PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alberto Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gavin Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rua has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Rua
vs
Thomas

183 cm
21
174 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

196 cm
22
175 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alberto Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gavin Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Frank Dennis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Thomas.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch but Rua swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Thomas's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Thomas duly obliges.
Thomas is looking to clinch.
Thomas tries to clinch but Rua moves out of range.
Thomas lands a jab-cross combination.
Thomas doesn't manage to clinch there - Rua circles away.
Rua swats away the attempt to clinch by Thomas.
Rua fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rua is breathing heavily.
Thomas wants to clinch

and Rua counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Thomas kicks off Rua and gets to his feet.

Thomas takes the fight into the clinch.
Thomas gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Rua on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rua's defenses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Thomas.
Rua tries to pull guard but Thomas won't allow it.
Thomas lands a damaging elbow.
Rua avoiding damage as Thomas throws knees to the body.
Thomas unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Thomas lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Rua takes an elbow to the forehead.
Nice elbow from Thomas.
Rua takes an elbow to the forehead.
Rua tries to pull guard but Thomas won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alberto Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thomas creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rua's defenses.
Nice elbow from Thomas.
Thomas is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
A frustrated look appears on Thomas's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rua managing to block the knees to the body from Thomas.
Thomas lands an elbow just above Rua 's eye.
Rua avoids a wild elbow strike from Thomas.
Rua managing to block the knees to the body from Thomas.
Thomas tries to break free but Rua pushes him back against the cage.
Rua misses with a knee to the head.
Rua avoids the elbow strike from Thomas, against the cage.
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rua blocks an elbow strike.
Thomas lands an elbow inside.
Rua with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas pushes off an throws an elbow but Rua leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Rua working aggressively here.
Thomas throws an elbow but it misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thomas is trying to push Rua away but Rua has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Rua blocks an elbow strike.
Rua is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Thomas lands an elbow just above Rua 's eye.
Rua tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Thomas lands an elbow inside that Rua shrugs off.
Thomas is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rua is defending well for now.
Rua has Thomas pressed against the cage, preventing Thomas from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rua putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Thomas in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Thomas avoids a wild elbow strike from Rua.
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but Thomas blocks with his arms.
Thomas throws an elbow that misses.
Rua tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Thomas smiles and moves away.
Thomas lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua shoots in for a double leg but Thomas sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Thomas moves in looking to clinch but Rua pushes him off.
Thomas lands a two punch combo.
Thomas throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rua.
Thomas is looking to clinch.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rua swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Thomas forces Rua back against the cage and clinches.
Rua misses with a knee strike.
Thomas creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rua's defenses.
Rua using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Thomas has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thomas lands a damaging elbow.

Rua has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Thomas uses from the top position.

Rua has his feet on Thomas's thighs here. He's pushed Thomas off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Thomas screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:03 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Alberto Rua!