PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rickson Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Verbiah Sozefay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rua comes into the arena with drop the world blaring out of the sound system. Sozefay has chosen Eye of the Tiger as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Verbiah Sozefay has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Rickson Rua's chin.

Rua
vs
Sozefay

185 cm
26
200 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

172 cm
26
166 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Knockout Nutrition
Knockout Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rickson Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Verbiah Sozefay!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Sergei Dronov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sozefay looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rua jabs Sozefay right on the nose. Sozefay blinks but takes it well.
Sozefay misses with a two punch combination.

Rua scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Sozefay regains half guard, as Rua was trying to land strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua thows a huge punch but Sozefay dodges it nicely.
Sozefay tries to kick Rua off but Rua keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Sozefay really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rua. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sozefay avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rua.
Rua thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rua tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sozefay knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Rua missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rua has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sozefay wants to improve his position but Rua is controlling well.
Rua throwing shots but Sozefay is blocking nicely.

Rua is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Sozefay to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Rua seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Rua landing some decent shots from guard.
Rua throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua with a flurry of punches that miss.

Rua drops back looking for a leg! Sozefay is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sozefay manages to kick Rua off! Rua jumps back into Sozefay's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rua's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sozefay keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.
Rua in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sozefay working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rua.
Rua working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sozefay's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rua sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua won't allow Sozefay to sweep him here.
Rua trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sozefay utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sozefay preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rua throws a big elbow that misses.
Rua sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Sozefay's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sozefay can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rua thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sozefay's head.
Sozefay on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Sozefay is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rua scores with a couple of nice shots.
Rua drops an elbow to the side of Sozefay's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rua connects with a nice short shot to Sozefay's temple.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sozefay is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rua looks to land a strike but Sozefay avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Sozefay keeping full guard, as Rua tries to pass.
Sozefay preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rua's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rua thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Rua slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rickson Rua dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sozefay throws an off balance right hand

and Rua counters with a takedown into side control.
Rua in side control lands a decent elbow.
Rua tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Rua throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Rua throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Rickson Rua overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sozefay avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Rua.
Rua in side control, throwing shots but Sozefay defends.
Rua working the ground and pound.
Sozefay tries to bench press Rua off him but Rua keeps the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Rua is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sozefay knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Rua lands an elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua throws a strike aimed at the side of Sozefay's head but Sozefay avoids it well.
Rua working the ground and pound.
Rua looks up at the clock and then as Sozefay takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Rua smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Rua working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Rua working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sozefay managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Rua.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sozefay taking punishment in the form of punches.
Sozefay is working to avoid the ground and pound but Rua connects with a decent elbow.
Rua misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rua lands a decent elbow from side control.

Sozefay is rocked!
Rua works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Sozefay is still in real trouble! Can Rua finish him?

Rua is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sozefay has escaped the position, nice work there.

Rua wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sozefay, who protects the arm well.
Rua scoring with punches and elbows.
Sozefay on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Rua is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sozefay can do to turn this around?

Rua goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Sozefay has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Rua but great work by Sozefay.
Rua gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Sozefay is breathing heavily.
Rua moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sozefay manages to get himself to full guard.
Rua is pushing down on Sozefay's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sozefay is fighting to maintain full guard but Rua has managed to sneak the leg through.
Sozefay avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rua.
Sozefay seems to have recovered his senses.
Rua missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Rua is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Sozefay has managed to free his arm - good work.

Rua is looking for a kimura here.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sozefay avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rua.
Sozefay wants to control but Rua is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rua connects with a nice short shot to Sozefay's temple.
Sozefay tries to roll over but Rua keeps him under control.
Sozefay is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rua scores with a couple of nice shots.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Rua looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Sozefay is looking to get back to full guard here but Rua has managed to pass to side control instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rickson Rua dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Sozefay tries a head kick but it misses.
Rua shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sozefay defends it nicely.
Verbiah Sozefay seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rua uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sozefay.
Sozefay moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
A jab from Rua does it's job there.
Sozefay misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sozefay lands with a slapping head kick.
Rua fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sozefay throws a sloppy head kick and Rua moves out of range easily.
Sozefay throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Rua.
Sozefay throws a head kick that misses.
Rua uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sozefay.
Rua slips a jab and a cross from Sozefay.
Sozefay takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Horrible takedown by Rua or perhaps it was just good defense by Sozefay which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rickson Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sozefay tries a low kick but Rua avoids it.
Sozefay defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rua.
Verbiah Sozefay has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sozefay fails to land with a series of punches.
Rua shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sozefay defends it nicely.
Sozefay rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Rua counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Sozefay is trying to get back to full guard.
Sozefay is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Rua is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Sozefay is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Rickson Rua!
Rickson Rua thanked the fans post fight for their support.