PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Orlando Bloom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Rugg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matt Rugg is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Bloom
vs
Rugg

172 cm
23
140 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

174 cm
23
155 lbs
8 - 5 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Orlando Bloom!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matt Rugg!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Thiago Cunha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bloom shoots in and drives through. Rugg sprawls well.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bloom looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Rugg darts in and clinches Bloom up against the cage.
Bloom looking for a takedown.
A knee to the head by Rugg.

It looks like Orlando Bloom has been cut.
Rugg tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
The referee calls for Rugg to work.
Bloom goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rugg prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Orlando Bloom. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bloom makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Rugg tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Bloom fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Bloom on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Rugg takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Rugg tries a knee to the head but Bloom blocks it.
Bloom avoids the elbow strike from Rugg, against the cage.
Bloom lands with a light punch inside.
Rugg lands a nice knee to the body.
Rugg controlling the action here for a moment.
Bloom is trying to drag Rugg to the mat but Rugg just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rugg misses with a knee to the head.
Rugg misses with a knee strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bloom can't get the takedown.
Bloom tries to pull guard but Rugg won't allow it.
Rugg tries a knee to the head but Bloom blocks it.

Bloom gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Rugg is staying active underneath Bloom, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rugg is looking to escape.
Bloom is taking a breather. Rugg says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Bloom stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Rugg to get to his feet.
Rugg is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rugg throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Bloom throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bloom avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bloom tries to clinch but Rugg moves away
and Rugg counters with a slapping leg kick.
Bloom is breathing heavily.

Rugg closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rugg with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rugg tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Bloom lands a shoulder strike.
Bloom tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rugg smiles and moves away.
Bloom tries to clinch up

and Rugg counters by clinching up.
Bloom lands a left hand.
Rugg takes an elbow to the temple.
Rugg throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bloom blocks it with crossed arms.
Bloom lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rugg or not.
Rugg tries to land a knee to the head but Bloom blocks with his arms.
Rugg throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bloom blocks it with crossed arms.
Bloom tries to pull guard but Rugg won't allow it.
Bloom misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bloom throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A short body shot lands from Bloom as the two fighters clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Bloom scores with a nice short uppercut.
Bloom takes a knee right on the jaw!

Bloom's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bloom closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rugg counters by moving into the clinch.
Bloom gets through Rugg's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Rugg tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bloom avoids it.
Bloom lands an elbow just above Rugg 's eye.
Bloom throws an elbow that misses.
Rugg tries to land knees in the clinch but Bloom avoids the damage to the body.
Rugg tries to land knees in the clinch but Bloom avoids the damage to the body.
Bloom taking a breather.
Bloom lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rugg backwards.
Bloom unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rugg lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Rugg looking to stall.
Bloom tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Bloom lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rugg misses with a knee to the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Rugg misses with a knee to the head.
Rugg tries to land knees in the clinch but Bloom avoids the damage to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rugg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Bloom escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bloom tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Rugg manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bloom tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rugg paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rugg tries to clinch but Bloom is having none of it.
Matt Rugg is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bloom looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Rugg tries to keep at a distance but Bloom has taken the fight into the clinch.
Bloom can't get the takedown.
Bloom makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Rugg tries a knee to the head but Bloom blocks it.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Rugg creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Bloom is working Rugg over against the cage.
Bloom is trying to drag Rugg to the mat but Rugg just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rugg tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Bloom is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Rugg throws a knee to the head but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Matt Rugg will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Orlando Bloom's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rugg clinches with his opponent.

Bloom pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bloom tries to clinch up
and Rugg counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Bloom dives in and grabs Rugg's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rugg pushes down on Bloom's head and hops out.
Bloom closes the distance but Rugg moves to the side
and Rugg counters with a stiff right hand.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bloom looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rugg tries to clinch there but Bloom circles away.
Orlando Bloom is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bloom takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Rugg wants to clinch

and Bloom counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Bloom is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rugg gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rugg misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bloom.
Bloom tries to stall but Rugg uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rugg.
Rugg misses with a body punch.
A knee to the head by Rugg.
Rugg creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rugg with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rugg prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Orlando Bloom. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rugg misses with a knee to the head.
Bloom drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bloom is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rugg is keeping busy.

Bloom breaks from the clinch.
Rugg scores with a head kick. Bloom tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Bloom fails with the takedown.
Rugg is looking to clinch but Bloom is avoiding it.

