PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bareris Anskuld (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marco Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Rua's choice of entrance music: IF YOU WANT BLOOD YOU GOT IT!!!. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Marco Rua was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Anskuld
vs
Rua

185 cm
22
220 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

185 cm
23
216 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Good kicks
Solid chin

Rivers Edge Nutrition

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 Rio de Janeiro, Bareris Anskuld!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marco Rua!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Paulo Santos and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anskuld tries to clinch

and Rua counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rua postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Anskuld seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Rua throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Anskuld being controlled here, momentarily.
Anskuld trying to control the position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Anskuld holds on and takes a little breather.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Anskuld trying to keep a closed guard but Rua is proving a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Bareris Anskuld wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Anskuld throws an off balance right hand

and Rua counters with a single leg into guard. Anskuld didn't expect that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rua throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rua looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua looking to pass the guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Anskuld is on top in guard.

Anskuld got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rua has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Anskuld has managed to get both his arms back between Rua's legs - danger averted.
Anskuld preventing the sweep.
Anskuld trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Rua escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Anskuld gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rua is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Anskuld trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Rua looking for a guillotine here but Anskuld defends easily.
Anskuld trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Anskuld thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Anskuld wants to pass the guard but Rua is keeping the position.
Rua can't keep his opponent in guard - Anskuld advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Anskuld wants to free his trapped foot but Rua is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Anskuld is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rua doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Anskuld.
Rua blocking the ground and pound attempt from Anskuld.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rua is trying to maintain the position but Anskuld is very close to passing his half guard.
Rua works his way to full guard. Good work.

Rua is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Rua has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Anskuld can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Rua is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Anskuld on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Rua ducks under a wild hook from Anskuld.
Bareris Anskuld is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rua lands a jab.
Anskuld tries to clinch but Rua moves away

and Rua counters with a shoot takedown. Anskuld fights it but they end up in guard.
Anskuld is trying to keep Rua in close.
Anskuld is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rua is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Rua lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rua chips away with some ground and pound.
Rua trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rua throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Anskuld works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rua wants to control from the top but Anskuld keeps moving.
Anskuld wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Anskuld is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Anskuld is controlling Rua's posture.
Rua pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Anskuld is keeping the position for now.
Anskuld wants to sweep here but Rua controlling him for the moment.
Rua's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Marco Rua wasn't active enough on the ground.
Anskuld stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rua.

Rua looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Anskuld preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Anskuld swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rua throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rua wants to control from the top but Anskuld keeps moving.
Anskuld is trying to keep Rua in close.
Anskuld trying to control the position here.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Rua trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rua lands a leg kick that knocks Anskuld off balance momentarily.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rua.
Donk. Rua catches Anskuld right on the button with a cross.
Anskuld shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rua counters with a thumping low kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rua throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Anskuld's head.

It looks like Bareris Anskuld has been cut.
Rua connects with a solid leg kick.
Anskuld closes the distance but Rua moves to the side

and Rua counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Anskuld!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rua scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Anskuld?
Rua lands a heavy elbow.

Anskuld is rocked!
Rua postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Anskuld in real trouble here! The ref calls for Anskuld to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:03 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Marco Rua!