PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chuck Liddell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mauricio Rua could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Chuck Liddell's chin.

Rua
vs
Liddell

183 cm
22
212 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mauricio Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Chuck Liddell!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Ian Loll and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Liddell throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rua.
Liddell fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rua tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Liddell swivels and escapes.
Liddell fails to land with a series of punches.
Liddell swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Liddell circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rua tries for a takedown but Liddell sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rua looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mauricio Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Liddell misses with a series of wild punches.
Liddell throws a series of punches but Rua avoids them all with ease.
Liddell misses with the combination.
Liddell misses with a double jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Liddell misses with a two punch combination.
Liddell looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Liddell looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rua showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Liddell.
Liddell misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liddell swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Liddell lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rua circles away quickly and effectively.
Liddell swinging wildly here.
Liddell looks gassed!
A punch combination from Liddell misses.
Liddell misses with a few strikes there.
Liddell swinging wildly here.
Rua shoots in for a takedown but Liddell shows good takedown defense.
No joy there for Liddell, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Rua gets a takedown into half guard.
Liddell is staying active underneath Rua, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liddell manages to get to full guard.
Rua stops Liddell from standing up.
Rua stays in close to Liddell's body and controls the position.
Liddell is trying to control the position but Rua postures up.
Rua in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rua wants to control from the top but Liddell keeps moving.
Rua is looking to stand up but Liddell won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liddell can't keep his opponent in guard - Rua advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Rua lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Liddell wants to control but Rua is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Rua is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Liddell doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rua.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rua wants to lay and pray for a moment but Liddell keeps working.

Rua decides to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liddell defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rua.
Liddell throws a series of punches but Rua avoids them all with ease.
Liddell rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rua moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rua showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Liddell.
Liddell misses with a double jab.
Liddell fails to land with a series of punches.
Rua shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Liddell defends it nicely.
Liddell throws a right and a left that Rua avoids nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rua drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Liddell tries to bench press Rua off him but Rua keeps the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Rua 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 looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Liddell is fending him off so far but Rua persists. Nope, Liddell circles away and we're back to standing.
No joy there for Liddell, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Liddell throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rua tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Liddell swivels and escapes.
Liddell misses with a wild combination.
Rua shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mauricio Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Liddell throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Liddell throws a right and a left that both miss.

Rua darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Liddell works his way to full guard. Good work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rua is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua trying to control but Liddell is working from the bottom.
Liddell not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Liddell throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Rua trying to control but Liddell is working from the bottom.
Rua stops Liddell from standing up.
Rua wants to control from the top but Liddell keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rua shoots for a takedown but Liddell saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Liddell misses with a double jab.
Liddell throws a series of punches but Rua moves out of range.

That's two 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.
Good work by Rua as he checks the leg kick.
Chuck Liddell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rua throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Liddell throws a right hand that Rua ducks under and follows up with a left that Rua also avoids with ease.

Rua fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Liddell, pushing him back against the cage.
Rua changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Liddell fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Liddell lands with a kick to the temple. Rua shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Liddell misses with a double jab.
Chuck Liddell is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Liddell pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Liddell throws a combination that misses

and Rua counters with a takedown into side control.
Rua misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Liddell looking for a sweep but Rua has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Rua moves to take his opponent's back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liddell breaks Rua's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Liddell looking to pass the guard.
Liddell loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Liddell wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.
Rua wants to stand but Liddell is controlling the 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.
Liddell wants to pass the guard but Rua is keeping the position.
Liddell trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rua looking for a triangle here. Liddell is fighting it but it looks tight! Rua pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Liddell is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Mauricio Rua!