PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Slade Wilson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicholas Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Wilson
vs
Rua

194 cm
29
250 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

185 cm
26
275 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Slade Wilson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nicholas Rua!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wilson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rua manages to avoid it.
Wilson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rua was well out of range. Poor timing from Wilson.
Wilson ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Wilson stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rua.
Rua throws the kick towards the body but Wilson avoids it.
Rua pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Rua misses with a head kick.

Wilson clinches with his opponent.
Rua is trying to break the clinch but Wilson is controlling him.
Wilson 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.
Wilson pushes off an throws an elbow but Rua leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A short uppercut from Rua.
Wilson lands a knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua is trying to force a seperation but Wilson has the dominant position.
Rua misses with a body punch.
Rua tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Wilson's elbow.
Rua with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Wilson tries to throw a body punch but Rua avoids it by throwing Wilson back against the cage.
Wilson is leaning against Rua and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Wilson effectively controlling the action here.
Rua stalling in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Wilson.
Wilson pushes Rua back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Wilson lands a body shot.
Wilson throws an elbow but it's blocked.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Wilson just misses with a elbow thrown towards Rua's brow.
Rua blocking some punches.
Wilson has Rua pressed against the cage.
Wilson tries to land knees in the clinch but Rua avoids the damage to the body.
Wilson misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wilson lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Wilson is looking to take a break and control but Rua is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nice strikes from Wilson there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wilson thows a huge punch but Rua dodges it nicely.
Wilson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Wilson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Wilson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rua really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Wilson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Wilson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wilson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Wilson is trying to control the action in half guard but Rua is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rua taking some punishment here, with Wilson in his half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Wilson is working for a submission of some sort.
Rua is trying to maintain the position but Wilson is very close to passing his half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wilson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rua does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Slade Wilson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rua pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rua misses with a head kick.
Rua is looking to land body kicks.
Rua stuffs the takedown.
Rua pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Wilson avoids the body shot from Rua.
Rua throws a leg kick but Wilson checks it.
Wilson throws out a powerful jab.
Slade Wilson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rua looks to land a body kick but Wilson moved away.

Wilson has closed the distance and engaged Rua in a clinch.
Rua scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Slade Wilson has been cut.
With the fighters up against the cage, Wilson throws an elbow but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua misses with a punch on the inside.
Nice elbow from Wilson.

It looks like Nicholas Rua has been cut.
Wilson lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Rua.
A short body shot lands from Wilson as the two fighters clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Rua creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Rua misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rua tries to circle away but Wilson has him pinned against the cage.
Wilson swings wildly with an uppercut but Rua uses good head movement to avoid it.
Wilson keeps control of Rua as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilson has Rua pressed against the cage, preventing Rua from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Wilson lands a body punch.
Rua missing with knees to the body.
Rua blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Wilson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Ruas head.
Wilson is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Rua misses with a short punch on the inside.

Rua breaks from the clinch.
Rua slips a jab from Wilson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua misses with a head kick.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Wilson here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Wilson throws out a loose jab but Rua uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rua throws a front kick aimed at Wilson's knee but Wilson avoids it well.
Nicholas Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wilson just misses with a punch to the body.
Wilson lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Rua throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Wilson misses with a head kick.
Wilson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rua.
Wilson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rua sprawls well. Rua wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Wilson gets slowly back to his feet.
Rua 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.
Wilson blocks the body kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rua tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rua keeps control of Wilson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rua misses with a knee to the head.
Wilson tries to land knees in the clinch but Rua avoids the damage to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rua with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rua avoiding damage as Wilson throws knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Slade Wilson dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Wilson takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Rua tries to land a leg kick but Wilson saw it coming and moves away.
Wilson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rua.
Rua takes a swing at Wilson's ribcage but misses.

Wilson has Rua up against the cage in a clinch.
Rua is looking to break free of the clinch but Wilson has double underhooks.
Wilson dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Rua blocks an uppercut.
Rua prevents a body shot from Wilson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilson struggles to land a body shot inside as Rua controls his hands.
Rua lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A body shot lands from Wilson.
Wilson lands a nice uppercut.
Rua tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rua misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rua using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Wilson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Wilson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Wilson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nicholas Rua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua throws a punch but it's blocked by Wilson.
Rua throws a head punch that misses.
Wilson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Wilson is leaning against Rua and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rua manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Rua with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua blocks a body shot from Wilson.
Wilson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Wilson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rua fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rua tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Wilson is looking to clinch but Rua is avoiding it.
Wilson blocks the body kick.
Rua avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rua moves forwards but Wilson connects with a nice, crisp jab.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Wilson checks a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wilson wants to clinch up but Rua keeps it at a distance.
Wilson moves in looking to clinch but Rua pushes him off.
Wilson keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Wilson moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Rua tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Slade Wilson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nicholas Rua is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Wilson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rua circles away quickly and effectively.
Rua throws a body kick the misses
and Wilson counters with a nice body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Wilson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Rua quickly recovers to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wilson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Rua actively working from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Slade Wilson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Wilson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Slade Wilson!