PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sjonnie Shadow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Shadow
vs
Rua

193 cm
20
212 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

185 cm
21
205 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

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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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sjonnie Shadow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mauricio Rua!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Nard Betker and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Rua gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Shadow makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Shadow.
Shadow is trying to keep Rua in close.
Rua trying to control but Shadow is working from the bottom.
Rua passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Rua working away.
Rua trying to control the position but Shadow is working away.
Shadow is looking to reverse the position.

Rua decides to stand back up. Rua steps back and let's Shadow get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shadow tries to clinch up.
Shadow looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rua is fending him off so far but Shadow persists. Nope, Rua circles away and we're back to standing.
Shadow misses with a takedown

and Rua counters with a single leg into guard. Shadow didn't expect that.
Shadow is pulling down on Rua's head to control his posture.
Shadow looking to control.
Rua passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Rua creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Shadow sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Rua trying to control the position but Shadow is working away.
Shadow tries to bench press Rua off him but Rua keeps the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rua happy to just control the position for now.

Rua decides to stand up, so the ref orders Shadow to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shadow displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rua.
Shadow throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Shadow shoots in but Rua avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sjonnie Shadow. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rua feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Shadow not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Shadow wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Shadow trying to keep a closed guard but Rua is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Sjonnie Shadow.
Shadow walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Rua checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

Rua closes the distance and clinches.

Rua breaks the clinch.
Rua is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Rua scores a takedown into full mount!
Shadow tries to hold on but Rua postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shadow reaches up to try and control the position but Rua seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Shadow rolls and tries to escape and now Rua has his back!
Shadow rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Rua wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shadow keeps working.
Rua passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Shadow!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua avoids the attempt from Shadow to control.
Rua connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shadow tries to lock up and control but Rua gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rua prevents Shadow from getting the reversal.
Shadow is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Rua lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Rua looking to control but Shadow is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shadow keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Rua dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rua shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Shadow manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Shadow throws his legs up looking for a submission but Rua uses it to pass to side control.
Rua tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Shadow is pushing Rua's head away, looking to escape. Rua manages to hold on to the position though.
Rua is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Shadow will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Shadow is looking to regain half guard here but Rua keeps moving and retains side control.
Shadow is not content to let Rua control the position.

Rua wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Shadow, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shadow tries to buck Rua off but Rua is having none of it.
Rua trying to control the position but Shadow is working away.
Shadow tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Shadow can't do much from the bottom here.
Shadow tries to strike but it doesn't land.

Rua decides to stand back up. Rua steps back and let's Shadow get back to his feet.
Shadow keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Rua shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Shadow wants to stand up but Rua is controlling him.
Shadow keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shadow escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rua gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
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 passes into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rua sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Rua is thwarting Shadow's attempts to control the position.

Rua seems to be working for a kimura but Shadow defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shadow has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rua is working away from the top position though.
Rua perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Mauricio Rua has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rua is thwarting Shadow's attempts to control the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rua trying to advance position but Shadow counters by regaining guard.
Rua tries to free his leg and advance position but Shadow is retaining full guard.
Shadow not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rua prevents Shadow from getting back to his feet.
Rua passes Shadow's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Shadow is looking to control Rua's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Shadow avoid being mounted?

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shadow trying to hold on to Rua's head to control him but Rua postures up.
Rua tries to pass the half guard into mount. Shadow knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Shadow tries to get to full guard but Rua has control of the leg.
Shadow trying to hold on to Rua's head to control him but Rua postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rua prevents Shadow from standing back up.

Rua seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Shadow is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Mauricio Rua!