PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sean Benoit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wanderlei Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sean Benoit has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Benoit
vs
Rua

182 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sean Benoit!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Wanderlei Rua!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Ren Mimura and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benoit shoots in and drives through. Rua sprawls well.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Benoit breaks the clinch.

Benoit gets a clinch.
Benoit has Rua pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rua manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Rua tries to pull guard but Benoit won't allow it.
Rua fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Benoit drags the fight down to the ground.

Benoit has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rua can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Benoit keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.

Benoit is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua trying to control but Benoit is working from the bottom.
Rua advances to half guard.

Rua wants to work for an arm triangle but Benoit is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Benoit moves into full guard.
Rua wants to pass the guard but Benoit is keeping the position.
Rua works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Rua wants to take a breather but Benoit is having none of it.
Rua tries to pass to full mount but Benoit defends it.
Benoit tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Rua is looking to take a break and control but Benoit is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Benoit looking for submissions off his back.
Benoit is breathing heavily.
Benoit is trying to get back to full guard.

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

and Benoit counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Benoit.
Sean Benoit has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wanderlei Rua.

Rua turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Rua manages to end up in side control.
Rua advances to full mount.

Rua is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Benoit is surviving well by controlling Rua's body position as best he can.
Benoit is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benoit wants to control but Rua is having none of it.

Benoit defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Rua.
Benoit is looking to get to half guard.
Rua trying to control but Benoit is having none of it.

Rua wants to finish this one by submission but Benoit is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Rua.

Rua swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Wanderlei Rua!