PBP Commentary

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

Blaster
vs
Rua

178 cm
25
178 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

185 cm
25
179 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Master Blaster!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Wanderlei Rua!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Skip Squint and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blaster lands a jab-cross combination.
Rua has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Blaster finds it's way round the side to connect with Rua's head.

Rua drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rua postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Rua drops back looking for a leg! Blaster is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Blaster manages to kick Rua off! Rua jumps back into Blaster's guard.
Blaster tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Rua drops back looking for a leg! Blaster is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Blaster manages to kick Rua off! Rua jumps back into Blaster's guard.
Blaster looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rua has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Blaster jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua closes the distance and clinches up with Blaster, looking for a takedown. Rua pushes Blaster against the cage but Blaster circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Blaster slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Blaster leaves Rua with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Blaster misses the shot to the body.
Rua looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Blaster is fending him off so far but Rua persists. Nope, Blaster circles away and we're back to standing.
Master Blaster has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wanderlei Rua.
Rua tries for a takedown but Blaster sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Blaster is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rua's half guard.
Rua keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Blaster tries to pass to full mount but Rua defends it.
Blaster thows a huge punch but Rua dodges it nicely.
Blaster looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaster throwing shots but Rua is blocking nicely.
Blaster wants to advance to full mount but Rua doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Blaster throws a big right hand that misses.
Blaster trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rua tries for a takedown but Blaster circles away easily

and Blaster counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rua!
Blaster throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Rua because Blaster loaded up on that one.
Rua taking shots to the head.
Rua tries to lock up and control but Blaster gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rua manages to regain half guard whilst avoiding the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blaster throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Blaster works his foot free and advances to mount.
Blaster lands a big elbow.
Rua in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
BOOM! Blaster connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Rua is in all sorts of trouble here.
Blaster throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Blaster misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Blaster has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Rua's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Blaster.
Poor strikes thrown by Blaster there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Blaster throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Blaster throws a sloppy strike and Rua uses the opportunity to reverse the position! A bit of a scramble here and Rua has ended up in Blaster's guard.
Rua looking to pass the guard.

Rua is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Blaster is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Blaster has escaped and now he's on top!
Rua looks gassed!
Blaster trying to control but Rua is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rua not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Master Blaster dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Rua shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Blaster counters with a left to the body.
Master Blaster is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rua doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Blaster counters with a three punch combo that has Rua backing up. Rua nods at Blaster to acknowledge the strikes.
Blaster looks to land a combination but Rua avoids it well.
Rua with a poor takedown
and Blaster counters with a series of strikes. Rua will be more careful next time no doubt.
Master Blaster has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wanderlei Rua.
Blaster lands with a nice body punch.
Blaster lands a body shot.
Blaster lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Blaster.
Rua takes one to the chin there.
Blaster lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Blaster ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Rua misses with a takedown
and Blaster counters with a nice body shot.
Rua is breathing heavily.
Blaster ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Blaster misses with a few strikes there.
Wanderlei Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rua takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Blaster lands a nice shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blaster bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Blaster landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Blaster throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Blaster wants to control but Rua is keeping him busy.
Blaster lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Rua down.
Rua is not content to let Blaster control the position.
Blaster throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Blaster looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Rua is avoiding damage well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Blaster is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rua knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Blaster tries to score with some ground and pound. Rua controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Rua taking punishment in the form of punches.
Rua is trying to control Blaster's posture but Blaster avoids it.
Blaster working the ground and pound but Rua is defending the strikes.
Blaster is chipping away with strikes.
Blaster is trying to ground and pound but Rua uses the momentary lack of control by Blaster to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Blaster is working away from the top position though.
Blaster passes to side control.
Blaster tries to score with some ground and pound. Rua controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Blaster misses with the ground and pound.
Rua dodges the ground and pound from Blaster.
Blaster scores with punches from side control.

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.

Blaster tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Blaster goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Rua rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Blaster's guard! Nice work there by Rua!
Blaster looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Master Blaster overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Blaster is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blaster has momentary wrist control but Rua slips an elbow through the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Master Blaster dominated that second round.
That's time! Blaster's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rua misses with a takedown attempt
and Blaster makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Blaster misses with a low kick.
Blaster throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rua tries for a takedown but Blaster circles away easily

and Blaster counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Blaster tries to free his leg and advance position but Rua is retaining full guard.
Blaster pushing down on Rua's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Blaster looks to land a strike but Rua avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Blaster trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blaster in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rua takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Blaster is looking to work some ground and pound but Rua has wrist control.
Blaster cracks Rua with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaster keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rua's head.
Rua keeping moving, preventing Blaster from controlling successfully.
Blaster throwing strikes but missing.
Rua keeping moving, preventing Blaster from controlling successfully.
Blaster trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Blaster is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rua is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rua has escaped and now he's on top!
Blaster throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Blaster looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rua wants to control from the top but Blaster keeps moving.

Rua drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rua jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rua stopping the sweep attempt from Blaster.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rua accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rua tries to free his leg and advance position but Blaster is retaining full guard.
Blaster bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rua's guard.
Blaster trying to control but Rua is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blaster with a flurry of punches that miss.
Blaster loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rua looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Rua looking for a guillotine here but Blaster defends easily.
Blaster thows a big elbow that misses.
Blaster pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rua is keeping the position for now.
Blaster throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rua works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rua fails with the takedown

and Blaster decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rua's guard.
Wanderlei Rua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Master Blaster has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wanderlei Rua.
Blaster passes Rua's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Rua on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Rua is trying to maintain the position but Blaster is very close to passing his half guard.
Blaster wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rua keeps working.
Blaster not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Master Blaster is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Blaster is trying to control. Rua wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Master Blaster showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Blaster has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Master Blaster!