PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marco Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Webber Lang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rua
vs
Lang

185 cm
20
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Hell's Kitchen Lab Corp

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marco Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Webber Lang!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Leandro Rodrigues and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lang tries to clinch but Rua is having none of it.
Rua 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 from distance.
Rua staying out of range there.
Rua shoots in for a double leg but Lang sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lang tries to close the distance and clinch but Rua swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Lang gets the takedown into side control.
Lang controlling the position from side mount.
Lang wants to stand but Rua has his arm trapped.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lang tries to advance position but instead Rua slips a leg back in to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lang trying to pass the guard but Rua defending well.
Lang tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Lang perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Lang wants to stand up but Rua has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Lang stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lang thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Rua actively working from the bottom here.
Lang is trying to control the action in half guard but Rua is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps 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.
Lang tries a head kick but it misses.

Rua gets caught flat footed, as Lang shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Lang wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.
Rua is breathing heavily.
Lang tries to free his leg and advance position but Rua is retaining full guard.
Lang must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua keeping moving, preventing Lang from controlling successfully.
Lang is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Rua working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lang doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lang manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Lang is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Rua keeping full guard, as Lang tries to pass.

That's four 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.
Lang trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rua's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lang pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rua is keeping the position for now.

Rua had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Lang is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Rua Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Lang's back instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Webber Lang dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lang throws a nice head kick!
The fight stays on the outside here - Lang looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rua swats away the attempt to clinch by Lang.

Lang closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rua to the mat! Rua manages to get full guard.
Lang throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rua works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lang sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Lang wants to pass the guard but Rua is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lang avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rua being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lang wants to stand but Rua is controlling his posture from full guard.
Lang is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lang throwing strikes from guard but Rua blocks nicely.
Lang controls from within his opponent's guard.
Lang's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Despite being in the dominant position, Webber Lang just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rua misses with a takedown

and Lang counters with a shoot takedown. Rua fights it but they end up in guard.
Lang stays in close to Rua's body and controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lang tries to free his leg and advance position but Rua is retaining full guard.
Lang slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Lang pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rua is keeping the position for now.
Rua being controlled here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Webber Lang showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Lang throws a sloppy head kick

and Rua decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Lang's guard.
Rua trying to control but Lang is working from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Lang can do anything to dispel that myth.
Lang trying to control the position.
Lang keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lang looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lang thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Rua wants to control from the top but Lang keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lang keeping full guard, as Rua tries to pass.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Lang rushes Rua and presses him up against the cage.

Lang breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rua shoots and misses

and Lang counters with a takedown into side control.
A lull in the action here.
Rua prevents Lang from improving position.
Lang really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rua. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lang works to advance to full mount. Rua defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Lang controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lang can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rua is looking to escape.
Webber Lang is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Despite being in the dominant position, Webber Lang just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lang lands with a shot to the body.
Lang feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rua's calf.
Rua with a poor takedown

and Lang counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Lang is taking a breather. Rua says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Lang stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Rua to get to his feet.
Marco Rua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Lang fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rua, pushing him back against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Webber Lang comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lang has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Webber Lang!