PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Raphael Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Matthews
vs
Rua

184 cm
21
193 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

180 cm
26
199 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Very strong

ADCC Champion
Good low kicks
Powerful

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 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raphael Matthews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alex Rua!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, George Francis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matthews pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Matthews looks to land a combination. Rua sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Matthews with a hook.
A big left from Matthews misses.
Matthews throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Matthews ducks right into an uppercut from Rua.
Rua rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Matthews counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rua lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Matthews circles away quickly and effectively.
Matthews takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Matthews dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Matthews missing with a left hand there. Rua was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Matthews takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Matthews moves out of range of the strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Matthews throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Matthews uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rua.
Rua digs a good hook to Matthews's body.
Rua feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Matthewss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Raphael Matthews is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Matthews looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rua misses with a hook. Matthews ducked under it nicely.
Rua on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Jab from Matthews.
Rua looks to land a left hand but Matthews moved out of range nicely.
Matthews thuds his shin into the meat of Rua's side.
Matthews checks a low kick from Rua.
Rua steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Matthews.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Matthews throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rua checks a leg kick.
Rua takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rua looks for the body kick but Matthews saw that one coming.
Rua throws a body punch but Matthews moves out of range.
Matthews keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Matthews looks to land a right hand but Rua moved out of range.
Rua throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rua misses with a wild body shot.
Matthews jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rua blocks a head kick by Matthews.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua throws a head kick that half lands.
Matthews scores with a nice right hand.
Nice body punch from Matthews.
Matthews throws a low kick but Rua avoids it.
Matthews misses with the combination.
Rua lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rua takes a swing at Matthews's ribcage but misses.
Matthews moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Matthews pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Matthews blocks a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Rua.
A jab from Rua misses.
Rua moves into range and connects with a jab.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rua cracks the inside of Matthews's front leg.
Rua looks for a takedown but Matthews sprawls well.
Matthews throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rua staying out of range there.
Matthews takes one on the chin but seems OK.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matthews misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rua.
Rua shoots in but Matthews avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Raphael Matthews has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Rua.
Matthews swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Rua.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Matthews dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Matthews listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Rua dives in and grabs Matthews's left leg, looking for a takedown. Matthews pushes down on Rua's head and hops out.
Matthews pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Matthews lands with a shot to the body.
Good leg kick by Matthews there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A big right from Matthews misses.
Matthews throws a leg kick that misses.
Rua scores with a body shot.
Matthews thows a left - swing and a miss!
A head kick misses from Rua.
Matthews pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Matthews misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rua has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
A slapping leg kick lands for Matthews.
Matthews throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A good leg kick by Rua.
Rua lands a nice hook to Matthews's body. Matthews takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Matthews connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Matthews is looking to score with low kicks.
Matthews feints and then cracks Rua's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rua down.
Matthews takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Matthews misses with an uppercut.
Decent striking displayed by Matthews there.

Rua closes the distance and pushes Matthews back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua jumps guard but Matthews stands there with Rua around his waist. Rua gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Matthews breaks from the clinch.
Rua misses with a low kick.
Matthews throws a looping overhand right but Rua ducks down to avoid it.
Matthews connects with the punch.
Rua scores with a hook to the body. Matthews takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Matthews defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rua.
Raphael Matthews has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Rua.
Matthews looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Rua tries to clinch up.
Matthews takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Rua takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Rua is breathing heavily.
Rua will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A jab from Matthews misses.
Matthews throws a lazy right hand but Rua sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Matthews stuns Rua with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Matthews wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Rua takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Matthews pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Matthews connects with a good right hand that stumbles Rua. Rua circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Matthews throws a series of punches but Rua avoids them all with ease.
Rua takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Matthews tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Rua is able to avoid easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matthews fails to land with a series of punches.
A nice leg kick lands there from Matthews.
Matthews misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Raphael Matthews is winning the standup battle so far.
Rua misses with a wild body shot.
Rua is trying desperately to land a takedown but Matthews is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Rua.
Matthews misses with a few strikes there.
Matthews throws a body kick that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Matthews but Matthews pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Matthews, right into the meat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Matthews dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Rua with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Matthews to score with a decent uppercut.
Matthews throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rua sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Matthews misses with a looping right.
Matthews avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rua misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Matthews looks to land a left hand but Rua moved out of range nicely.
Matthews works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Rua shoots in for a takedown but Matthews shows good takedown defense.
Rua misses with a body kick.
Matthews displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rua throws out the jab.
Rua's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Matthews takes a swing at Rua's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua slips under a jab from Matthews.
Rua blocks a head kick by Matthews.
Matthews is looking to score with low kicks.
Rua ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Matthews moves away.

Rua scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Rua tries to advance to mount but Matthews denies him.
Rua takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Rua tries for a kimura but Matthews is defending well.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Matthews sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rua.
Matthews is trying to get back to full guard.
Matthews is working hard here to advance position.
Alex Rua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rua wants to take a breather but Matthews is having none of it.
Matthews on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Matthews tries to get out of the position.
Matthews wants to get back to his feet.
Matthews is looking for a sweep. Rua is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Matthews defending well though.
Rua throwing shots but Matthews is blocking nicely.
Rua has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rua not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Rua is working for a kimura but Matthews is defending it quite comfortably.
Matthews won't allow Rua to pass to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua with the ground and pound but Matthews uses the opportunity to regain guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rua accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rua advances position into side control!
Rua lands a nice forearm strike.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rua throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Rua in side control lands a decent elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Rua comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Matthews has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raphael Matthews!