PBP Commentary

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

Rua
vs
Penn

185 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
19
195 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mauricio Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vitor Penn!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Seu Braga and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua moves in looking to clinch but Penn pushes him off.
Rua closes this distance looking for a takedown but Penn circles away.
Rua needs to keep his hands up - Penn had a free shot at his head there.

Rua fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Penn, pushing him back against the cage.

Penn is trying to trip Rua. He has hold of a leg but Rua is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Penn persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Rua looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Penn wanted to stand there but Rua had control of the position.

Rua has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Penn can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rua wants to stand up but Penn is controlling him.

Penn stands up from Rua's guard - Penn perhaps looking for a knockout.

Rua looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Penn looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rua.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Penn is working an open guard so Rua takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Rua fails to land the takedown.
Rua swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rua fails with an attempt to clinch.

Rua drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Penn wants to get back to his feet but Rua drags him back down.
Rua is looking to take a break and control but Penn is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rua is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Penn is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Penn is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Rua off and has taken his back!

Penn tightening his grip on Rua, looking for the choke.
A lull in the action here.
Penn is trying to stick to Rua's back but Rua is turning into Penn. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Penn's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Rua.
Penn avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rua looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua advances to half guard.
Rua wants to lay and pray for a moment but Penn keeps working.

Rua is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Penn is trying to stand up here but Rua is controlling him well.

Rua stands up and beckons Penn to join him on the feet.
Penn tries to clinch up.
Rua fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mauricio Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rua darts in and clinches Penn up against the cage.
Penn wants to break free but Rua has control.
Rua is working for takedown but Penn is calmly controlling the position for now.
Penn doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rua tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Rua manages to break the clinch.
Penn throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rua showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Penn.
Rua falls off balance throwing a combination
and Penn counters with a left and a right that stings Rua.
Rua is looking to chop away at Penn's legs.
Rua shoots in for a takedown but Penn shows good takedown defense.
Rua shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Penn wants to clinch.

Rua fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Penn, pushing him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Rua dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rua tries to clinch up but Penn circles away and keeps his distance.
Rua is looking to clinch but Penn is avoiding it.
Penn avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Penn avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Penn fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Penn tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Rua connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Rua closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rua stops Penn from getting back to his feet.

Rua stands up and beckons Penn to join him on the feet.
Penn darts in trying to clinch

so Rua counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rua wants to control from the top but Penn keeps moving.
Penn wants to stand and escape but Rua is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua wants to control from the top but Penn keeps moving.
Penn is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rua is staying active underneath Penn, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rua is looking to control Penn's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rua avoid being mounted?
Rua is pressing down on Penn's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Penn wants to get up but he can't break Rua's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Rua is trying to control the position but Penn postures up.
Penn trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.
Penn wanted to stand there but Rua had control of the position.

Rua uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch but Penn swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Penn displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Rua has managed to clinch.
Rua drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rua drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Penn gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Penn prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mauricio Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Penn escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rua throws a head kick that misses.
Mauricio Rua is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua throws a head kick but Penn moves out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rua.
Rua throws a hook to the side of Penn's head but Penn sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Penn shoots for a double leg takedown but Rua sprawls well. He's pushed Penn's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Penn misses with a takedown attempt

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

Rua avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rua wants to pass the guard but Penn is keeping the position.

Rua gets to his feet. Penn looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Penn darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn wants to stand up but Rua is controlling the position.
Rua manages to get to full guard.
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!
Pennis looking to pass into half guard but Rua pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Rua is in guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Penn is looking to stand up but Rua isn't so interested in that idea.
Penn trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Rua dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Rua shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Penn pinned against the cage. Penn gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Horrible takedown by Rua or perhaps it was just good defense by Penn which made him look bad.

Penn closes the distance and clinches.

Penn ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Penn no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Penn has his foot on Rua's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rua works his way back into a safe position though.
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Penn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Penn is wriggling around but Rua manages to pass to half guard.
Penn is not content to let Rua control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Penn trying to get back to full guard but Rua takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rua working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Rua moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Penn has worked his arm free - good work by Penn!
Penn trying to remain calm as Rua controls from the top position.
Penn wants to get back to his feet but Rua drags him back down.
Rua is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Penn will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Rua tries to move to mount but Penn blocks the move with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Penn is trying to get back to his feet.
Penn struggling a bit here.
Rua wants to lay and pray for a moment but Penn keeps working.
Penn gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Penn tries to roll over but Rua keeps him under control.
Penn wants to control but Rua is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua is taking a breather. Penn says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Penn is pressing down on Rua's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Penn has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rua can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Penn working for a triangle but Rua defends it easily.
Penn is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rua is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Penn keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.
Rua is really struggling to control Penn but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Penn wants to stand and escape but Rua is having none of it.
Rua passes Penn's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Penn wants to control but Rua is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Penn wants to improve his position but Rua is controlling well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rua closes the distance but Penn moves to the side
and Penn counters with a nice uppercut.
Vitor Penn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rua shoots for a double leg takedown but Penn sprawls well. He's pushed Rua's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mauricio Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rua fails with a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vitor Penn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rua has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28

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