PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Samuel De Lucas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think De Lucas might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Apaga mais não bate. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

De Lucas
vs
Rua

183 cm
30
215 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

185 cm
29
204 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

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 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Samuel De Lucas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mauricio Rua!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Daniel Cesar and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rua closes the distance and clinches.
De Lucas blocks the elbow strike.
De Lucas is trying to drag Rua to the mat but Rua just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rua lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Samuel De Lucas has been cut.
De Lucas is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rua gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

De Lucas has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Rua regains guard immediately.
De Lucas stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rua swivels though and keeps the full guard.
De Lucas wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Lucas looking to pass the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Samuel De Lucas.

De Lucas shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rua's guard.
De Lucas wants to pass the guard but Rua is keeping the position.
Rua wants to stand and escape but De Lucas is having none of it.

De Lucas is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rua is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rua has escaped and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

De Lucas had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rua defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua is looking to stand up but De Lucas won't let him.
De Lucas is adopting a defensive guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua tries to stand but De Lucas is controlling from the bottom.
Rua stopping the sweep attempt from De Lucas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
De Lucas looking to control.

Samuel De Lucas has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
De Lucas pivots, looking for a leg kick but Rua is out of range and De Lucas settles back down.
De Lucas avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rua swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and De Lucas counters with a good low kick that Rua was not able to check.
Rua tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and De Lucas counters with a slapping leg kick.
Rua tries to clinch but fails miserably

and De Lucas counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
De Lucas prevents Rua from escaping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samuel De Lucas dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Samuel De Lucas's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rua doesn't manage to clinch there - De Lucas circles away.
De Lucas connects with a looping right hand.
De Lucas keeps the fight on the outside.

Rua tries to keep at a distance but De Lucas has taken the fight into the clinch.
De Lucas trying to control the position but instead, Rua has worked for underhooks and has pushed De Lucas into the cage.
De Lucas has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rua is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rua with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
De Lucas drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rua gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Rua is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. De Lucas is defending well for now.
Rua gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
De Lucas jumps guard but Rua turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samuel De Lucas. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

De Lucas has Rua pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. De Lucas pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Rua tumbling to the mat - De Lucas dives into Rua's guard.
De Lucas is stalling in the full guard.
De Lucas trying to control but Rua is working from the bottom.
Rua keeping full guard, as De Lucas tries to pass.
Samuel De Lucas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Samuel De Lucas.
Rua is trying hard to land a takedown here. De Lucas sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

De Lucas fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Rua to the ground. De Lucas is now in Rua's guard.
De Lucas stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rua swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rua keeping moving, preventing De Lucas from controlling successfully.
Rua keeping full guard, as De Lucas tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Lucas passes Rua's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
De Lucas wants to pass to mount but Rua is defending the position.
De Lucas is looking to take a break and control but Rua is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Lucas is looking to advance position but Rua won't allow it.
Rua is staying active underneath De Lucas, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
De Lucas tries to pass to full mount but Rua defends it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

De Lucas is trying to work for a kimura but Rua is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samuel De Lucas dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Samuel De Lucas's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Rua is looking to clinch but De Lucas is avoiding it.
De Lucas throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Rua tries to clinch
and De Lucas counters with a right hand to the body.
De Lucas throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rua is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rua looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? De Lucas is fending him off so far but Rua persists. Nope, De Lucas circles away and we're back to standing.
De Lucas lands a lovely overhand right.
Rua doesn't manage to clinch there - De Lucas circles away.
De Lucas shoots in for a takedown but Rua shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rua fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rua is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rua blocks a head kick by De Lucas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua fails to land with a series of punches.
De Lucas fails with a takedown attempt.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch but De Lucas swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rua wants to clinch up but De Lucas keeps it at a distance.
De Lucas fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Rua is out of range.
De Lucas scores with a shot to the body.

De Lucas gets a double leg takedown into Rua's guard.
De Lucas sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Samuel De Lucas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Lucas wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.
De Lucas is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Samuel De Lucas.
De Lucas walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Rua checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Mauricio Rua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
De Lucas just misses with a punch to the body.
Mauricio Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

De Lucas closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - De Lucas lands in his opponent's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rua is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Lucas stays in close to Rua's body and controls the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
De Lucas trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Samuel De Lucas.
De Lucas moves away from the strike by Rua.
A looping hook to the body misses from De Lucas. Rua does a little dance to reset his feet.
De Lucas dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rua tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rua tries to clinch there but De Lucas circles away.
Rua is looking to clinch but De Lucas is avoiding it.
De Lucas fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Rua checks it well.
Rua blocks a head kick by De Lucas.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rua looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rua looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rua tries to clinch up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Samuel De Lucas showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for De Lucas, 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Samuel De Lucas!
Samuel De Lucas was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.