PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Maximus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rua has chosen Pitbull as his entrance music. Mauricio Rua will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Maximus
vs
Rua

180 cm
23
200 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

185 cm
22
205 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marcus Maximus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mauricio Rua!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Thiago Cunha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rua clinches with his opponent.

Rua breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Maximus shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Maximus showed some decent athleticism there.
Rua tries to roll over but Maximus keeps him under control.
Maximus passes the guard and advances to mount!
Rua can't escape the position.
Rua is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rua tries to improve his position but instead Maximus has taken his back!
Maximus trying to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maximus is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Rua knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Rua for a finish.
Rua can't escape the position.
Rua is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Rua breaks Maximus's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Rua avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Rua misses with a takedown attempt

and Maximus counters with a shoot takedown. Rua fights it but they end up in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maximus sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rua's guard.
Maximus is breathing heavily.
Rua is refusing to be controlled, as Maximus sits in half guard.
Rua tries to get to full guard but Maximus has control of the leg.
Rua trying to control from the bottom.
Maximus content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Rua connecting with a few gentle strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rua looking for submissions off his back.

Rua is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Maximus pulls his head out easily.
Maximus is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Rua!

Maximus is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Rua has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Rua really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Maximus has control of Rua's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Rua regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Rua keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Maximus 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.

Rua tries for a takedown but Maximus circles away easily

and Maximus decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rua's guard.

Rua is working an open guard so Maximus takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Marcus Maximus is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rua throws a right hand that Maximus ducks under and follows up with a left that Maximus also avoids with ease.

Rua has taken the fight to the clinch.
Maximus goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rua prevents it.
Maximus is looking to control Rua's arms but Rua gets an underhook and turns him. Now Maximus has his back to the cage.

Rua tightens his grip and picks Maximus up, before dumping him to the ground. Maximus manages to land in guard.
Rua wants to pass the guard but Maximus is keeping the position.

Rua avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Maximus throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Rua escapes and throws Maximus's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rua working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Maximus tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rua wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rua creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Maximus sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Maximus on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Maximus tries to get out of the position.

Rua decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Maximus closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Rua tries to buck Maximus off but Maximus is having none of it.
Maximus landing a few strikes.
Rua is trying to improve his position.
Rua prevents Maximus from moving into mount.
Rua is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maximus is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rua is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Rua tries to bench press Maximus off him but Maximus keeps the position.
Rua gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Rua tries to get to full guard but Maximus has control of the leg.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Maximus shoots in and bounces Rua off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rua looking for a sweep. Not yet Rua, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rua looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Maximus has picked Rua up and slammed him! Rua can't keep hold of the triangle and Maximus manages to pass to side control!

Maximus decides to stand up, so the ref orders Rua to his feet.

Maximus fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rua sprawls well initially but Maximus persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Rua has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Maximus is working away from the top position though.
Maximus wants to pass the guard but Rua is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Maximus dominated that second 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. 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.

Maximus doesn't manage to clinch there - Rua circles away.
Rua doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Maximus counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Maximus seems to be looking for submissions.
Rua is trying to stand up here but Maximus is controlling him well.
Rua trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Maximus manages to pass to mount!
Rua is trying desperately to improve position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Marcus Maximus overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maximus can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rua is looking to escape.
Maximus tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Maximus's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rua wants to control but Maximus is having none of it.
Maximus working Rua over with strikes here.
Rua is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maximus stands up from mount. Strange move.

Maximus darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Maximus is looking to take a break and control but Rua is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maximus looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rua with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Maximus 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.
Rua missing with punches from the bottom.

Rua looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Maximus looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Maximus showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Maximus, 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Maximus!