PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eldan Yeger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cain Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Yeger
vs
Rua

178 cm
21
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Eldan Yeger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cain Rua!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Felipe Paraventi and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cain Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch but Yeger swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Yeger fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Rua to the ground. Yeger is now in Rua's guard.
Yeger working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rua wants to stand and escape but Yeger is having none of it.
Yeger has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rua is proving hard to escape from.
Yeger content to stall in guard here.
Yeger's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Yeger has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Eldan Yeger wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Rua wants to clinch but Yeger slips to the side

and Yeger counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rua won't be happy with that.
Yeger tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Yeger wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rua keeps working.
Rua is trying to control Yeger's posture but Yeger avoids it.
Yeger tries to move to mount but Rua blocks the move with his legs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Yeger decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Rua tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yeger gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Rua ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Rua no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Yeger prevents Rua from getting back to his feet.
Rua has his hands on Yeger's head, controlling the position.
Rua looking to control.
Yeger has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Yeger trying to control but Rua is working from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rua misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Yeger has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Rua.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yeger drives through and clinches with Rua against the cage.

Yeger breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rua tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Yeger manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Yeger shoots for a double leg takedown but Rua sprawls well. He's pushed Yeger's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Rua darts in and clinches Yeger up against the cage.
Rua tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rua looks gassed!
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rua obliges.
Rua tries to break free but Yeger pushes him back against the cage.

Yeger breaks from the clinch.
Rua fails with a takedown attempt.
Eldan Yeger has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cain Rua.
Rua steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Yeger. That one must have hurt.
Yeger fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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 left and a right from Yeger both land. Nice combination.

Yeger moves into the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Yeger as Rua tries to tie him up.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Yeger gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Yeger sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Nice strikes from Yeger there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua pushes Yeger off looking to stand but Yeger dives back in and keeps control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rua swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Yeger counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Yeger is trying to maintain a safe position but Rua gets an underhook and turns Yeger into the cage.

Yeger breaks the clinch.
Rua tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rua looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Yeger is fending him off so far but Rua persists. Nope, Yeger circles away and we're back to standing.
Yeger works over Rua's head and body with a nice combination.
Yeger keeps the fight on the outside.
Rua doesn't manage to clinch there - Yeger circles away.
Sloppy strikes from Yeger. Those never looked like landing.
Rua closes the distance but Yeger moves to the side
and Yeger counters with a left and a right that stings Rua.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up but Yeger swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rua is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yeger tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Yeger avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Yeger is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rua sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yeger misses with a low kick.
Yeger tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rua was well out of range. Poor timing from Yeger.
Rua is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rua dives in and grabs Yeger's left leg, looking for a takedown. Yeger pushes down on Rua's head and hops out.

Yeger rushes Rua and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rua is trying to break the clinch but Yeger is controlling him.

Yeger pulls guard effortlessly.
Yeger utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Rua drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rua jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rua wants to pass the guard but Yeger is keeping the position.

Yeger working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rua doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rua manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua advances to half guard.
Eldan Yeger overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Rua is trying to work for a kimura but Yeger is defending well.
Rua throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Yeger trying to control from the bottom.
Yeger is trying to get back to full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rua landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua is pressing down on Yeger's thigh, looking to free his foot. Yeger is holding on for now.

Rua is trying to work for a kimura but Yeger is defending well.
Yeger keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Yeger is controlling Rua's trapped leg to prevent Rua from advancing to side control.
Rua is looking to take a break and control but Yeger is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Yeger avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rua.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua is keen to just control but Yeger is a slippery customer.
Yeger tries to get to full guard but Rua has control of the leg.

Rua is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rua scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Rua looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Yeger regains full guard. Nicely done.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua pushes down on Yeger's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Yeger tries to kick Rua off but Rua keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Eldan Yeger will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Yeger shoots for a double leg takedown but Rua sprawls well. He's pushed Yeger's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Yeger shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rua pinned against the cage. Rua gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rua looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Eldan Yeger is winning the standup battle so far.
Rua takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Yeger tries to close the distance and clinch but Rua swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Eldan Yeger is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rua tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Yeger avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rua fails in his attempt to clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yeger will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eldan Yeger. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rua moves into the clinch.
Rua unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Yeger jumps into guard, dragging Rua to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rua advances to half guard.
Yeger taking some punishment here, with Rua in his half guard.
Rua wants to pass the guard but Yeger is defending well.
Rua is trying to control the action in half guard but Yeger is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Yeger tries to roll over but Rua keeps him under control.
Rua sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Rua looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Yeger with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua is trying to control the action in half guard but Yeger is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Cain Rua hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Yeger circles away from the clinch attempt
and Yeger counters with a thumping low kick.
Rua has a takedown stuffed.

Yeger fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rua sprawls well initially but Yeger persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rua is trying to stand.
Rua won't allow Yeger to pass to mount.
Rua trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yeger wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rua keeps working.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Cain Rua hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Rua doesn't manage to clinch there - Yeger circles away.
Rua fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rua is looking to clinch.
Rua defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Yeger.

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

Rua jumps guard.
Rua has his hands on Yeger's head, controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cain Rua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yeger stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rua swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Eldan Yeger is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Yeger drives through with a takedown into Rua's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Cain Rua.
Well Yeger 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Eldan Yeger!