PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Den Burlaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rua
vs
Burlaka

185 cm
25
208 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
22
204 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mauricio Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Den Burlaka!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Aleksandr Martynov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rua shoots in for a takedown but Burlaka shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Burlaka shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rua defends it nicely.
Rua is looking to clinch but Burlaka is avoiding it.
Rua fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rua is looking to clinch.
Burlaka throws a leg kick that is checked

and Rua counters with a single leg into guard. Burlaka didn't expect that.
Rua pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Burlaka is keeping the position for now.
Rua throws a big right hand that misses.
Burlaka working a defensive guard here.
Rua wants to pass the guard but Burlaka is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burlaka wants to sweep but no luck.
Rua wants to get up but he can't break Burlaka's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Burlaka is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Burlaka is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rua is controlling him.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Burlaka moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Burlaka tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Burlaka gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Rua regains guard.
Rua tries to strike from the bottom.
Burlaka stops Rua from standing up.
Rua thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Rua controls Burlaka momentarily but Burlaka frees himself.
Burlaka won't allow Rua to get back to his feet.
Burlaka's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Burlaka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rua is keeping the position for now.
Burlaka keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rua's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua trying to control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rua clinches but Burlaka breaks the clinch

and Burlaka counters by clinching up.

Burlaka gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Burlaka is controlling the pace.
Rua has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Burlaka looks gassed!
Rua wants to improve his position but Burlaka is controlling well.
Burlaka slows the pace down in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Burlaka postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Rua to stand up.
Rua throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Burlaka scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rua trying to control here.

Rua has hold of a guillotine but he's not going to be able to crank on it really with only half guard, so it's no trouble for Burlaka. Oh but Rua has got full guard now! Oh boy! This one could be over very soon! Burlaka goes limp - he's gone! Rua jumps up and celebrates with the crowd - fantastic submission finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Mauricio Rua!