PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dante Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oroku Saki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saki has chosen The Shredder - (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV) Badass Remix as his entrance music. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Rua
vs
Saki

193 cm
26
264 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

189 cm
25
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Charlie Wang's Tattered Rags & 95% Laundry
[GTI] Divine Clothing

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dante Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Oroku Saki!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Reed Andrews and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saki tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rua paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Saki will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Saki fails to land the takedown.
Saki shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rua as he avoids it easily.
Dante Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oroku Saki.
Saki closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rua circles away.
Rua scores with a decent looking hook.
Rua throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Saki's waist but Saki gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rua off to one side.
Saki throws a push kick but Rua slaps the foot to one side.
Saki scores with a jab to the head.
Saki showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rua.
Rua closes this distance looking for a takedown but Saki circles away.
Rua fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Saki avoids it really well and circles away.
Rua will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saki wants to clinch
and Rua counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nice cross by Saki.
Saki tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rua swivels and escapes.

Saki shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Rua is pulling down on Saki's head. It's preventing any offense from Saki, at least for the moment.
Saki must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rua controls Saki momentarily but Saki frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua seems keen to control Saki's posture.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Rua escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Saki gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rua controls Saki momentarily but Saki frees himself.
Saki trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saki with a flurry of punches that miss.
Saki should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saki postures up.
Rua seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

We're going to have a standup here because Dante Rua wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Rua shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Saki wants to get back to full guard but Rua has mounted him!
Saki is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Rua content just to control the position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua wants to control the pace but Saki is squirming around nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A punch combination from Saki misses.
Saki changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rua tries to avoid it but Saki manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rua to the ground. Rua escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Saki fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Saki.
Dante Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oroku Saki.
Saki shoots in and drives through. Rua sprawls well.
Saki closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rua counters with a single leg into guard. Saki didn't expect that.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rua content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Saki for as long as he can get away with.
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Saki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Dante Rua just wasn't active enough.
Saki fails in his attempt to clinch.

Rua shoots in and gets a takedown into Saki's guard.
Saki is trying to keep Rua in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saki can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rua controls the pace.
Rua trying to control but Saki is working from the bottom.
Rua throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rua sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Saki's guard.
Rua has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Saki can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rua content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Saki is looking to improve his position but Rua isn't that keen on the idea.
Saki is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Saki tries to reverse the position but Rua maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saki tries to control Rua's body but Rua pushes him off. Saki squirms to his side and now Rua has his back!
Rua controlling the position well here. Saki rolled but Rua kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rua has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Saki shoots for a takedown but Rua saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rua will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Nice takedown defense from Saki. No joy for Rua on that attempt.
Rua fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A left lands for Saki.
Rua throws a half hearted mid kick.
Saki shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rua pinned against the cage. Rua gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rua avoids the head kick by Saki.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saki fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Dante Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oroku Saki.
Saki tries to clinch but Rua moves out of range.
Rua blocks a head kick by Saki.
Rua shoots in for a double leg but Saki sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Saki shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rua but Rua pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Saki misses with a series of wild punches.
Nice sprawl there from Rua as Saki shoots in.
Saki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Saki wants to clinch but Rua slips to the side

and Rua counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Saki!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Dante Rua overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
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!
Saki wants to hold on but Rua pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saki really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Saki is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rua controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Dante Rua just wasn't active enough.
Rua leaves Saki with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Saki fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rua, pushing him back against the cage.
Oroku Saki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A bit of stalling here from Rua.
Dante Rua is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Saki misses with a hook from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dante Rua showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rua, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dante Rua!