PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Whitley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Whitley has chosen Pain Killer as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. The key to victory for Mauricio Rua has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Rua
vs
Whitley

186 cm
20
215 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

179 cm
24
211 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mauricio Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mike Whitley!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Hugh Johnson and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Whitley misses with a low kick.

Whitley scores with a takedown into Rua's guard.
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.
Whitley pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rua is keeping the position for now.

Rua has his foot on Whitley's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Whitley works his way back into a safe position though.
Whitley pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rua is keeping the position for now.

Rua has his foot on Whitley's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Whitley works his way back into a safe position though.
Whitley trying to move into half guard but instead Rua has managed to sweep!
Rua controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Whitley has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Rua has passed into side control.
Rua wants to lay and pray for a moment but Whitley keeps working.
Whitley is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitley manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rua's best efforts.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Whitley makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Whitley.
Whitley looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rua is one step ahead there.
Rua slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Rua trying to control but Whitley is working from the bottom.
Rua won't allow Whitley to sweep him here.

That's two 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.
Rua trying to control but Whitley is working from the bottom.
Whitley tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
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.
Rua throws a lazy right hand but Whitley sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Whitley changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rua looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Whitley trying to control the action but Rua is working from the bottom.
Rua manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Whitley is looking to pass Rua's guard but actually Rua recovers to full guard.
Whitley stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rua swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Whitley got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rua has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Whitley has managed to get both his arms back between Rua's legs - danger averted.
Rua trying to keep a closed guard but Whitley is proving a slippery customer.
Whitley trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Rua is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rua keeping full guard, as Whitley tries to pass.
Whitley advances position into side control!
Rua is trying to control Whitley's posture but Whitley avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Whitley decides to stand back up.

Whitley scores with a takedown into Rua's guard.
Rua looking to hit a scissor sweep but Whitley is one step ahead there.
Rua trying to keep a closed guard but Whitley is proving a slippery customer.
Whitley wants to pass the guard but Rua is keeping the position.
Whitley preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mauricio Rua will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Whitley shoots for a double leg takedown but Rua sprawls well. He's pushed Whitley's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Whitley looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Whitley takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rua connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Rua works the jab nicely.
Rua throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rua tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Whitley was well out of range. Poor timing from Rua.
Rua tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Whitley was well out of range. Poor timing from Rua.

Whitley has Rua up against the cage in a clinch.

Whitley has hold of one of Rua's legs. Rua is fighting the takedown attempt but Whitley gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Whitley really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rua. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rua looking to hit a scissor sweep but Whitley is one step ahead there.
Rua is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Whitley pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rua is keeping the position for now.
Whitley is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitley forces his way into half guard.
Rua makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rua.

Rua is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Whitley looking to pass the guard.
Rua is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Whitley must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Whitley stopping the sweep attempt from Rua.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rua is on top in guard.
Whitley 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.
Whitley looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rua puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Whitley is staying active underneath Rua, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Whitley trying to control from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Whitley can do anything to dispel that myth.
Whitley wants to get back to full guard but Rua has passed into side control.
Rua with the ground and pound from mount.
Whitley can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitley regains half guard.

Rua is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Whitley trying to get back to full guard but Rua takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Whitley is trying to escape the mount.
Rua thowing shots but they're missing.
Rua lands a big shot there that rocks Whitley but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Whitley bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rua looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Whitley pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rua is keeping the position for now.
Rua controlling Whitley's posture.
Whitley looking to pass the guard.

Whitley drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Rua dives on top into guard.
Whitley looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rua puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Rua dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rua scores with a body shot.

Rua fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Whitley sprawls well initially but Rua persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Whitley is looking for a sweep. Rua is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ground and pound from Rua.

Rua is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Whitley is just riding it out for now. Rua eventually gives up the hold.
Rua is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Whitley!
Whitley really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rua pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Rua looking to secure an arm triangle but Whitley defends it well.
Whitley working to try and regain half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mauricio Rua overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rua trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rua takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Whitley is trying to escape the mount.
Rua tries to control but Whitley wriggling away.
Whitley sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's two 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.
Whitley is trying to get back to full guard.
Rua wants to lay and pray for a moment but Whitley keeps working.
Mike Whitley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Whitley is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rua pulls his head out easily.
Whitley slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Whitley looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rua is one step ahead there.
Whitley keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitley looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rua puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Rua seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Whitley is looking to regain full guard. He's left an arm up in the air though and Rua has latched onto it... Big trouble! Rua pivots for an armbar - it's in tight and it Whitley is tapping in no time flat! Great counter grappling there from Rua!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mauricio Rua!