PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dante Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Morty Gaggle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dante Rua could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Morty Gaggle's chin.

Rua
vs
Gaggle

193 cm
27
264 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

190 cm
20
258 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good gas tank

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 1 - 2 - 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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Morty Gaggle!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Jonathan Paton and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gaggle shoots in but no luck this time.
Rua avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Gaggle takes the fight into the clinch.
Rua displaying some good clinch control by pressing Gaggle up against the cage.
Gaggle looking for a takedown.
Rua wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rua will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Gaggle up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaggle taking a breather.
Gaggle has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Rua after a bit of a struggle.
Dante Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Morty Gaggle.
Gaggle trying to land knees to the body.
Rua tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gaggle's elbow.
Gaggle is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rua gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua managing to block the knees to the body from Gaggle.
Rua gets underhooks to prevent Gaggle's takedown attempt.
Gaggle tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Gaggle presses Rua against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Gaggle is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Gaggle changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rua fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Rua drops Gaggle with a beautiful combination! Gaggle stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Rua is looking for the KO!

It looks like Morty Gaggle has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rua looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Gaggle!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Gaggle is trying to reverse the position but instead Rua has taken his back - oops!
Rua just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua is not going to allow Gaggle to sit and survive in this position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gaggle breaks Rua's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Rua dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Morty Gaggle's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Gaggle throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Rua tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Gaggle is in Rua's guard.
Rua looking to control.
Rua wants to sweep but no luck.
Gaggle wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Morty Gaggle.
A clash of legs there as Gaggle blocks the low kick.
Rua fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Gaggle is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua scores with a body shot.
Gaggle walks into a stiff left hand from Rua.
Rua throws a right and a left that Gaggle avoids nicely.
A left and a right from Rua both land. Nice combination.
Gaggle changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rua tries to avoid it but Gaggle manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rua to the ground. Rua escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rua leaves Gaggle with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gaggle tries to close the distance and clinch but Rua swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gaggle showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rua.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua leaves Gaggle with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Dante Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Morty Gaggle.
Gaggle darts in trying to clinch
and Rua counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Some bone on bone action there as Gaggle checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Rua circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gaggle fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaggle stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gaggle wants it to stay on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gaggle.

Rua closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gaggle did well to prevent Rua getting side control.
Rua content to control rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Gaggle wants to get back to full guard.
Rua stalling away here and it's allowed Gaggle to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Gaggle controlling the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dante Rua wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Gaggle tries for a takedown but Rua circles away easily

and Rua counters with a crisp one two that drops Gaggle! Rua thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Gaggle to his feet! Gaggle is in big trouble!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Rua dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Morty Gaggle's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Rua swats away the attempt to clinch by Gaggle.
Gaggle checks a leg kick.

Gaggle fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rua, pushing him back against the cage.
Gaggle misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gaggle tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rua avoids it.
Rua is looking to break free of the clinch but Gaggle has double underhooks.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rua.
Rua tries to work over Gaggle's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rua is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rua prevents a takedown attempt there.
Rua wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gaggle drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gaggle drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rua gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Dante Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Morty Gaggle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gaggle's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gaggle fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rua avoids it really well and circles away.
Gaggle closes the distance looking to clinch
and Rua counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Gaggle takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dante Rua is winning the standup battle so far.
Rua throws a front kick aimed at Gaggle's knee but Gaggle avoids it well.
Rua has a takedown stuffed.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Gaggle shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rua defends it nicely.

Rua changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gaggle looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaggle is being controlled here.
Rua wants to take a breather but Gaggle manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Rua.
Rua wants to control from the top but Gaggle keeps moving.
Rua slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Morty Gaggle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dante Rua is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Dante Rua.

Rua fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gaggle sprawls well initially but Rua persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27

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