PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between River Tam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyoto Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tam comes to the cage accompanied by Dangerous. River Tam has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Tam
vs
Rua

198 cm
30
256 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

187 cm
27
275 lbs
14 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Popeye’s Spinach - 159 + 158 Proof Supps

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 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, River Tam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lyoto Rua!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Matheus Silva and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua misses with a low kick.
Rua circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rua circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tam tries to close the distance and clinch but Rua swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tam slips under a jab.
Tam wants to clinch.
Tam wants to clinch up but Rua keeps it at a distance.

Tam has managed to clinch.
Rua tries to throw a body punch but Tam avoids it by throwing Rua back against the cage.
Tam prevents a takedown attempt there.
Rua drops down looking for an ankle pick but Tam pulls his leg out and moves away.
Rua throws a lazy right hand but Tam sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rua waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tam.
Tam tries to clinch but Rua moves out of range.
Tam misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua lands the left hand.
Tam fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rua lands a two punch combo.
A low kick from Rua misses
and Tam counters with a left to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rua misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
River Tam has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lyoto Rua.
Rua scores with a punch to the head.
A swing and a miss from Rua.
Tam wants to clinch up but Rua keeps it at a distance.

Tam clinches up against the cage.
Rua stalling in the clinch but Tam improves position.
Rua throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Tams head.
Rua is trying to force a seperation but Tam has the dominant position.
Rua has a couple of punches blocked by Tam.

Rua gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Rua connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua throwing strikes but missing.
Rua throws a big elbow that misses.
Tam wants to stand up but Rua is controlling him.
Rua has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rua accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rua throwing strikes from guard but Tam blocks nicely.
Tam wants to stand but Rua is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rua loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rua tries to free his leg and advance position but Tam is retaining full guard.
Rua lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rua is looking to work some ground and pound but Tam has wrist control.
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Tam is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rua postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rua throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tam manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua is desperately trying to improve his position but Tam has a good base and remains in mount.
Rua wants to control but Tam is having none of it.
Rua really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rua tries to hold on but Tam pushes him away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tam content just to control the position here.
Rua working to try and regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Rua dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rua shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Tam defends it nicely.
Tam tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rua swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rua misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Tam counters with a stiff right hand.
A slow jab from Rua misses its intended target.
Tam tries to clinch up but Rua circles away and keeps his distance.
Rua tests Tam's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Rua shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Tam avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rua.
Rua seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Tam does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua throwing shots but Tam is blocking nicely.
Rua lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Rua not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rua wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tam keeps working.
Rua throwing shots but Tam is blocking nicely.
Rua not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Tam wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tam's head.
Rua thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tam's head.
Tam keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rua wants to control but Tam is keeping him busy.
Rua throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rua throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rua working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Rua trying to control the action but Tam is working from the bottom.
Rua is looking to stall here but Tam recovers full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua is looking to work some ground and pound but Tam has wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rua accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tam keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.
Tam looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rua is one step ahead there.
Rua trying to control but Tam is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Tam is looking for a sweep. Rua is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Tam keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rua thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rua lands strikes from half guard.
Rua lands with a punch from half guard.
Tam is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rua scores with a couple of nice shots.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tam avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rua.
Rua trying to control the action but Tam is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Rua showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Rua shoots in and gets a takedown into Tam's guard.
Tam working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rua.
Rua wants to control from the top but Tam keeps moving.
Rua has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rua working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rua loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tam keeping full guard, as Rua tries to pass.
Rua missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Tam is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rua working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rua pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tam is keeping the position for now.
Lyoto Rua has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rua throwing strikes but missing.
Rua stands up over Tam, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rua throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tam wants to sweep but no luck.
Tam keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rua slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rua loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rua with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rua works over Tam with some ground and pound from guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rua is looking to work some ground and pound but Tam has wrist control.
Rua working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tam is looking to stand up but Rua isn't so interested in that idea.
Tam preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Tam is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rua postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rua throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tam works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rua accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tam keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua throwing strikes from guard but Tam blocks nicely.
Lyoto Rua is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rua's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Rua postures up in Tam's guard and throws a big left but Tam blocks it.
Rua in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tam will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rua engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyoto Rua comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rua has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 26:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 26:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lyoto Rua!
Lyoto Rua thanked the fans post fight for their support.