PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Scorpien Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Dodson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Scorpien Rua has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rua
vs
Dodson

170 cm
29
140 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

167 cm
30
130 lbs
14 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Scorpien Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Dodson!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua stuffs the takedown.
Dodson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rua tries to avoid it but Dodson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rua to the ground. Rua escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A punch combination from Dodson misses.
Dodson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rua counters with a shoot takedown. Dodson fights it but they end up in guard.
Scorpien Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Dodson.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Rua stopping the sweep attempt from Dodson.
Rua has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Dodson is proving hard to escape from.

Rua gets to his feet. Dodson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Dodson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dodson shoots in for a takedown but Rua shows good takedown defense.
Dodson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rua counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Rua stands up from guard. Let's bang!
John Dodson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dodson darts in trying to clinch

and Rua counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Dodson!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dodson is looking to reverse the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rua stands up and beckons Dodson to his feet.
Dodson is looking to clinch.
Dodson tries to clinch but Rua moves out of range.
Dodson with a lazy takedown attempt

and Rua decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Dodson's guard.
Dodson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rua is one step ahead there.

Rua stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Dodson is looking to clinch but Rua is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dodson dives in and grabs Rua's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rua pushes down on Dodson's head and hops out.
Dodson looks to clinch

and Rua counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Rua stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Dodson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rua avoids it really well and circles away.
Dodson looks winded!
Dodson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dodson throws a head kick but Rua moves out of range.
Dodson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Rua counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Rua decides to stand back up. Rua steps back and let's Dodson get back to his feet.
Dodson misses with a low kick.
Dodson has a takedown stuffed.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rua keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scorpien Rua dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Dodson shoots in but no luck this time.
Dodson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Dodson fails to land with a series of punches.
Dodson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rua sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Dodson somewhat.
Rua swats away the attempt to clinch by Dodson.
Dodson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rua backs up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dodson fails with the takedown.
Scorpien Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Dodson.
Rua circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dodson tries to close the distance and clinch but Rua swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rua circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rua blocks a head kick by Dodson.
Dodson darts in trying to clinch

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rua gets to his feet. Dodson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Rua moves out of range as Dodson throws a body kick.
Dodson shoots in and drives through. Rua sprawls well.
Dodson shoots for a takedown but Rua saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Dodson is breathing heavily.
A head kick misses from Dodson.
Dodson doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rua counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Rua decides to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dodson throws a looping overhand right but Rua ducks down to avoid it.
Dodson misses with a takedown attempt

and Rua counters with a takedown into side control.

Rua decides to stand back up. Rua steps back and let's Dodson get back to his feet.
Dodson fails with the takedown

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

Rua stands up and waves to Dodson to follow him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dodson tries for a takedown but Rua circles away easily

and Rua counters with a takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rua stands up.
Dodson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dodson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dodson pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Scorpien Rua is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dodson misses with a takedown attempt

and Rua counters with a takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scorpien Rua dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Dodson misses with a series of wild punches.
Dodson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dodson looks for a takedown but Rua sprawls well.
Dodson throws a body kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dodson tries to clinch up.
Rua blocks a head kick by Dodson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dodson shoots and misses

so Rua counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Dodson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Rua gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Dodson tries to clinch but Rua moves out of range.

Dodson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Dodson looking for a takedown.
Scorpien Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Dodson.
Rua drops down looking for an ankle pick but Dodson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Dodson throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dodson misses with a two punch combination.
Horrible takedown by Dodson or perhaps it was just good defense by Rua which made him look bad.
Dodson is looking to clinch.
Rua defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dodson.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dodson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Rua manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dodson tries a low kick but Rua avoids it.
Dodson shoots in but no luck this time.
Dodson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rua manages to avoid it.
Dodson tries a head kick but it misses.
Dodson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rua counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rua.

Rua decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Dodson, up you get!
Dodson misses with a takedown

so Rua counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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 decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
No joy there for Dodson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rua slaps away a takedown attempt from Dodson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Dodson looks to land a body kick but Rua moved away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua leaves Dodson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Scorpien Rua showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rua, 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Scorpien Rua!