice takedown defense from Nnep. No joy for Sobral on that attempt.
Nnep scores with a spinning back kick!

Nnep has taken the fight to the clinch.
Nnep has Sobral pushed against the cage.

Nnep manages to break the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sobral looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Nnep gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nnep stalling.
Sobral can't break the clinch.
Nnep avoiding damage.
Nnep managing to block the knees to the body from Sobral.
Nnep can't break the clinch.
Sobral prevents Nnep from breaking the clinch.
Nnep avoiding damage as Sobral throws knees to the body.
Sobral missing with knees to the body.
Sobral wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Nnep breaks from the clinch.
Nnep closes the distance and clinches up with Sobral, looking for a takedown. Nnep pushes Sobral against the cage but Sobral circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sobral moves out of range of the body kick from Nnep.
Gesias Sobral is winning the standup battle so far.
Sobral keeps the fight on the outside.
Sobral throws a head kick but Nnep moves out of range.
Nnep misses with a kick to the body
and Sobral cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nnep shoots in but Sobral avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sobral tries to clinch there but Nnep circles away.
Sobral wants to clinch up but Nnep keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nnep tries to clinch up
and Sobral counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nnep tries to clinch up
and Sobral counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Nnep is lucky that one didn't land flush.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sobral.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gesias Sobral. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Nnep clinches with his opponent.
Nnep is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Sobral is keeping busy.
Sobral wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Sobral can't break the clinch.
Sobral prevents Nnep from breaking the clinch.
Sobral jumps guard but Nnep stands there with Sobral around his waist. Sobral gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Sobral breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sobral tries to clinch up.
Nnep keeps the fight on the outside.
Nnep circles away from the clinch attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nnep looking to slow down the pace here.
Sobral struggles to land a body shot inside as Nnep controls his hands.
Nnep taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Sobral wants to break free but Nnep has control.
A left hand lands to the body for Sobral.

Sobral breaks the clinch.
Sobral tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Sobral instigates a clinch.
Sobral tries to pull guard but Nnep holds him up against the cage and eventually Sobral drops back down to his feet.

Sobral manages to break the clinch.
Sobral lands a really nice looking cross but Nnep seems unphased.
Sobral fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nnep wants to clinch.
Sobral tries for a takedown but Nnep sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Nnep closes the distance and clinches.
JB Nnep has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nnep looking to stall.
Sobral wants to break the clinch but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gesias Sobral showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sobral, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gesias Sobral!