PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Kaeo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kaeo has chosen On Fire as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rua
vs
Kaeo

185 cm
22
218 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

182 cm
23
216 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mauricio Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dan Kaeo!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua looks to score with a jab to the body but Kaeo is just out of range.
Rua waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kaeo.
Kaeo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rua as he avoids it easily.
Rua lands with a nice body punch.
Rua works Kaeo's body with a nice hook.
Kaeo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rua tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Rua!

Kaeo shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Kaeo looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Kaeo is thwarting Rua's attempts to control the position.
Kaeo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rua is looking to control Kaeo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rua avoid being mounted?
Kaeo not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kaeo prevents Rua from improving his position.
Rua looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua trying to control here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A head kick by Kaeo misses
and Rua counters with a right hand to the body.
Rua lands a head kick!
Rua scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
No luck for Kaeo with that takedown attempt.
Kaeo looks to throw the jab but Rua is out of range.

Kaeo looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rua tries to roll over but Kaeo keeps him under control.
Rua trying to hold on to Kaeo's head to control him but Kaeo postures up.
Rua wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kaeo is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Rua is trying to maintain the position but Kaeo is very close to passing his half guard.
Rua is trying to get back to full guard.
Kaeo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rua's head.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rua scores with a nice strike.
Kaeo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rua connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Rua jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kaeo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rua.

Kaeo shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kaeo showed some decent athleticism there.
Kaeo controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaeo wants to control but Rua is keeping him busy.
Kaeo might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Rua kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Rua gets back to full guard.
Kaeo throwing strikes from guard but Rua blocks nicely.
Rua wants to get back to his feet but Kaeo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rua is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kaeo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rua is keeping the position for now.
Kaeo postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kaeo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rua swivels and escapes.
Mauricio Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Kaeo.

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.
Kaeo tries for a takedown but Rua sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kaeo looks gassed!
Rua lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Rua cracks Kaeo with a right hand to the side of the head.
Dan Kaeo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rua.

Kaeo scores with a takedown into Rua's guard.
Rua is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kaeo preventing the sweep.
Rua working a defensive guard here.
Rua is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kaeo works over Rua with some ground and pound from guard.
Kaeo preventing the sweep.
Rua is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kaeo is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dan Kaeo will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nice defenses there by Kaeo.
Rua scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Kaeo fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rua sprawls well initially but Kaeo persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Kaeo is keen to just control but Rua is a slippery customer.
Rua trying to control but Kaeo postures up.
Kaeo is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Rua!
Rua wants to hold on but Kaeo pushes him away.
Kaeo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kaeo scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Rua?
Rua is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Kaeo punishing his opponent with strikes.
Rua is squirming around, avoiding Kaeo's attempts to control the action.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kaeo lands a heavy elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kaeo wants to control the pace but Rua is squirming around nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaeo putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
A nice elbow there by Kaeo.
Rua wants to hold on but Kaeo pushes him away.
Kaeo lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Rua hang on?
Rua working to try and regain half guard.
Dan Kaeo has got the better of the ground game so far.
A nice elbow there by Kaeo.
A nice elbow there by Kaeo.
Rua tries to buck Kaeo off but he can't manage it.
Rua is trying to escape the mount.
Kaeo landing strikes from the mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kaeo scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Kaeo lands a big shot there that rocks Rua but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Rua is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kaeo wants to finish this one by submission but Rua is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Kaeo.
Kaeo unloading with bombs!
Kaeo is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rua can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Rua is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kaeo lands a nice shot to the head.
Kaeo looking to finish Rua with some ground and pound. This is bad for Rua!
Rua is wriggling around trying to escape.
Kaeo lands with some strikes.
Kaeo lands with some strikes.
Rua is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Kaeo trying to control but Rua is having none of it.
Kaeo lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaeo lands a nice shot to the head.
Rua is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The referee warns Rua that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Rua can't escape the position.
Kaeo breaks from Rua's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Kaeo landing punches.
Kaeo landing strikes from the mount.
Oh Rua is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Kaeo is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Rua can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Rua seems to have got his legs back now.
Rua is looking to get to half guard.
Rua wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Kaeo.
Kaeo is landing with some decent strikes but Rua is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua wants to control but Kaeo is having none of it.
Kaeo 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.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rua wants to hold on but Kaeo pushes him away.
Kaeo prevents Rua from getting the reversal.
Rua in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Kaeo prevents Rua from getting the reversal.

Kaeo has hold of Rua's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Rua manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Rua tries to hold on but Kaeo postures up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A nice elbow there by Kaeo.
Rua is bucking up trying to escape but Kaeo cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Kaeo looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Kaeo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rua connects with a jab.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Rua!
Rua lands with a nice combination. Kaeo backs away looking to recover.
Kaeo shoots in for a double leg but Rua sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kaeo on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Rua gets caught flat footed, as Kaeo shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kaeo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rua wants to stand but Kaeo is controlling the position.
Rua is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kaeo postures up in Rua's guard and throws a big left but Rua blocks it.
Rua is trying to keep Kaeo in close.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kaeo tries to free his leg and advance position but Rua is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rua looking to control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Jab by Rua.
Rua connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Kaeo closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kaeo lands in his opponent's guard.
Kaeo throwing strikes from guard but Rua blocks nicely.
Kaeo thows a big elbow that misses.
Rua working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kaeo.
Rua wants to sweep but no luck.
Rua is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kaeo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mauricio Rua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rua is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kaeo is controlling him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kaeo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rua swivels and escapes.
Rua lands a high kick!
Kaeo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mauricio Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Kaeo.
Good shot there by Rua.
Rua darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
The crowd cheers as Rua lands an impressive looking overhand right. Kaeo doesn't seem phased though.
A jab from Rua finds it's way through Kaeo's defenses.
Rua lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Kaeo takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kaeo throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rua was covering up waiting for the punch and Kaeo finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Kaeo stands up and waves to Rua to follow him.
Kaeo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rua connects with a single shot there.

Kaeo fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rua sprawls well initially but Kaeo persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Rua actively working from the bottom here.
Rua won't allow Kaeo to pass to mount.

Kaeo is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Rua controlling the position well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaeo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rua's head.
Kaeo scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Kaeo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rua is trying to stand back up but Kaeo is controlling him

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nice takedown defense from Rua. No joy for Kaeo on that attempt.
Rua lands a jab to the head.
Kaeo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kaeo takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Rua thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kaeo takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Rua throws a big shot that misses.
Dan Kaeo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rua missing with a left hand there. Kaeo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Kaeo shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rua manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Kaeo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kaeo winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 26:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 26:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dan Kaeo!