PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Renato Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roger Marsden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rua
vs
Marsden

178 cm
23
182 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

225 cm
31
178 lbs
13 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

[CBK] LEGAL HIGHS « ↑ TRIPLE 160Q ®
[WOT] DTK Designs (Laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Renato Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Roger Marsden!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Yves DeLean and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marsden pivots, looking for a leg kick but Rua is out of range and Marsden settles back down.
Marsden fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Rua is out of range.
Rua is looking to score with low kicks.
Rua misses with a hook. Marsden ducked under it nicely.
Marsden shoots for a takedown but Rua saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Marsden scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Marsden fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rua manages to avoid it.
Marsden throws a solid leg kick but Rua takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Marsden.
Marsden tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rua sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Marsden somewhat.
Rua moves out of range as Marsden strikes.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rua.
Marsden misses with a body kick.
Rua takes a swing at Marsden's ribcage but misses.
Marsden scores with a jab to the body.
Rua throws a low kick but Marsden avoids it.
Rua fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Marsden is out of range.
Marsden shoots in looking for a takedown but Rua manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Marsden's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Renato Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roger Marsden.
Rua pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marsden scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Rua doesn't seem bothered though.
Marsden connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Rua has closed the distance and engaged Marsden in a clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Rua tries to land knees in the clinch but Marsden avoids the damage to the body.
Rua content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Rua tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Marsden is looking to break free of the clinch but Rua has double underhooks.
Rua taking a breather.
Marsden looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rua struggles to land a body shot inside as Marsden controls his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua lands with a right to the head.
Marsden misses with a hook to the ribs.
Marsden on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The referee is keeping an eye on Rua - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Rua tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Marsden managing to block the knees to the body from Rua.
A short body shot lands from Rua as the two fighters clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Marsden wants the takedown. Rua is fighting it off but Marsden persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Rua's guard against the cage.
Marsden stopping the sweep attempt from Rua.
Marsden wants to stand but Rua has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Marsden stays in close to Rua's body and controls the position.
Rua might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Marsden wants to pass the guard but Rua is keeping the position.
Rua is pulling down on Marsden's head. It's preventing any offense from Marsden, at least for the moment.
Marsden wants to pass the guard but Rua is keeping the position.
Marsden trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rua is trying to keep Marsden in close.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rua gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Marsden lands with an uppercut that bounces Rua off the cage and back into range.
Roger Marsden seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rua takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Marsden chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rua can pounce on him.
Rua just misses with a punch to the body.

Marsden shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marsden throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rua won't allow Marsden to pass to mount.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rua tries to roll over but Marsden keeps him under control.
Rua is working hard here to advance position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marsden seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rua does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Marsden might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Rua kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Rua avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Marsden.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roger Marsden dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Marsden throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Marsden has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Rua misses with a wild body shot.
Marsden misses with a kick to the body.
Rua is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Marsden avoids the body shot from Rua.
Marsden throws a wild body kick that Rua sees coming a mile off.
Marsden throws a shot from downtown. Rua moves away and avoids it.
Marsden motions for Rua to come forward. Marsden throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rua tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Marsden manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Rua closes the distance and pushes Marsden back into the cage.
Marsden managing to block the knees to the body from Rua.
Rua slows down the pace here.
Marsden working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Marsden managing to block the knees to the body from Rua.
Rua misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Marsden.
Rua looking to stall.
Rua with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rua tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rua lands a body punch in the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Rua.
Marsden blocking some punches.
Rua struggles to land a body shot inside as Marsden controls his hands.
Marsden misses with a body punch.
Rua tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rua stalling.
Rua is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Marsden is defending well for now.
Rua misses with a body punch.
Rua working aggressively here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rua tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Marsden avoids it.
Marsden is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Rua looking to throw knees to the head but Marsden is blocking nicely.

Marsden works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Rua is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rua is trying to control the position but Marsden postures up.
Marsden has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Marsden wants to stand but Rua has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rua looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marsden passes Rua's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Rua wants to get back to full guard.
Rua won't allow Marsden to pass to mount.

Marsden decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Marsden drops his hands momentarily and Rua takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Rua ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Rua uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Marsden.
Marsden misses with a body shot
and Rua counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Marsden is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Marsden ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rua moves away.
Marsden throws a looping overhand right but Rua ducks down to avoid it.
Rua avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Marsden uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rua.
Rua looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Marsden looks to land a right hand but Rua moved out of range.
Marsden shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rua.
Marsden throws a chopping leg kick but Rua manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Rua avoids the body shot from Marsden.
Marsden uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Rua throws a series of punches but Marsden avoids them all with ease.
Marsden stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rua.
Marsden misses with a looping right.
Rua throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Marsden lands with a straight right. Rua didn't see that one coming.
Marsden keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rua.
Marsden keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua tried to score with a low kick but Marsden checks it.
Marsden misses with a wild body shot.
Rua lands with a kick to the temple. Marsden shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Rua lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renato Rua dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Rua throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Marsden sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rua fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Marsden manages to avoid it.
Nice body kick from Marsden.
Marsden throws a leg kick
and Rua counters with a nice leg kick.
Marsden moves into range and connects with a jab.
Marsden fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rua avoids it really well and circles away.
Marsden is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Rua scores with a push kick.
Rua takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Marsden avoids the body shot from Rua.
Marsden connects with the punch.
Both fighters circling a little - Rua finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Marsden dips to his left and cracks Rua with an uppercut!
Rua looks to score with a jab to the body but Marsden is just out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rua scores with a crisp jab that stopped Marsden in his tracks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marsden lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Marsden uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Marsden bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Rua's head.
Marsden bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Rua's head.
Rua looks to score with a jab to the body but Marsden is just out of range.

Rua rushes Marsden and presses him up against the cage.
Rua lands a shot to the body.
Marsden is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Marsden is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rua gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Marsden is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rua is keeping busy.
Rua looking to throw knees to the head but Marsden is blocking nicely.
Rua is working Marsden over against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Rua tries to throw a body punch but Marsden avoids it by throwing Rua back against the cage.
Rua struggles to land a body shot inside as Marsden controls his hands.
Marsden can't get the takedown.
Renato Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roger Marsden.
Rua prevents the takedown attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rua tries a body shot but Marsden blocks it.
Marsden avoiding damage as Rua throws knees to the body.
Rua tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Marsden trying to control the position but instead, Rua has worked for underhooks and has pushed Marsden into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua stalling in the clinch but Marsden improves position.

Marsden pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Marsden throws a right hand that Rua ducks under and follows up with a left that Rua also avoids with ease.
Rua slips a straight right by Marsden.
Marsden slips a straight right by Rua.
Marsden avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rua is looking to wear down Marsden with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Rua tries to land a leg kick but Marsden saw it coming and moves away.
Rua misses the shot to the body.
Rua looks to throw the jab but Marsden is out of range.
Marsden checks a low kick from Rua.
Marsden throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Rua counters with a left to the body.
Marsden takes one to the chin there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua takes one on the button.
Rua looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rua.
Marsden moves out of range of the body kick.
Rua misses with a kick to the body.
Marsden thows a body shot but no joy.
Marsden misses with a looping left.
Rua displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Marsden.
Marsden takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
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!
Marsden throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Marsden throws a predictable looking body shot
and Rua counters with an outside leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rua closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rua misses with a punch to the body.
Marsden is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rua to keep the fight standing.
Rua lands a body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Renato Rua showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Renato Rua!
Renato Rua took some time post fight to say the following; 'Yo baby!'.