PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Sousa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mauricio Rua told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Sousa
vs
Rua

191 cm
20
215 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

187 cm
22
225 lbs
1 - 2 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Sousa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mauricio Rua!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Seu Braga and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch but Sousa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sousa looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Sousa fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rua lands a head kick!

It looks like Rafael Sousa has been cut.
Rua with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Rua darts in and clinches Sousa up against the cage.
Sousa tries to pull guard but Rua holds him up against the cage and eventually Sousa drops back down to his feet.
Sousa fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafael Sousa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rua scores with a knee to the head.
Rua lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Rua is trying to maintain a safe position but Sousa gets an underhook and turns Rua into the cage.
Rua leaning his opponent against the cage.
Sousa tries to pull guard but Rua holds him up against the cage and eventually Sousa drops back down to his feet.
Rua lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Rua landing knees to the head.
Rua tries to score a body lock takedown but Sousa shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Rua trying to stall but Sousa improves his position.
Rua is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sousa pulls him back up using the underhooks.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Rua jumps guard and drags Sousa to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Sousa postures up.
Rua tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sousa's guard.
Rua advances position into side control!

Rua has hold of Sousa's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Sousa tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Rua cranks the arm and Sousa screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Sousa, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:31 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Mauricio Rua!