PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rickson Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Amin Sax (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sax has chosen Infected Mushroom - Smashing The Opponent as his entrance music. 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
Sax

185 cm
31
200 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

181 cm
34
190 lbs
15 - 20 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rickson Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Amin Sax!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sax looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Rua!
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Sax looking to control but Rua is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rua tries to hold on but Sax pushes him away.
Sax looking to control and managing it successfully.
Rua regains half guard.

Sax is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rua is just riding it out for now. Sax eventually gives up the hold.
Rua is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rua is not content to let Sax control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua is positioning himself well to prevent Sax advancing to mount.
Rua looks like he's trying to stand up.

Sax is working for a kimura but Rua is defending it quite comfortably.
Rua trying to control from the bottom.

Sax stands up out of the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sax wants to land a leg kick but Rua is out of range.
Sax throws a leg kick that misses.

Rua closes the distance and pushes Sax back into the cage.
Rua taking a breather.
Sax wants a takedown but no success here.
Sax is looking to take this one to the mat.
Rua gets underhooks to prevent Sax's takedown attempt.
Rickson Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Amin Sax.

Sax has clasped his hands together around Rua's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rua gets back to half guard.

Sax is looking for a kimura but Rua is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sax to get the leverage.
Sax looks winded!
Rua is trying to maintain the position but Sax is very close to passing his half guard.
Rua tries to get to full guard but Sax has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua is trying to maintain the position but Sax is very close to passing his half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sax is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Rua manages to get to full guard.
Sax tries to free his leg and advance position but Rua is retaining full guard.
Rua not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rua is on top in guard.
Rua content to stall in guard here.
Rua looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua stands and throws Sax's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Rua trying to control the action but Sax is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sax is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Rua's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Amin Sax will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sax pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rua tries to clinch there but Sax circles away.
A head kick by Sax misses

and Rua counters by clinching up.
Rua wants a takedown.

Sax gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Sax wants to work for an arm triangle but Rua is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Rua regains full guard. Nicely done.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rua is on top in guard.
Rua is looking to advance position but Sax has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Sax fails to advance to Rua's back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua tries to hold on but Sax pushes him away.
Rua's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Sax looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Sax wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.

Sax goes for an armbar but Rua turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Rua.

Sax looking for a guillotine here but Rua defends easily.
Sax is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua wants to control from the top but Sax keeps moving.
Rua slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Sax is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rua defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sax is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rua postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rua trying to control but Sax is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sax looking for a sweep. Not yet Sax, not yet.

We're going to have a standup here because Rickson Rua wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Rua misses with a wild combination.
Rua doesn't manage to clinch there - Sax circles away.
Rua shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sax but Sax pushes him off and we're back to square one.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rua has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rickson Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rua doesn't manage to clinch there - Sax circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rickson Rua will probably get the nod.
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. This is the final round!

Sax keeps the fight on the outside.
Rua is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sax tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sax checks the leg kick.
Sax throws a head kick that misses.
Rua throws a nice outside leg kick.

Rua gets a clinch.
Sax goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rua prevents it.
Sax prevents a takedown attempt there.

Rua has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Sax regains guard immediately.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sax is looking for a triangle but Rua pushes his legs off easily.
Rua sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Rua avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Sax looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sax takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Sax is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rua is pushing down on Sax's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sax is fighting to maintain full guard but Rua has managed to sneak the leg through.
Rua performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Sax wants to improve his position but Rua is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sax avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rua.
Sax wants to get back to his feet.

Sax looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Rua stands up from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sax is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Rua.
Rua misses with a head kick.
Sax avoids the head kick by Rua.
Rua misses with a takedown attempt
and Sax makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Rua doesn't manage to clinch there - Sax circles away.
Sax shoots for a double leg takedown but Rua sprawls well. He's pushed Sax's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sax tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sax throws a head kick that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rua closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rua blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rua jumps guard but Sax turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rickson Rua showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rua has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:28

The fight is ruled a draw!