PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Keenan Lazzar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Lazzar
vs
Rua

188 cm
22
210 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

187 cm
28
207 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Keenan Lazzar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mauricio Rua!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Gwen Towbar and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lazzar looks to score with a jab to the body but Rua is just out of range.
Rua on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

It looks like Mauricio Rua has been cut.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lazzar swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rua takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Lazzar doesn't manage to clinch there - Rua circles away.
Lazzar scores with a nice head shot.
Keenan Lazzar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lazzar thows a body shot but no joy.
Rua takes one on the chin but seems OK.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A head kick misses from Lazzar.
Lazzar closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rua circles away.
Rua keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lazzar.
Lazzar checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Lazzar pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rua tries to clinch up.
Lazzar moves out of range of the body kick from Rua.
Lazzar throws a big shot that misses.
Rua ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lazzar decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Lazzar is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Lazzar is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rua defends it well.

Lazzar is looking for a kimura but Rua is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Lazzar to get the leverage.
Rua really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lazzar. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rua avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lazzar.

Rua is defending against the submission attempts here by Lazzar.
Lazzar perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lazzar trying to pass the guard but Rua defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua is trying to get back to full guard.
Lazzar controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lazzar throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rua can do anything to dispel that myth.

Lazzar is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rua is trying to maintain the position but Lazzar is very close to passing his half guard.

Lazzar escapes and gets back to his feet.
A left lands for Lazzar.
Lazzar fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rua avoids it really well and circles away.
Rua is looking to chop away at Lazzar's legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lazzar just misses with a punch to the body.
Mauricio Rua is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rua is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Lazzar shoots in for a double leg but Rua sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keenan Lazzar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fighters circling - Lazzar throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A jab from Lazzar does it's job there.
Lazzar misses with a hook. Rua ducked under it nicely.
Rua misses with a body kick.
Lazzar throws a sloppy head kick and Rua moves out of range easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rua.
Lazzar pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rua staying out of range there.
Lazzar changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rua tries to avoid it but Lazzar manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rua to the ground. Rua escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keenan Lazzar dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mauricio Rua's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Lazzar misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Rua counters with a low kick, right behind Lazzar 's knee.
Rua throws the kick towards the body but Lazzar avoids it.
Rua avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rua's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Rua duly obliges.

It looks like Keenan Lazzar has been cut.
Lazzar takes a swing at Rua's ribcage but misses.
Lazzar throws a right hand that Rua ducks under and follows up with a left that Rua also avoids with ease.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A kick lands to the mid section there for Rua.
Lazzar missing with a left hand there. Rua was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rua misses with an uppercut. Lazzar saw that one coming.
Rua moves in looking to clinch but Lazzar pushes him off.
Rua cracks Lazzar with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Rua throws a hook but Lazzar blocks it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lazzar throws a jab when Rua was well out of range.
Lazzar pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rua throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lazzar on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rua. Rua obviously looking to wear him down.
Keenan Lazzar is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rua.
A solid body kick from Rua.
Rua dips to his left and cracks Lazzar with an uppercut!
Rua throws a front kick that sends Lazzar stumbling back into the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rua with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
No joy there for Rua, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rua moves in looking to clinch but Lazzar pushes him off.
Lazzar misses with a lunging right hand
and Rua counters with a nice uppercut.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rua looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rua fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Lazzar has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Lazzar tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua cracks the inside of Lazzar's front leg.
Rua uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Rua slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Rua changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Rua lands a nice leg kick that just misses Lazzar's sensitive parts.
Rua throws a right and a left that Lazzar avoids nicely.
Rua explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Rua lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Rua lets loose with a powerful body kick. Lazzar will feel that in the morning.
Rua with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Lazzar walks into a straight right hand from Rua.
A lazy left from Rua finds it's target.
Rua cracks the inside of Lazzar's front leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Rua throws a low kick but Lazzar moves out of range easily.
Nice cross by Rua.
Lazzar falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rua counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Lazzar swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lazzar looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rua ducks under a wild hook from Lazzar.
Rua's corner calls for a 1-2. Rua obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Rua thumps Lazzar with a low kick.
Lazzar is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Lazzar has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Rua.
Lazzar steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Rua. That one must have hurt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lazzar takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lazzar chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rua can pounce on him.
Rua with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Rua fakes the leg kick and cracks Lazzar in the body.
Rua scores with a leg kick.
Lazzar walks forward, straight into a front kick from Rua.
Lazzar closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rua.
Lazzar misses with a hook.
Lazzar shoots for a double leg takedown but Rua sprawls well. He's pushed Lazzar's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rua thumps Lazzar with a low kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lazzar gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Rua scores with a jab. Lazzar acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Rua lands a nice looking kick to the body. Lazzar takes a step back to recover.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Rua showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Rua buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Rua pushes Lazzar away with a front kick.
Lazzar is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lazzar will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Rua lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Rua connects with a solid leg kick.

Rua moves into the clinch.
Lazzar misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rua lands a nice knee to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rua is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Lazzar tries to circle away but Rua has him pinned against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lazzar avoiding damage as Rua throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lazzar.
Rua misses with a knee strike.
Lazzar wants to get back to striking at distance but Rua won't allow it.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rua.
Rua can't find room to land a body shot as Lazzar controls the action.
Lazzar is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rua pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Rua breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rua fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Lazzar has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rua wants to clinch.
Rua wants to clinch.
Mauricio Rua seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lazzar has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Rua.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lazzar steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Rua. That one must have hurt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lazzar takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Nice uppercut lands for Rua. That snapped Lazzar's head back.
A big left from Lazzar misses.
A good leg kick by Rua.
Rua has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rua lands with a cross.
Jab, jab by Rua - just one landing.
Rua scores with a nice strike.
Rua fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Lazzar.
Nice cross by Rua.
Rua lands a leg kick that knocks Lazzar off balance momentarily.
Rua connects with a solid leg kick.
Rua scores with the left hand. Lazzar knows he should have avoided that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua scores with a nice right hand.
Lazzar fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Rua on the side of the head.
Lazzar throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rua pushes Lazzar away with a front kick.
Rua stuns Lazzar with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Nice uppercut there from Rua.
Rua doesn't manage to clinch there - Lazzar circles away.
Lazzar shoots in for a takedown but Rua shows good takedown defense.
Lazzar has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Rua.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rua scores with a nice strike.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch but Lazzar swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rua connects with a leg kick. Lazzar looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua scoring well with a low kick there.
An inside leg kick lands from Rua.
Lazzar looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Rua throws out a powerful jab.
Rua lands with a thumping leg kick.
Lazzar walks into a stiff left hand from Rua.
Rua cracks Lazzar with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Rua avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rua bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
A good leg kick by Rua.
Lazzar walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rua lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Lazzar pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rua lands a really nice looking cross but Lazzar seems unphased.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mauricio Rua comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rua has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 26:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 26:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 26:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mauricio Rua!