PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ivan Rodriguez told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Rua
vs
Rodriguez

185 cm
19
205 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

188 cm
25
205 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

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 Amsterdam, Mauricio Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ivan Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Paul Aken and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua misses with a wild combination.
Rodriguez bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Rua's head backwards.
Rodriguez dodges the punch combination from Rua.
Rodriguez throws a big shot that misses.
Rua tries for a takedown but Rodriguez circles away easily

and Rodriguez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rua works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rodriguez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rua throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Rodriguez 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.
Rodriguez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
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.
Rodriguez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rua has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Rua avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua is trying to control the position but Rodriguez postures up.
Rua is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rodriguez is controlling him.
Rua trying to keep a closed guard but Rodriguez is proving a slippery customer.
Rodriguez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mauricio Rua just wasn't active enough.
Rua walks forward, straight into a front kick from Rodriguez.

Rua shoots in and bounces Rodriguez off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
Rua trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rodriguez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua controlling from the top position.
Rodriguez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rua is controlling him.
Rua throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rua is in close to Rodriguez's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rua trying to control but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.
Rua engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rodriguez keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mauricio Rua wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Rua fails with the takedown
and Rodriguez counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Rua is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Rodriguez lands a head kick. Rua smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Rodriguez throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Rodriguez looks gassed!
Rua fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mauricio Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodriguez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua with a poor takedown

and Rodriguez counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rua won't be happy with that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rua throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Rua struggling a bit here.
Rua gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Rua keeps control of the position for the meantime.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rua.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A punch combination from Rua misses.
Rua changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rodriguez tries to avoid it but Rua manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rodriguez to the ground. Rodriguez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Rodriguez gets tackled into the ropes by Rua. Rua maintains the clinch.

Rodriguez breaks from the clinch.
Rodriguez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Rua closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Rua lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rodriguez backwards.
Rodriguez lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Rodriguez wants to get back to striking at distance but Rua won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodriguez throws a knee to the head but misses.

Rua has hold of one of Rodriguez's legs. Rodriguez is fighting the takedown attempt but Rua gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Rua stands up and waves to Rodriguez to follow him.
Rodriguez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rua.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rodriguez is breathing heavily.
Rua rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rodriguez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rodriguez throws a head kick that misses.

Rua has closed the distance and engaged Rodriguez in a clinch.

Rodriguez breaks the clinch.

Rua shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Rodriguez is squirming around, avoiding Rua's attempts to control the action.
The referee warns Rodriguez that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Rua controlling the pace for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua lands a heavy elbow.
Rua breaks from Rodriguez's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Rua wants to control the pace but Rodriguez is squirming around nicely.
Rua landing strikes, looking to finish!
Rua landing shots from mount.

It looks like Ivan Rodriguez has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rua wants to control the pace but Rodriguez is squirming around nicely.
Rua with a couple of short strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is trying to stand up.
Rua dominating with strikes here.
Rua landing strikes, looking to finish!
Rua controlling the pace for now.
Rua trying to control but Rodriguez is having none of it.
Rua working the ground and pound effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua looking to control but Rodriguez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rua is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Rodriguez to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Rodriguez shrugs it off.
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 Ivan Rodriguez's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rua shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rodriguez but Rodriguez pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Rua closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rodriguez to the mat! Rodriguez manages to get full guard.
Rua trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rua controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rua trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rua wants to control from the top but Rodriguez keeps moving.
Rodriguez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Rua gets to his feet. Rodriguez looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is looking to land body kicks.
Mauricio Rua is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rodriguez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rodriguez wants it to stay on the feet.
Rua shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mauricio Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rua shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rodriguez counters with an outside leg kick.
Rodriguez swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rua counters with a one-two to the body.

Rua instigates a clinch.
Rua has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Rodriguez pulls Rua into guard.
Rodriguez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Rua thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rua passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Rodriguez!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Rua trying to control but Rodriguez is having none of it.
Rua controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua with the ground and pound from mount.
Rodriguez is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Rua postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Rodriguez looks a forlorn figure.
Rua controlling the pace for now.
Rua postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Rodriguez looks a forlorn figure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rua is working to isolate an arm here. It's a telegraphed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Rua extends the arm and Rodriguez is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mauricio Rua!