Rugg moves into range and clinches up with Bloom.
Rugg blocks an uppercut.
Rugg tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Bloom struggles to land a body shot inside as Rugg controls his hands.
Bloom can't get the takedown.
Rugg tries a knee to the head but Bloom blocks it.
Rugg lands a left hand that snaps the head of Bloom backwards.
Rugg with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rugg obliges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rugg leaning against his opponent.
Bloom wants a takedown but no success here.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rugg obliges.
Rugg misses with a knee to the head.
Bloom takes a knee to the side of the body.
Rugg lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Rugg scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A short uppercut from Bloom.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Rugg connects with a knee to the head.
Bloom lands with a left to the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rugg just misses with a elbow thrown towards Bloom's brow.
Rugg tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rugg working Bloom over with knees to the body.
Bloom lands a shot to the body.
A short uppercut from Bloom.
Bloom looking to stall.
Rugg tries to throw a body punch but Bloom avoids it by throwing Rugg back against the cage.
Rugg blocks an uppercut.
Bloom is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rugg gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Bloom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rugg misses with a knee strike.
Rugg scores with a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Bloom.
Bloom throws a head punch that misses.
Rugg landing knees to the head.
Rugg misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bloom.
Bloom is working for takedown but Rugg is calmly controlling the position for now.
Bloom blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Bloom working hard to break the clinch.
Rugg trying to control the position but instead, Bloom has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rugg into the cage.
Bloom doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rugg just misses with a elbow thrown towards Bloom's brow.
Rugg tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Bloom changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rugg fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rugg looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Bloom wants to clinch up but Rugg keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rugg tries to clinch up but Bloom circles away and keeps his distance.

Rugg closes the distance and clinches.
Rugg pushes off an throws an elbow but Bloom leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Bloom fails to pull guard.
Bloom looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Bloom breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Rugg has closed the distance and engaged Bloom in a clinch.
Rugg lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Bloom jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rugg walks away with a smile on his face. Bloom gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rugg tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Bloom manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rugg tries to clinch but Bloom is having none of it.
Bloom feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rugg's calf.

Rugg has closed the distance and engaged Bloom in a clinch.

Bloom breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Rugg is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bloom circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bloom defending well as Rugg loads up on a big left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Rugg showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Orlando Bloom's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Bloom gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rugg tries to land knees in the clinch but Bloom avoids the damage to the body.
Rugg blocking some punches.
Rugg trying to stall but Bloom improves his position.
Rugg prevents the takedown attempt.
Bloom with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Bloom lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rugg tries a knee to the head but Bloom blocks it.
Bloom taking a breather.
Bloom avoiding damage as Rugg throws knees to the body.
Rugg tries to stall but Bloom uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Bloom lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Rugg landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Rugg lands a knee to the head.
Bloom can't get the takedown.
Rugg tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bloom jumps guard but Rugg stands there with Bloom around his waist. Bloom gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Orlando Bloom. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rugg looking to throw knees to the head but Bloom is blocking nicely.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bloom tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rugg just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rugg throws a knee to the head but misses.
Bloom lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rugg or not.
Bloom dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Rugg fails to land.
Rugg with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rugg tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Bloom lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rugg backwards.
Rugg with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Still in the clinch, Bloom scores with a nice short uppercut.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rugg as Bloom tries to tie him up.
Bloom tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rugg smiles and moves away.
Rugg fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rugg throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rugg tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Bloom manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bloom misses with a low kick.
Bloom moves to clinch but Rugg breaks away

and Rugg counters by clinching up.

Bloom manages to break the clinch.
Rugg stuffs the takedown attempt from Bloom. Bloom gets slowly back to his feet.

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.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Rugg, right into the meat.
Rugg scores with a crisp jab that stopped Bloom in his tracks.

Rugg instigates a clinch.
Bloom is leaning against Rugg and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Bloom tries to score a body lock takedown but Rugg shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Rugg tries to land a knee to the head but Bloom blocks with his arms.
Rugg misses with a knee strike.
Rugg avoiding damage as Bloom throws knees to the body.
Bloom is trying to force a seperation but Rugg has the dominant position.
Rugg throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rugg throws a knee to the head but misses.
Bloom slowing the pace effectively.
Matt Rugg seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Bloom is trying to drag Rugg to the mat but Rugg just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rugg using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Bloom has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A short uppercut from Bloom.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Rugg tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bloom avoids it.
Bloom wants a takedown but no success here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rugg lands a damaging elbow.
Rugg tries to land knees in the clinch but Bloom avoids the damage to the body.
Bloom lands with a light punch inside.

Bloom breaks the clinch.
Rugg tries a head kick but it misses.
Bloom closes the distance looking to clinch
and Rugg counters with a thumping low kick.
Rugg avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bloom misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rugg with a hook.
Bloom is looking to clinch.
Bloom avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Rugg moves into range and clinches up with Bloom.
Bloom lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rugg misses with an elbow strike.
A right hook to the body lands for Rugg.
A frustrated look appears on Bloom's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rugg is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bloom is defending well for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rugg tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rugg working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Rugg tries to land knees in the clinch but Bloom avoids the damage to the body.

Bloom breaks the clinch.
Bloom wants to clinch but Rugg slips to the side
and Rugg counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Bloom is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Bloom has a takedown stuffed.
Rugg wants to clinch but Bloom slips to the side

and Bloom holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rugg blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rugg lands with a left to the head.
Knees to the body from Rugg.
Rugg managing to block the knees to the body from Bloom.
Rugg looking to throw knees to the head but Bloom is blocking nicely.
Rugg trying to stall but Bloom improves his position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bloom.
Bloom tries to pull guard but Rugg holds him up against the cage and eventually Bloom drops back down to his feet.
Bloom tries to break free but Rugg pushes him back against the cage.
Bloom swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rugg taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A short uppercut from Bloom.
Orlando Bloom has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matt Rugg is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bloom misses with an elbow strike.
Rugg looking to throw knees to the head but Bloom is blocking nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Rugg comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rugg winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Rugg!