PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Quinton Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eduardo Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rua has a pretty significant injury - he really shouldn't be fighting right now but he's a warrior and he's here none the less! Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Eduardo Rua enters the cage!

Jackson
vs
Rua

186 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Enjoys gardening

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Quinton Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Eduardo Rua!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Daniel Blasius and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Jackson or perhaps it was just good defense by Rua which made him look bad.
Rua looks gassed!
Rua throws the left hand but Jackson avoids the punch easily.
Jackson pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Jackson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Jackson lands an elbow.
Rua is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Sloppy strikes there by Jackson.
Jackson is putting a hurting on Rua here, landing some big shots from side control.
Rua on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua taking punishment in the form of punches.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Jackson landing a few strikes.
Jackson grinds an elbow into Rua's temple.
Jackson working the head with strikes.

Jackson decides to stand up, so the ref orders Rua to his feet.

Jackson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rua is trying to break the clinch but Jackson has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jackson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Some wild striking there from Jackson.
Jackson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Jackson misses with the combination.
Jackson closes the distance and clinches up with Rua, looking for a takedown. Jackson pushes Rua against the cage but Rua circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Quinton Jackson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Jackson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Jackson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Jackson tries to get out of the position.
Rua sitting in guard, not really doing much.
I looks like Rua might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson trying to keep a closed guard but Rua is proving a slippery customer.
Jackson has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Jackson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rua is one step ahead there.
Rua sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua wants to control from the top but Jackson keeps moving.
Rua won't allow Jackson to sweep him here.
Jackson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rua is controlling him.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rua lands a with a good body shot.
Jackson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rua swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jackson throws a nice looking combination but Rua bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jackson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rua throws a right and a left that Jackson avoids nicely.
Rua thuds his right hand into Jackson's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Jackson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rua cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rua wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Jackson swinging wilding here.
Rua moves in looking to clinch but Jackson pushes him off.
Jackson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rua counters with a right hand to the body.
Jackson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rua pinned against the cage. Rua gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Jackson moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Jackson has a takedown stuffed.
Rua showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Jackson.
Jackson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Rua counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rua cracks Jackson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Rua rushes Jackson and presses him up against the cage.

Jackson manages to pull guard.
Jackson wants to sweep here but Rua controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Quinton Jackson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Jackson has his takedown stuffed

and Rua holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Jackson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jackson closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rua counters by clinching up.
Rua throws a punch but it's blocked by Jackson.

Jackson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rua takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Rua keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jackson slips a jab and a cross from Rua.
Nice body punch from Rua.
Jackson throws a chopping leg kick but Rua manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Jackson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rua moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rua keeps the fight on the outside.
Rua doesn't manage to clinch there - Jackson circles away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jackson tries to clinch but Rua moves away

and Rua holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jackson breaks from the clinch.
Jackson misses with a double jab.
Jackson does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Rua leaves Jackson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Quinton Jackson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jackson misses with a combination
enabling Rua to counter with a crisp jab.
Jackson scores with a push kick.
Rua stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rua wants it to stay on the feet.
Jackson throws a combination that misses
and Rua counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Jackson thinking.
Rua ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Left hook, right uppercut from Jackson.
Jackson doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rua holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Jackson lands a nice knee to the body.
Rua prevents Jackson from breaking the clinch.
Jackson lands a left hand.

Jackson manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua blocks a head kick by Jackson.
Jackson slips a jab and a cross from Rua.
Rua checks a leg kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Jackson.
Jackson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rua counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Rua with a poor takedown
and Jackson counters with a series of strikes. Rua will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rua is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Jackson rather than just go for the knockout.
Rua lands an overhand right.
Jackson darts in trying to clinch
and Rua counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Rua scores with the left hand. Jackson knows he should have avoided that one.
Rua avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Rua dives in and grabs Jackson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Jackson pushes down on Rua's head and hops out.
Jackson throws a combination that misses
and Rua counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Jackson takes one on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua cracks Jackson with an open hand slap.
Jackson shoots in but no luck this time.
Jackson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Rua. Rua circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Rua gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rua preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Jackson thows a big elbow that misses.

Rua is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Jackson is aware though and is defending well.
Jackson landing some decent shots from guard.
Jackson throws a big right hand that misses.
Jackson throws a strike but Rua rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Jackson wants to stand and escape but Rua is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Quinton Jackson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rua gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Rua gets control of Jackson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Rua will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Jackson throwing strikes but missing.
Jackson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rua on the ground.
Jackson throws a big right hand that misses.

Rua is working an open guard so Jackson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Jackson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Jackson looking for a sweep. Not yet Jackson, not yet.
Rua seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Jackson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rua is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eduardo 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!

A right-left combo lands from Rua.
Quinton Jackson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jackson dives in and grabs Rua's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rua pushes down on Jackson's head and hops out.
Jackson shoots in looking for a takedown. Rua tries to sprawl out of it but Jackson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rua manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rua throws a big shot that misses.
Jackson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rua counters with a stiff right hand.
Jackson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rua.
Jackson throws a series of punches but Rua avoids them all with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson throws a combination that misses
letting Rua counter with a right hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jackson shoots in looking for a takedown. Rua tries to sprawl out of it but Jackson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rua manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Quinton Jackson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Jackson gets caught flat footed, as Rua shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rua controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rua's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Let's hope that Rua has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Jackson is trying to keep Rua in close.
Rua controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Jackson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rua is controlling him.
Rua throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Jackson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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

Rua darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Jackson is trying to stand up here but Rua is controlling him well.
Rua stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Jackson is working to get back to half guard.
Rua scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Jackson?
Jackson is looking to get to half guard.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Rua cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Rua controlling the position easily from mount.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

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.
Jackson tries to lock up and control but Rua gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Jackson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
BOOM! Rua connects with a massive shot to the dome!

And that's the end of the fight!
Eduardo Rua comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eduardo Rua!