PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rickson Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sammy Spishak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Spishak has chosen Sleeping with Sirens 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
Spishak

185 cm
33
200 lbs
16 - 13 - 1

185 cm
27
216 lbs
7 - 9 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

The Adrenaline Matrix

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 16 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Rickson Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sammy Spishak!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Colin Fray and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Spishak scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Rua looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Spishak is looking to take a break and control but Rua is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Spishak looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Spishak working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Spishak looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Spishak tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spishak is trying to get an arm triangle but Rua is defending well.
Rua is not content to let Spishak control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Spishak is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rua knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Spishak looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Spishak is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rua knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Spishak wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rua, who protects the arm well.

Spishak is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rua has escaped the position, nice work there.

Spishak goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Rua has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Spishak but great work by Rua.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spishak can't do much from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Spishak bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Rua tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Spishak counters with a stiff right hand.

It looks like Rickson Rua has been cut.
Spishak wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Rua wants to clinch
and Rua takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Spishak shoots in and bounces Rua off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rua keeping moving, preventing Spishak from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sammy Spishak dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rickson Rua's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Spishak looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Spishak wants to pass the guard but Rua is keeping the position.

Spishak drops back looking for a leg! Rua is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rua manages to kick Spishak off! Spishak jumps back into Rua's guard.
Rua is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Spishak trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spishak drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Spishak jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Spishak stands up and waves to Rua to follow him.
Spishak lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Spishak throws a nice looking combination but Rua bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rua wants to clinch but Spishak slips to the side
and Rua takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Decent striking displayed by Spishak there.
Rua showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Spishak.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua tries to clinch
and Spishak makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Spishak sizes up Rua with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Rua is rocked!
Rua looks up at the clock. Bad move! Spishak lands a right hand from hell, dropping Rua. Spishak pounces and finishes the fight with a flurry of punches and elbows.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:15 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sammy Spishak!