PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sydney Bussel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shogun Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Bussel
vs
Rua

175 cm
19
135 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

169 cm
18
130 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Fossington & Blythe: Gentlemen's Fight Attire
Bloodsport Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Sydney Bussel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Shogun Rua!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Glass and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua misses with a looping left.
Bussel checks a low kick from Rua.
Rua thows a leg kick but Bussel checks it

and Bussel counters by clinching up.
Bussel keeps control of Rua as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Rua's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Bussel with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rua takes a knee right on the jaw!
Rua wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bussel has him pressed against the cage.
Bussel blocks an elbow strike from Rua.
Rua throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Bussel leaning against his opponent.
Bussel tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rua wants to get back to striking at distance but Bussel won't allow it.
Rua looking to stall.
Rua is trying to break the clinch but Bussel is controlling him.
Rua is looking to break free of the clinch but Bussel has double underhooks.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Bussel obliges.
Rua wants to break free but Bussel has control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Bussel controlling the action here for a moment.

Bussel breaks the clinch.
Rua looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Bussel swats away the attempt to clinch by Rua.
Rua throws the left hand but Bussel avoids the punch easily.
Shogun Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Bussel forces Rua back against the cage and clinches.
Bussel blocks an elbow strike.
Bussel throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rua blocks it with crossed arms.
Bussel keeps control of Rua as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rua being controlled against the cage.
Bussel tries to land a knee to the head but Rua blocks with his arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bussel lands an elbow that stopped Rua in his tracks for a moment.
Rua wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Bussel prevents Rua from breaking the clinch.
Rua looking to throw knees to the head but Bussel is blocking nicely.
Bussel dodges an elbow strike from Rua.
Bussel pressing his opponent against the cage.
Rua wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Bussel manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Bussel with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Bussel keeps control of Rua as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rua wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bussel has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua is trying to break the clinch but Bussel has him pressed against the cage.
Bussel prevents Rua from breaking the clinch.
Rua is looking to control Bussel's arms but Bussel gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rua has his back to the cage.
Bussel scores with a knee to the head.
Rua tries to break the clinch but Bussel is controlling the position.
Bussel looking to throw knees to the head but Rua is blocking nicely.
Rua wants to get back to striking at distance but Bussel won't allow it.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Rua is trying to break the clinch but Bussel has him pressed against the cage.
Rua wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Bussel stalling.

Bussel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bussel tries to clinch but Rua is having none of it.
Rua throws a leg kick that is checked
and Bussel makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rua looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua tries to circle away but Bussel has him pinned against the cage.
Rua has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rua is trying to break the clinch but Bussel is controlling him.
Bussel landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Bussel unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Rua looks gassed!

Bussel pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bussel throws the left hand but Rua avoids the punch easily.

Bussel gets a clinch.
Rua misses with an elbow over the top.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Bussel's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bussel lands a leg kick that knocks Rua off balance momentarily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bussel fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Bussel throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bussel blocks a jab.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch but Bussel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sydney Bussel will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bussel rushes Rua and presses him up against the cage.
Bussel has Rua pressed against the cage, preventing Rua from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Bussel landing knees to the body.
Rua wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rua working hard to break the clinch.
Rua wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Bussel with a knee to the head.
Bussel looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Bussel looking to throw knees to the head but Rua is blocking nicely.
Rua has had enough of the clinch but Bussel keeps him there for the moment.

Bussel pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rua showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bussel.
Rua throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Rua fails to land with a series of punches.

Bussel closes the distance and pushes Rua back into the cage.
Bussel with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Bussel landing knees to the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Bussel working Rua over with knees to the body.
Rua wants to break free but Bussel has control.
Rua is trying to break the clinch but Bussel is controlling him.

Bussel pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Bussel drives through and clinches with Rua against the cage.
Rua throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bussel blocks it with crossed arms.
Sydney Bussel has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Rua is breathing heavily.
Rua is trying to break the clinch but Bussel is controlling him.
Bussel really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Bussel prevents Rua from breaking the clinch.
Rua looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rua wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rua working hard to break the clinch.
Rua can't break the clinch.

Bussel's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Bussel counters with a head kick.

Rua is rocked!
Bussel lands a front kick.
Rua is still on wobbly legs! Can Bussel finish him?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Bussel gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rua takes a knee to the side of the body.
Rua seems to have recovered his senses.
Rua is looking to break free of the clinch but Bussel has double underhooks.
Bussel lands a knee to the head.
Bussel connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rua's face.

Bussel breaks the clinch.

Bussel gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rua is trying to stall.
Bussel with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Bussel stalling against the cage.
Bussel has Rua pressed against the cage, preventing Rua from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bussel stalling against the cage.
Bussel lands a nice knee to the body.

Bussel's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bussel thows a body kick. Rua tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Bussel throws a nice looking combination but Rua bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Bussel instigates a clinch.
Bussel connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rua's face.
The referee calls for Bussel to work.

Bussel's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rua stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Bussel.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bussel will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bussel lands with a hook. Rua tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Bussel is looking to clinch.

Bussel closes the distance and pushes Rua back into the cage.
Bussel unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rua lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bussel connects with a knee to the head.
Rua letting Bussel take a breather here.
Bussel connects with a knee to the head.
Bussel keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rua's efforts to push away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bussel scores with a knee to the head.
Rua looking to stall.
Rua has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sydney Bussel dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rua throws a leg kick that is checked

and Bussel counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Rua looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Rua can't break the clinch.
Bussel slows down the pace here.

Bussel breaks from the clinch.
Rua looks to land a combination but Bussel avoids it well.
Rua throws a leg kick

and Bussel moves into the clinch.
Bussel unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Rua has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rua tries to break the clinch but Bussel is controlling the position.
Bussel unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rua lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Bussel unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rua lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Rua takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rua throws an elbow but it misses.
Rua letting Bussel take a breather here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bussel working Rua over with knees to the body.
Rua is trying to force a seperation but Bussel has the dominant position.
Rua trying to stall but Bussel improves his position.
A knee to the head by Bussel.
Bussel scores with a knee to the head.
Rua working hard to break the clinch.
Rua wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Rua throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bussel blocks it with crossed arms.
Bussel dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Bussel lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bussel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bussel avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bussel avoids a punch combination nicely.

Bussel pushes Rua up against the cage in a clinch.
Bussel landing knees to the head.

Bussel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A head kick from Bussel lands but Rua takes it in his stride.
Bussel misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rua throws a leg kick that is checked
and Bussel counters with an outside leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Bussel moves into the clinch successfully.

Bussel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Bussel moves into the clinch.

Bussel breaks from the clinch.
Sydney Bussel is winning the standup battle so far.
Rua throws a right hand that Bussel ducks under and follows up with a left that Bussel also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bussel clinches.
Bussel landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Bussel escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Bussel fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rua, pushing him back against the cage.
Bussel landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Bussel has Rua pushed against the cage.
Bussel working Rua over with knees to the body.
Bussel working Rua over with knees to the body.
Bussel using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Bussel breaks from the clinch.
Bussel swinging wildly here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bussel fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A low kick from Rua misses

and Bussel counters by clinching up.
Bussel is pushing Rua up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Rua is trying to break free.

Bussel's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Bussel moves into range and clinches up with Rua.
Bussel crunches a lovely knee into Rua's ribcage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua takes a knee right on the jaw!
Bussel lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Bussel avoids a wild elbow strike from Rua.
Shogun Rua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Bussel's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sydney Bussel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bussel 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sydney Bussel!