PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between John Dodson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scorpien Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Dodson
vs
Rua

167 cm
31
130 lbs
14 - 17 - 0

170 cm
29
140 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Knockout power

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 14 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Dodson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Scorpien Rua!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dodson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

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

Dodson is working an open guard so Rua takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Dodson looks to clinch

and Rua counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Dodson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rua wanted to stand there but Dodson had control of the position.

Rua decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Dodson, up you get!
Dodson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Rua counters with a takedown into side control.
Dodson can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dodson is looking to regain half guard here but Rua keeps moving and retains side control.

Rua decides to stand back up.
Dodson shoots in and drives through. Rua sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Dodson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dodson shoots and misses

and Rua counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rua.
Dodson has a closed guard, preventing Rua from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rua stands and steps away. Dodson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dodson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rua manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Dodson tries to clinch up but Rua circles away and keeps his distance.
Dodson moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
An inside leg kick from Dodson misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dodson misses with a takedown attempt

and Rua counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Dodson's guard now.
Dodson is trying to control the position but Rua postures up.
Dodson has a closed guard, preventing Rua from standing up.
Dodson trying to strike off his back.

Rua stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Dodson tries a head kick but it misses.
Dodson pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dodson is looking to clinch.
Dodson catches Rua with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

It looks like Scorpien Rua has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The fight stays on the outside here - Dodson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dodson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rua sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
John Dodson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dodson tries for a takedown but Rua circles away easily

so Rua counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rua has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Dodson is proving hard to escape from.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scorpien Rua dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Scorpien Rua's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

The fight stays on the outside here - Dodson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice shot by Dodson.
Dodson throws a head kick but Rua moves out of range.
A punch combination from Dodson misses.
Dodson with a lazy takedown attempt

and Rua counters with a takedown into side control.

Rua stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Dodson fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dodson shoots in but Rua avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Dodson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dodson shoots for a takedown but Rua saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Dodson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rua avoids it really well and circles away.
Dodson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
John Dodson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dodson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rua is fending him off so far but Dodson persists. Nope, Rua circles away and we're back to standing.
Dodson scores with a one two! Rua had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Dodson tries to clinch but Rua is having none of it.
Dodson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dodson fails with the takedown

and Rua counters with a shoot takedown. Dodson fights it but they end up in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Rua gets to his feet - Dodson follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dodson misses with a takedown

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

Rua gets to his feet. Dodson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Dodson is looking to score with low kicks.
Dodson tries to clinch but Rua moves out of range.
Dodson scores with a nice right hand.
Dodson tries to clinch but Rua moves away

and Rua counters with a nice double leg into side control. Dodson won't be happy with that.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dodson is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Rua is controlling him well.

Rua decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dodson throws a head kick that misses.
Dodson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rua paws at him with a jab and circles away.
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.

Rua stands up from Dodson's guard - Rua perhaps looking for a knockout.
Dodson is looking to clinch but Rua is avoiding it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scorpien Rua showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Scorpien Rua's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Dodson tries to clinch there but Rua circles away.
Dodson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rua blocks the body kick.
Dodson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Dodson misses with a takedown attempt

and Rua counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Dodson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rua decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Dodson tries for a takedown but Rua circles away easily

and Rua counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Rua stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Dodson to get to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Rua.
Dodson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rua manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Dodson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rua counters with a head kick. That will keep Dodson thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Dodson fails with the takedown

and Rua counters with a single leg into guard. Dodson didn't expect that.
Scorpien Rua has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dodson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Rua stands up and waves to Dodson to follow him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dodson tries for a takedown but Rua circles away easily

and Rua counters with a shoot takedown. Dodson fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Rua gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Dodson misses with a leg kick.
Rua circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dodson looks to land a combination but Rua avoids it well.
Rua avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dodson fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Dodson. That snapped Rua's head back.
Dodson tries for a takedown but Rua circles away easily

and Rua counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Dodson!

Rua decides to stand up, so the ref orders Dodson to his feet.
Dodson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Dodson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Dodson with a poor takedown

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Rua stands up and waves to Dodson to follow him.
Rua has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Dodson tries to bum rush Rua with a series of wild strikes but Rua uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Dodson fails with the takedown

and Rua counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Rua stands up and beckons Dodson to his feet.
Rua avoids the head kick by Dodson.

And that's the end of the fight!
Scorpien Rua comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rua winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

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