PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Rua
vs
Sakuraba

185 cm
18
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

189 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mauricio Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kazushi Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Nard Betker and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rua shoots in but Sakuraba avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rua fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mauricio Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sakuraba pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sakuraba pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rua moves out of range of the strikes.
Rua fails with a takedown attempt.
Rua thows a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rua tries to clinch but Sakuraba moves away
and Sakuraba counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

It looks like Mauricio Rua has been cut.
Sakuraba displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rua.
Rua tries to clinch

and Sakuraba counters with a nice right hand that sends Rua toppling to the canvas! Rua scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Sakuraba finish him?!

Rua is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rua takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Oh Rua is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good work by Rua as he checks the leg kick.
Rua seems to have got his legs back now.
Sakuraba misses with a body shot.
Sakuraba throws a push kick but Rua slaps the foot to one side.
Kazushi Sakuraba is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sakuraba swings away with a body shot that misses

and Rua counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sakuraba won't be happy with that.
Sakuraba is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Rua asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Sakuraba sneaks out the side door and pushes Rua away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Sakuraba paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rua fails to land the takedown.
Sakuraba throws a leg kick but Rua moved away.
Rua is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sakuraba sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba takes a swing at Rua's ribcage but misses.
Sakuraba takes a swing at Rua's ribcage but misses.
Sakuraba throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sakuraba throws a head kick but Rua moves out of range.
Rua blocks a head kick by Sakuraba.
Rua moves out of range of the body kick from Sakuraba.
Rua shoots in but no luck this time.
Sakuraba swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Sakuraba throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sakuraba misses with a left hand

and Rua decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sakuraba's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sakuraba wants to get back to his feet but Rua is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Sakuraba uses the ropes to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Rua closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rua lands in his opponent's guard.
Rua won't allow Sakuraba to get back to his feet.
Rua slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Rua throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Sakuraba is pushing Rua's head away, looking to escape. Rua manages to hold on to the position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua is putting a hurting on Sakuraba here, landing some big shots from side control.
Sakuraba is trying to get back to his feet.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Sakuraba looks gassed!
Rua looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Sakuraba is avoiding damage well.
Rua is looking to take a break and control but Sakuraba is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sakuraba parries the strikes from Rua easily there. Rua is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Sakuraba to escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sakuraba stops Rua from passing to mount.
Rua tries to score with some ground and pound. Sakuraba controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kazushi Sakuraba will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mauricio Rua's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sakuraba throws a lazy uppercut

and Rua counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Rua prevents Sakuraba from standing back up.
Rua seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sakuraba does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sakuraba wants to get back to his feet.
Rua trying to control from half guard but Sakuraba is working away.
Rua passes the guard and advances to mount!
Rua trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sakuraba really wants to buck Rua off and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rua working for a submission but Sakuraba is keeping him at bay.

Rua working for a submission but Sakuraba is keeping him at bay.
Sakuraba is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Rua trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Poor strikes thrown by Rua there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
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.
Rua landing strikes, looking to finish!

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 lands a big elbow.
Mauricio Rua overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sakuraba is trying to get to the ropes to help him get back to his feet.
Sakuraba is breathing heavily.
Rua throws some wild stikes that Sakuraba manages to avoid easily.
You get the feeling that Sakuraba really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Rua throws some wild stikes that Sakuraba manages to avoid easily.
Sakuraba is bucking up trying to escape but Rua cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Rua thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Sakuraba really wants to buck Rua off and get back to his feet.
Rua raining down hammerfists from mount.
Sakuraba in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Sakuraba is trying to stand but he's just given Rua his back.
Sakuraba is trying to remain composed but Rua is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Rua's arms.
Sakuraba is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Sakuraba is keeping busy.
Sakuraba is trying to stand back up.
Rua looking to hold on to the position here but Sakuraba rolls and ends up regaining guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rua works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Sakuraba wants to stand back up but Rua manages to pass into side control.
Sakuraba is not content to let Rua control the position.
Rua is putting a hurting on Sakuraba here, landing some big shots from side control.
Sakuraba is trying to get back to his feet.
Rua trying to control the position but Sakuraba is working away.
Rua is chipping away with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Rua dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mauricio Rua's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Rua bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Sakuraba is trying to buck Rua off.
Sakuraba tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Sakuraba is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Sakuraba wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Rua.
Sakuraba wants to use the ropes to get back to his feet here.
Rua landing strikes from the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sakuraba is looking to escape.
Sakuraba takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rua breaks from Sakuraba's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Rua is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Sakuraba has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Sakuraba tries to buck Rua off but Rua takes his back!
Sakuraba avoids the strikes from Rua.
Rua lands punches and elbows.
Rua punches the canvas rather than the man.
Rua is landing with strikes. Sakuraba can't take much more of this.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua trying to control momentarily.
Sakuraba wants to get back to his feet.

Rua has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Sakuraba! Can he survive? No! He's out! Rua gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Mauricio Rua!