PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bas Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Ivsjo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alexander Ivsjo 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!

Rua
vs
Ivsjo

185 cm
18
185 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

180 cm
18
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bas Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexander Ivsjo!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Wesley Smith and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua throws a head kick that Ivsjo semi-blocks.

It looks like Alexander Ivsjo has been cut.
Rua doesn't manage to clinch there - Ivsjo circles away.
Ivsjo swings for the body but Rua moves out of range.

Rua forces Ivsjo back against the cage and clinches.
Rua tries a knee to the head but Ivsjo blocks it.
Rua scores with a knee to the head.
Rua is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ivsjo is defending well for now.
Ivsjo is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rua misses with a knee to the head.
Ivsjo wants a takedown.
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rua tries a knee to the head but Ivsjo blocks it.

Ivsjo is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Rua can't fight it off and eventually Ivsjo manages to take the fight to the floor. Rua looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Ivsjo sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Ivsjo is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Rua pushes Ivsjo off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivsjo keeps the fight on the outside.
Rua tries to clinch up but Ivsjo circles away and keeps his distance.
Rua misses with a head kick.

Ivsjo darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Ivsjo seems to be working for a kimura but Rua defends the submission attempt.
Ivsjo prevents Rua from standing back up.
Rua is breathing heavily.
Ivsjo looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Rua makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Rua throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ivsjo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rua is looking to clinch but Ivsjo is avoiding it.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ivsjo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ivsjo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rua moves away.
Rua tries to clinch but Ivsjo is having none of it.

Rua closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ivsjo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rua smiles and moves away.
Bas Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Ivsjo.
Rua throws the kick towards the body but Ivsjo avoids it.
Rua tries a head kick but it misses.
Rua tries a head kick but it misses.
Ivsjo shoots in but no luck this time.
Rua blocks a head kick by Ivsjo.
Ivsjo tries to close the distance and clinch but Rua swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rua looks to clinch

and Ivsjo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rua won't be happy with that.
Rua is trying to buck Ivsjo off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ivsjo stands up.
Rua swats away the attempt to clinch by Ivsjo.

Ivsjo scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Rua tries to escape but Ivsjo is in control.

Ivsjo stands up.
Ivsjo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rua as he jumps to the side.
Rua tries to clinch

and Ivsjo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rua won't be happy with that.

Ivsjo decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Rua pushes Ivsjo up against the cage in a clinch.
Rua throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ivsjo blocks it with crossed arms.
Ivsjo working hard to break the clinch.
Rua misses with a knee to the head.
Ivsjo is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rua gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Rua misses with an elbow strike.
Rua creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Ivsjo's defenses.
Rua misses with a knee strike.
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but Ivsjo blocks with his arms.
Ivsjo effectively controlling the action here.
Rua stops a takedown attempt from Ivsjo.
Rua tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rua as Ivsjo tries to tie him up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Ivsjo is keeping busy.
Rua throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ivsjo blocks it with crossed arms.
Ivsjo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rua avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Ivsjo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alexander Ivsjo's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rua misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Ivsjo clinches.
Ivsjo blocks the elbow strike.
Rua crunches a lovely knee into Ivsjo's ribcage.
Rua lands a nice elbow.
Ivsjo throws a punch but it's blocked by Rua.
Ivsjo trying to control the position but instead, Rua has worked for underhooks and has pushed Ivsjo into the cage.
Rua throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ivsjo blocks it with crossed arms.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rua.
Ivsjo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rua is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
A knee to the head by Rua.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Rua.
Rua prevents the takedown attempt.
Ivsjo tries to pull guard but Rua holds him up against the cage and eventually Ivsjo drops back down to his feet.
Bas Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Ivsjo.
Ivsjo is trying to break the clinch but Rua has him pressed against the cage.
Rua landing knees to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Ivsjo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Rua has taken the fight to the clinch.

Ivsjo jumps guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua looking to sit in guard and control but Ivsjo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rua wants to stand up but Ivsjo is controlling him.
Ivsjo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rua swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Rua wriggles free and stands up.
Rua tries to clinch but Ivsjo moves out of range.

Rua gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rua trying to land knees to the body.
Rua with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ivsjo wants to get back to striking at distance but Rua won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ivsjo presses Rua against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Ivsjo drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rua connects with a nasty looking knee right to Ivsjo's face.
Rua is pressed up against the cage. Ivsjo has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rua down to the mat. Rua avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rua closes the distance looking to clinch

and Ivsjo counters by moving into the clinch.
Rua prevents the takedown attempt.
Rua lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Rua misses with a knee strike.
Ivsjo takes a knee to the side of the body.
Rua tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rua unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ivsjo lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Rua looking to throw knees to the head but Ivsjo is blocking nicely.
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but Ivsjo blocks with his arms.
Ivsjo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rua has him pressed against the cage.
Ivsjo takes a knee right on the jaw!
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivsjo is trying to drag Rua to the mat but Rua just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Ivsjo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rua avoids it.
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ivsjo has had enough of the clinch but Rua keeps him there for the moment.
Rua unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ivsjo lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Rua lands a nice elbow.
Ivsjo connects with a knee to the head.
Rua throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ivsjo takes a knee right on the jaw!
Ivsjo takes a knee to the side of the body.
Ivsjo is looking to break free of the clinch but Rua has double underhooks.
Rua landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Rua prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ivsjo is trying to break the clinch but Rua has him pressed against the cage.
Ivsjo takes a knee right on the jaw!
A knee to the head by Rua.
Rua pushes off an throws an elbow but Ivsjo leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Ivsjo tries to stall but Rua uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rua working Ivsjo over with knees to the body.
Rua comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Rua using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ivsjo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ivsjo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rua is defending well for now.
Ivsjo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rua with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Ivsjo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rua tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ivsjo tries to break free but Rua pushes him back against the cage.
Nice elbow from Rua.
Nice elbow from Rua.
Rua tries a knee to the head but Ivsjo blocks it.
Rua connects with a knee to the head.
Ivsjo tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rua throws a knee to the head but misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ivsjo jumps guard but Rua stands there with Ivsjo around his waist. Ivsjo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ivsjo tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rua just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rua with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rua throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ivsjo blocks it with crossed arms.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bas Rua dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Alexander Ivsjo's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Ivsjo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ivsjo circles away from the clinch attempt

and Ivsjo counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rua's guard now.
Ivsjo wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ivsjo slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Ivsjo stands up and beckons Rua to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rua looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Ivsjo shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rua manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivsjo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rua swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Rua pushes Ivsjo off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Rua clinches but Ivsjo breaks the clinch

and Ivsjo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rua won't be happy with that.
Rua is trying to buck Ivsjo off.
Check out the look on Ivsjo's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Rua sneaks out the side door and pushes Ivsjo away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Rua wants to clinch but Ivsjo slips to the side

and Ivsjo counters with a nice double leg into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ivsjo lands a couple of digs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rua wants to stand but Ivsjo is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexander Ivsjo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ivsjo looking to pass the guard.
Ivsjo wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.
Rua is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ivsjo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ivsjo shoots in but no luck this time.
Ivsjo circles away from the clinch attempt

and Ivsjo counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rua!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ivsjo has control of Rua's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Rua regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Rua is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Rua taking shots to the head.
Rua wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Rua is flailing around, obviously not happy about being mounted. Ivsjo locks hold of one of his arms and spins for an armbar. He's got it! Rua is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Alexander Ivsjo!