PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shogun Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cold War (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shogun Rua has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rua
vs
War

186 cm
21
200 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

186 cm
18
215 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Rebel Pride Clothing. (Death Before Dishonor) $8 S

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shogun Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cold War!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Tiny Johnson and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
War avoids the head kick by Rua.
Rua wants to clinch.
Rua turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Rua gets a clinch.
Rua is trying to push War away but War has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.

War wants the takedown. Rua is fighting it off but War persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Rua's guard against the ropes.

Rua is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rua is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
War advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua is refusing to be controlled, as War sits in half guard.
Rua has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. War is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
War wants to control but Rua is keeping him busy.
Rua trying to hold on to War's head to control him but War postures up.
War is trying to control the action in half guard but Rua is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Cold War hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
A right-left combo lands from Rua.
Rua misses with a head kick.
War shoots and misses
and Rua counters with a series of strikes. War will be more careful next time no doubt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Rua closes the distance and clinches.
War is looking for a takedown.
War struggles to land a body shot inside as Rua controls his hands.
War keeps control of Rua as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

War jumps guard and drags Rua to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
War working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rua.
War preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

War is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
War utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
War looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rua is one step ahead there.
Rua tries to stand but War is controlling from the bottom.
War working a defensive guard here.
Rua working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rua postures up.

Rua postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! War is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rua, into his guard.
War wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

War avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
War wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua is looking to stand up but War isn't so interested in that idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shogun Rua dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

War tries to clinch there but Rua circles away.
War shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rua as he jumps to the side.
Rua throws a series of punches but War avoids them all with ease.
Rua clobbers War with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
War works over Rua's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Shogun Rua has been cut.
War misses with a wild combination.
Shogun Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rua keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! War crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Rua - the referee stops the clock and War gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Rua. War manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
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!
Rua is looking to clinch.
Rua throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by War.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Rua scores with a head kick. War tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Rua fails to land with a series of punches.
Rua throws a nice inside leg kick.
War throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rua's waist but Rua gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing War off to one side.
Shogun Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cold War.
War is breathing heavily.
Rua lands with a right hand.
Rua throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rua doesn't manage to clinch there - War circles away.

War drives through with a takedown into Rua's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
War trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rua is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
War wants to pass the guard but Rua is keeping the position.
War is looking to advance position but Rua has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Rua prevents War from getting the reversal.
War is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Rua wants to finish this one by submission but War is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Rua.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
War is working to get back to half guard.
Rua has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of War's face.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
War tries to get back to half guard but can't.
War wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Rua.
Poor strikes thrown by Rua there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
War is trying desperately to improve position.
War tries to hold on but Rua pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua landing shots from mount.
War is working to get back to half guard.
War bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

War avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
War pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rua is keeping the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
War engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shogun Rua dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Shogun Rua's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

War looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rua is fending him off so far but War persists. Nope, Rua circles away and we're back to standing.
Shogun Rua is winning the standup battle so far.
Rua pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces War back to the ropes. Rua follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
War has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

War is rocked!
The fight stays on the outside here - Rua looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
War is still on wobbly legs! Can Rua finish him?
War stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rua.

Rua clinches up against the ropes.
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!
War avoiding damage as Rua throws knees to the body.

Rua breaks from the clinch.
War seems to have recovered his senses.
War fails with a takedown attempt.
War takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rua misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
War looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Shogun Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cold War.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua misses with a series of wild punches.
Rua closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Some wild striking there from Rua.
War throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rua throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by War.
War looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rua is fending him off so far but War persists. Nope, Rua circles away and we're back to standing.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rua is looking to break free of the clinch but War has double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
War is trying to pull guard but Rua turns him against the ropes and we stay in the clinch.
Rua wants to break free but War has control.
War prevents Rua from breaking the clinch.
War is looking to take this one to the mat.

War manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Rua stopping the sweep attempt from War.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rua connects with a couple of short punches.
Rua postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cold War has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rua is working War over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua wanted to stand there but War had control of the position.

War 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.
War utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rua has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of War is proving hard to escape from.
War working a defensive guard here.

Rua stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua throws a head kick but War moves out of range.
Rua throws out a loose jab but War uses good head movement to avoid it.
War fails with the takedown.
War will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
War fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rua manages to avoid it.
Rua tries to clinch up but War circles away and keeps his distance.
Rua circles away from the clinch attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
War on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Rua throws a one two combo.
Cold War has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shogun Rua is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
War throws a right and a left that Rua avoids nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shogun 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shogun Rua!
A very excited looking Shogun Rua made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.