PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Don Faber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maurisios Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maurisios Rua has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Don Faber's chin.

Faber
vs
Rua

190 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

185 cm
22
186 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Don Faber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Maurisios Rua!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Anthony Taglia and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Faber decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rua taking some punishment here, with Faber in his half guard.
Faber slips a nice elbow through Rua's hands, connecting with Rua's forehead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua pushes Faber off looking to stand but Faber dives back in and keeps control.
Faber thows a huge punch but Rua dodges it nicely.
Rua is concentrating on defense, preventing Faber from advancing position.
Faber throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Faber wants to pass the guard but Rua is defending well.
Faber with the ground and pound but Rua uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Faber tries to free his leg and advance position but Rua is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rua throws a right hand that Faber ducks under and follows up with a left that Faber also avoids with ease.

Rua clinches.
Faber tries for a takedown but Rua manages to get underhooks.
Faber has Rua pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rua manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Faber 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.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Don Faber. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rua breaks the clinch.
Rua is looking to clinch.
Rua with a poor takedown

and Faber counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rua!
Faber is breathing heavily.
Faber lands a nice shot to the head.
Rua holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Faber tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Faber connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua working to try and regain half guard.
Poor strikes thrown by Faber there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Faber unloading with bombs!
Faber looking to ground and pound but Rua is blocking nicely.
Rua tries to hold on but Faber pushes him away.
Faber throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Rua is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Rua slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rua wriggles free and stands up.
Faber takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Faber changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rua tries to avoid it but Faber manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rua to the ground. Rua escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Faber shoots for a double leg takedown but Rua sprawls well. He's pushed Faber's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Rua has taken the fight to the clinch.

Rua's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rua gets a clinch.
Faber has Rua pressed against the cage, preventing Rua from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Faber has clasped his hands together around Rua's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Faber tries to advance position but instead Rua slips a leg back in to half guard.
Rua is looking to control Faber's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rua avoid being mounted?
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Faber sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rua defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rua looks to clinch

and Faber counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rua's guard now.

Rua kicks Faber off and gets to his feet.

Faber drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Faber tries to move into full mount but can't pass Rua's legs.
Faber working away.
Faber lands a decent elbow from side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rua prevents Faber from improving position.
Rua defending against the ground and pound.
Don Faber overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faber tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Rua regains half guard.
Faber is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Rua reverses the position - he's now on top in Faber's guard.
Faber wants to sweep here but Rua controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Faber is looking to stand back up but Rua counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Faber.

Rua stands up from half guard.
Faber has a takedown stuffed.
Rua feints and then cracks Faber's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Faber down.
Rua lands a nice looking kick to the body. Faber takes a step back to recover.
Rua lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rua wants it to stay on the feet.
Don Faber is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A combination from Rua does no damage.

Faber shoots in and bounces Rua off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rua wants to stand and escape but Faber is having none of it.
Faber trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rua seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Rua keeping full guard, as Faber tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faber is working hard here to advance position.

Rua scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Faber blocks the body kick.
Rua is looking to clinch but Faber is avoiding it.
Rua misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A telegraphed right hand from Rua misses the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Faber dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Rua fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Faber.
Rua gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Faber counters with a shoot takedown. Rua fights it but they end up in guard.
Faber wants to pass the guard but Rua is keeping the position.
Rua can't keep his opponent in guard - Faber advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Faber wants to pass the guard but Rua is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faber throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Faber working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Rua's thigh. Rua counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Faber has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Faber tries to free his leg and advance position but Rua is retaining full guard.

Rua pushes Faber off and gets back to his feet.

Faber closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rua did well to prevent Faber getting side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faber thows a huge punch but Rua dodges it nicely.
Faber trying to mount his opponent but Rua defends it.
Faber not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Faber wants to pass to mount but Rua is defending the position.
Rua trying to control but Faber postures up.
Faber tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rua knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua tries to kick Faber off but Faber keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rua throws a series of strikes that have Faber backpedaling.
Faber fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rua avoids it really well and circles away.
Rua doesn't manage to clinch there - Faber circles away.
Rua wants to clinch up but Faber keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Faber fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rua avoids it really well and circles away.
Faber fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rua avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Don Faber. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Faber changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rua looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rua prevents Faber from moving into mount.
Faber advances nicely into full mount.
Faber throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Rua because Faber loaded up on that one.
Faber fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

And that's the end of the fight!
Don Faber showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Faber, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Don Faber!