PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Raphael Almeida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Murilo Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Almeida
vs
Rua

200 cm
22
180 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

180 cm
23
190 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers standup

BJJ Purple 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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Raphael Almeida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Murilo Rua!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Alexandre Firmino and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Almeida throws a head kick but Rua moves out of range.
Almeida stuffs the takedown attempt from Rua. Rua gets slowly back to his feet.
Almeida connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rua momentarily.
Almeida really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Almeida lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Rua changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Almeida tries to avoid it but Rua manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Almeida to the ground. Almeida escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Almeida fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Rua is out of range.
Almeida throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rua stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Almeida misses with a series of wild punches.
Rua avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rua shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Almeida but Almeida pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Raphael Almeida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Murilo Rua.
Almeida uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Rua has time to react.
Almeida fakes the leg kick and cracks Rua in the body.
Rua looks gassed!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jab from Almeida.
Almeida throws a wild body kick that Rua sees coming a mile off.
Rua blocks a head kick by Almeida.
Nice sprawl there from Almeida as Rua shoots in.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almeida is looking to land body kicks.
Rua shoots in looking for a takedown. Almeida tries to sprawl out of it but Rua keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Almeida manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Almeida is looking to land body kicks.
Murilo Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A nice leg kick lands there from Almeida.
A left lands for Almeida.
Almeida throws a right hand that Rua ducks under and follows up with a left that Rua also avoids with ease.
Rua takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Almeida throws a head kick but Rua moves out of range.
Almeida tests Rua's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Almeida looks for the body kick but Rua saw that one coming.
Almeida will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Almeida throws a front kick aimed at Rua's knee but Rua avoids it well.
Rua moves out of range of the body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Almeida tries a head kick but it misses.
Almeida misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Almeida looks for the body kick but Rua saw that one coming.
Almeida just misses with a punch to the body.
Almeida moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Almeida leaves Rua with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Almeida looks to land a combination but Rua avoids it well.
Almeida moves into range and connects with a jab.
Almeida rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rua moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rua shoots in but no luck this time.
Almeida tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rua was well out of range. Poor timing from Almeida.
Almeida is looking to land body kicks.
Rua looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Almeida is fending him off so far but Rua persists. Nope, Almeida circles away and we're back to standing.
Rua is trying desperately to land a takedown but Almeida is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Rua.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rua needs to keep his hands up - Almeida had a free shot at his head there.
Almeida delivers a nice body kick.
Rua uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Almeida.
A combination from Almeida does no damage.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rua is defended easily by Almeida.
Rua has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Almeida finds it's way round the side to connect with Rua's head.
A head kick misses from Almeida.
Almeida leaves Rua with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Almeida is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Rua moves out of range of the body kick from Almeida.
Almeida keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Almeida shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Almeida.
Rua shoots in for a double leg but Almeida sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Raphael Almeida is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rua moves out of range of the body kick.

Rua has managed to clinch.
Rua looking for a takedown.
Almeida has Rua pressed against the cage.
Almeida wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rua misses with an elbow strike.
Almeida is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Almeida breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rua shoots in for a double leg but Almeida sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Almeida tries a head kick but it misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua has a takedown stuffed.
Almeida throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rua shoots for a takedown but Almeida saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Almeida dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rua blocks the body kick.
Rua shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Almeida defends it nicely.
Almeida throws a head kick that misses.
Almeida misses with a low kick.
Rua blocks a head kick by Almeida.
Almeida misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rua shoots in but no luck this time.
Almeida throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Raphael Almeida is winning the standup battle so far.
Rua tries for a takedown but Almeida sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Raphael Almeida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Murilo Rua.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Almeida throws the kick towards the body but Rua avoids it.

Rua scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Rua prevents Almeida from escaping the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rua wants to lay and pray for a moment but Almeida keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almeida is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Rua has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Rua working away.
Rua scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Almeida to see if he's OK.
Rua scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Almeida to see if he's OK.
Sloppy strikes there by Rua.
Rua working the head and body with strikes.
Rua tries to move into full mount but can't pass Almeida's legs.
Rua working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Almeida is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Almeida takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Rua scores with punches from side control.
Almeida wants to get back to his feet.
Rua working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Rua scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Almeida to see if he's OK.
Rua tries to advance to mount but Almeida denies him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almeida tries to bench press Rua off him but Rua keeps the position.
Almeida is working to avoid the ground and pound but Rua connects with a decent elbow.
Rua tries to advance to mount but can't.
Almeida taking punishment in the form of punches.
Rua throws a strike aimed at the side of Almeida's head but Almeida avoids it well.
Rua in side control lands a decent elbow.
Rua postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Rua passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Almeida!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rua tries to control but Almeida wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Almeida wants to hold on but Rua pushes him away.
Rua lands with some strikes.
Rua won't let Almeida get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Almeida is trying to escape the mount.
Rua is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Almeida can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Rua putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rua avoids the attempt from Almeida to control.
Rua unloading with bombs!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Murilo Rua showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rua looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Almeida is fending him off so far but Rua persists. Nope, Almeida circles away and we're back to standing.

Rua gets the takedown into side control.
Check out the look on Rua's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Almeida tries to escape but Rua is in control.
Almeida dodges the ground and pound from Rua.
Almeida is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Rua is controlling him well.
Rua lands a few punches from side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rua throws an elbow but Almeida slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rua misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Almeida stuffs the takedown attempt from Rua. Rua gets slowly back to his feet.
Raphael Almeida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Murilo Rua.
Almeida lands with a shot to the body.
Rua moves out of range as Almeida throws a body kick.
Almeida avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
No luck for Rua with that takedown attempt.
Almeida leaves Rua with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rua avoids the head kick by Almeida.
Rua fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Almeida misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rua blocks a head kick by Almeida.
Rua doesn't manage to clinch there - Almeida circles away.
Rua fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Raphael Almeida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Almeida throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rua fails with a takedown attempt.
Almeida throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rua stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Almeida throws a head kick that half lands.

Rua changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Almeida looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rua misses with the ground and pound.
Almeida sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua stops Almeida from getting back to his feet.
Rua throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Almeida looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rua not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Almeida is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rua scores with a couple of nice shots.
Almeida tries to get to full guard but Rua has control of the leg.
Almeida is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rua scores with a couple of nice shots.
Rua thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Almeida's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rua shoots in for a takedown but Almeida shows good takedown defense.
Almeida connects with a solid leg kick.
A head kick misses from Almeida.
Almeida misses with a head kick.
Almeida is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Rua shoots in looking for a takedown. Almeida tries to sprawl out of it but Rua keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Almeida manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Almeida is looking to score with low kicks.
Rua slips a jab and a cross from Almeida.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Almeida paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rua shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Almeida but Almeida pushes him off and we're back to square one.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rua looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Almeida is fending him off so far but Rua persists. Nope, Almeida circles away and we're back to standing.
Rua shoots in but Almeida avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Almeida throws a head kick that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Murilo Rua.
I think Rua has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a majority draw!