PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alejandro Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mohamed Adbo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rua
vs
Adbo

175 cm
22
154 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

225 cm
24
157 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

RMC - $ 11 Shorts!

Animal Farm

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alejandro Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mohamed Adbo!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Paulo Santos and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rua is defended easily by Adbo.
Adbo misses with a wild body shot.
Adbo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rua circles away quickly and effectively.
Rua misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Adbo misses with a wild body shot.
Adbo is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Rua looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Adbo.
Adbo with a nice cross.
Jab from Adbo.
Rua looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Adbo is fending him off so far but Rua persists. Nope, Adbo circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alejandro Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adbo throws a combination that misses

and Rua counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Rua is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Adbo sees it coming and defends easily.

Rua is looking for a kimura here.
Adbo is controlling Rua's position as best he can from this difficult position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Adbo wants to get back to his feet.

Rua seems to be looking for submissions.
Adbo wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rua wants to work for an arm triangle but Adbo is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Rua is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Adbo is just riding it out for now. Rua eventually gives up the hold.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Adbo wants to get back to his feet.

Rua is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Adbo sees it coming and defends easily.

Rua looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Adbo is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rua is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Adbo sees it coming and defends easily.

Rua is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Adbo sees it coming and defends easily.
Adbo is trying to maintain the position but Rua is very close to passing his half guard.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rua seems to be looking for submissions.
Rua works his way into full mount!
Adbo working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rua jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Adbo is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Adbo and Rua has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Rua swings around for an armbar but Adbo sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Rua's guard.
Rua might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Adbo wants to stand but Rua has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Rua looking for subs off his back but Adbo has passed one foot through into half guard.

Rua is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Adbo pulls his head out easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rua looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Rua looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Alejandro Rua will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Adbo throws an off balance right hand

and Rua counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Adbo's guard now.

Rua is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Adbo is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Adbo has escaped and now he's on top!
Adbo tries to stand but Rua is controlling from the bottom.
Adbo is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Adbo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Adbo gets to his feet - Rua follows without any prompting.
Mohamed Adbo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Adbo with a body punch. A glancing blow.
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 dives in and grabs Adbo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Adbo pushes down on Rua's head and hops out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adbo throws a hook but Rua avoids it easily.
Adbo swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Rua counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Rua seems to be working for a kimura but Adbo defends the submission attempt.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Adbo can do anything to dispel that myth.
Adbo trying to control here.
Alejandro Rua overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Rua is looking for a kimura but Adbo is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rua to get the leverage.
Adbo regains full guard. Nicely done.
Adbo wants to get back to his feet but Rua is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Rua drops back, looking for a kneebar! Adbo looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Adbo looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Adbo!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua tries to get back to half guard but can't.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Adbo stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Adbo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rua slips a jab from Adbo.
Adbo misses with a wild body shot.
Rua fails to land the takedown.
Adbo ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rua shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Adbo napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Rua tries for a kimura but Adbo is defending well.

Rua is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Adbo has escaped the position, nice work there.

Rua is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Adbo has escaped the position, nice work there.
Adbo struggling a bit here.
Adbo is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Rua is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rua is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Adbo knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Rua thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Rua tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rua has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Adbo is trying to buck Rua off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alejandro Rua dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Rua changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Adbo tries to avoid it but Rua manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Adbo to the ground. Adbo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Adbo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rua moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Adbo takes a swing at Rua's ribcage but misses.
Rua looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Adbo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Adbo throws an off balance right hand

and Rua counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Adbo!
Adbo manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Rua is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua passes to side control.

Rua tries for a kimura but Adbo is defending well.
Adbo wants to get back to his feet.

Rua goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Adbo has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Rua but great work by Adbo.

Adbo decides to stand up, so the ref orders Rua to his feet.
Adbo getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Adbo swings for the body but Rua moves out of range.
Adbo lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Adbo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Adbo stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Nice defenses there by Rua.
Rua looks for a takedown but Adbo sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alejandro Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Adbo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Adbo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adbo works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Alejandro Rua is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rua takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A big left from Adbo misses.
Rua shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Adbo throws a body punch but Rua moves out of range.
Adbo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rua moves away.
Rua shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Adbo defends it nicely.
Adbo throws out a powerful jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua has a takedown stuffed.
Adbo scores with a jab to the jaw.
Rua shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Adbo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rua.
Adbo with a jab.
Adbo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Adbo throws a body punch but Rua moves out of range.
Rua tries to move into range but Adbo moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Adbo throws a jab but it's blocked by Rua.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mohamed Adbo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rua has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight for Mohamed Adbo!
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight for Mohamed Adbo!
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight as a draw!

Mohamed Adbo wins by majority decision!
Mohamed Adbo decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.