PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Jao Rua (ranked 1361 p4p, 162 weight class) and Spas Spasov (ranked 2442 p4p, 276 weight class). Rua comes to the ring accompanied by Tarantula . Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Rua
vs
Spasov

178 cm
37
171 lbs
19 - 4 - 0

180 cm
29
159 lbs
14 - 15 - 2

Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Dr Zoidberg Office

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jao Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 15 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Spas Spasov!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spasov feints a jab promting Rua to slip. Spasov then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Rua slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Rua connects with a crisp jab.
Spasov misses with a series of wild punches.
Spasov falls off balance throwing a combination

and Rua counters by moving into the clinch.
Spasov misses with some punches.
Spasov taking a breather.
Spasov misses with a body punch.
Spasov has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spasov wants to break free but Rua has control.
Spasov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Spasov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Spasov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Spasov is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua gets through Spasov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Spasov tries to work over Rua's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Spasov misses with a body punch.
Rua blocks a body shot from Spasov.
Spasov misses with a body punch.
Rua fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Spasov misses with a punch to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Spasov's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Spasov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Spasov has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
No joy there for Spasov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Spasov misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Rua counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rua scores with a nice head shot.

Rua gets tackled into the ropes by Spasov. Spasov maintains the clinch.
Spasov wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spasov struggles to land a body shot inside as Rua controls his hands.
Spasov has had enough of the clinch but Rua keeps him there for the moment.
Spasov lands a body punch.
Spasov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rua's elbow.
Rua lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A short right from Rua on the inside.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Spasov tries a body shot but Rua blocks it.
Rua lands with a light punch inside.
Spasov misses with a body punch.
Rua makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Spasov throws a head punch that misses.
A short uppercut from Rua.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jao Rua dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Spasov moves into the clinch successfully.
Spasov is trying to break the clinch but Rua is controlling him.
Spasov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Spasov lands with a right to the head.
Spasov tries to throw a body punch but Rua avoids it by throwing Spasov back against the ropes.
Spasov misses with a body punch.
Spasov is stalling here.
Spasov misses with a body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rua lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Spasov backwards.
Spasov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Spasov wants to stall.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rua.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Rua scores with a nice short uppercut.
Spasov scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Spasov tries a body shot but Rua blocks it.
Rua lands a left hand that snaps the head of Spasov backwards.
Spasov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rua lands a left hand that snaps the head of Spasov backwards.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A left hand lands to the body for Spasov.
Spasov misses with a body punch.
Spasov tries a body shot but Rua blocks it.
Spasov is trying to push Rua away but Rua has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Good body shot from Spasov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Spasov can't break the clinch.
Spasov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rua lands with a light punch inside.
Rua blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Spasov blocks an uppercut.
Spasov can't find room to land a body shot as Rua controls the action.
Spasov is trying to break free.
Jao Rua has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Spasov misses with a body punch.
Rua prevents a body shot from Spasov.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rua lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Spasov tries to throw a body punch but Rua avoids it by throwing Spasov back against the ropes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Spasov is looking to break free of the clinch but Rua has double underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jao Rua will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Spasov tries to keep at a distance but Rua has taken the fight into the clinch.
Spas Spasov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rua scores with a shot to the side of Spasov's head.
Spasov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Spasov struggles to land a body shot inside as Rua controls his hands.
Rua lands a shot to the body.
Spasov can't find room to land a body shot as Rua controls the action.
Spasov misses with a body punch.
Spasov is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spasov misses with a body punch.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Rua prevents Spasov from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spasov is trying to break the clinch but Rua has him pressed against the ropes.
Spasov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Spasov struggles to land a body shot inside as Rua controls his hands.
Jao Rua is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Spasov taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Rua blocks a body shot from Spasov.
Spasov is pushing Rua up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Spasov struggles to land a body shot inside as Rua controls his hands.
Spasov misses with a punch to the body.
Rua lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Spasov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spasov tries to work over Rua's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rua prevents a body shot from Spasov.
Spasov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rua lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Spasov backwards.
Spasov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Spasov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Spasov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Spasov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rua lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Rua is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Spasov can do to turn this around?
Spasov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Spasov is trying to force a seperation but Rua has the dominant position.
Spasov misses with a body punch.
Spasov tries to throw a body punch but Rua avoids it by throwing Spasov back against the ropes.
Rua scores with an uppercut up the middle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jao Rua showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rua, 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jao Rua!
Jao Rua very nearly forgot to thank Notorious amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.