PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Peter Monson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rua comes to the cage accompanied by Prodigy - Firestarter. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rua
vs
Monson

193 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
216 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
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 Hilo, Anderson Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Peter Monson!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua throws a head kick that misses.
Rua tries to clinch up but Monson circles away and keeps his distance.
Monson walks into a jab.

Monson drives through and clinches with Rua against the cage.
Rua using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Monson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rua missing with knees to the body.
Monson fails to pull guard.
Rua throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rua throws a knee to the head but misses.
Monson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rua with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rua throws a knee to the head but misses.

Monson breaks from the clinch.
Horrible takedown by Monson or perhaps it was just good defense by Rua which made him look bad.
Anderson Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Peter Monson.
Monson avoids the head kick by Rua.
Rua dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Monson. That did some damage!
Monson circles away from the clinch attempt
and Monson counters with a big head kick but Rua shrugs it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rua fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Monson, pushing him back against the cage.
Monson jumps guard but Rua stands there with Monson around his waist. Monson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Rua misses with a knee to the head.
Monson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rua fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rua waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Monson.
Rua closes the distance looking to clinch

and Monson counters by moving into the clinch.

Monson breaks from the clinch.
Anderson Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rua looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Monson lands a nice shot to the body.
Rua has his takedown stuffed
and Monson counters with a one-two to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rua closes the distance looking to clinch

and Monson counters by clinching up.
Rua is breathing heavily.
Monson blocks an elbow strike.
Monson avoiding damage as Rua throws knees to the body.
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Monson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Come on Monson - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Monson manages to break the clinch.
Rua throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nice sprawl there from Rua as Monson shoots in.
Rua scores with a nice body kick.
Nice sprawl there from Monson as Rua shoots in.
Monson shoots in for a double leg but Rua sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Monson moves into the clinch successfully.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rua manages to get himself to full guard.
Rua is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Rua looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Monson passes into half guard.
Rua is looking to improve his position.
Monson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Monson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rua is not content to let Monson control the position.

Monson is working for a submission of some sort.
Rua pushes Monson off looking to stand but Monson dives back in and keeps control.
Rua tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Monson has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Peter Monson dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Rua throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Monson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Rua as Monson shoots in.
Monson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rua as he avoids it easily.
Rua stuffs the takedown attempt from Monson. Monson gets slowly back to his feet.
Anderson Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Peter Monson.
Rua shoots in but Monson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rua throws a lazy body kick

and Monson counters by clinching up.
Monson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rua smiles and moves away.
Monson shoots in and drives through. Rua sprawls well.
Rua tries to clinch up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Monson takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Rua tries to clinch up but Monson circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rua throws a sloppy head kick
letting Monson counter with a right hand.
Rua stuffs the takedown.
Rua throws a good cross that connects.
Rua lands with a slapping head kick.
Rua wants to clinch up but Monson keeps it at a distance.
Rua throws a body kick that misses.
Rua shoots in but Monson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Monson swats away the attempt to clinch by Rua.
Monson avoids the head kick by Rua.
Rua keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Monson shoots in and drives through. Rua sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rua clinches.
Monson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rua just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rua misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Monson.
Monson wants to break free but Rua has control.
Monson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Monson dodges an elbow strike from Rua.
Monson managing to block the knees to the body from Rua.
Rua throws a knee to the head but misses.
Monson avoiding damage as Rua throws knees to the body.
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but Monson blocks with his arms.
Rua looking to throw knees to the head but Monson is blocking nicely.
Monson tries to pull guard but Rua won't allow it.

Monson breaks the clinch.
Monson wants to clinch.
Monson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rua gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rua tries to land knees in the clinch but Monson avoids the damage to the body.

Monson manages to break the clinch.

Rua scores a takedown into full mount!
Monson can't escape the position.
Monson tries to hold on but Rua postures up.
Monson avoids a series of strikes thrown by Rua.
Rua avoids the attempt from Monson to control.
Rua tries to control but Monson wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monson flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Monson is trying desperately to improve position.
Rua working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Rua working the ground and pound effectively.
Monson tries to lock up and control but Rua gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Rua dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rua looks to clinch

and Monson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Monson.
Rua landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Rua throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rua using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Monson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Monson lands a hook that snaps the head of Rua backwards.
Rua misses with a knee to the head.
Rua tries to land knees in the clinch but Monson avoids the damage to the body.

Monson manages to break the clinch.
Monson shoots for a takedown but Rua saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rua shoots in but Monson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rua stuffs the takedown.
Monson shoots in but Rua avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Anderson Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Peter Monson.
Rua throws a right hand that Monson ducks under and follows up with a left that Monson also avoids with ease.
Rua shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Monson as he avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua tries to clinch

and Monson counters by moving into the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Monson has Rua pushed against the cage.
Rua looking to throw knees to the head but Monson is blocking nicely.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Rua tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Monson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Monson circles away from the clinch attempt

and Monson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Rua tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but Monson blocks with his arms.

Monson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Monson throws a head kick that half lands.
Rua throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Monson counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Rua shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Monson pinned against the cage. Monson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua shoots for a takedown but Monson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Monson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rua looks to clinch
and Monson counters with a right hand to the body.
Rua closes the distance but Monson moves to the side

and Monson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rua with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rua throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but Monson blocks with his arms.
Monson managing to block the knees to the body from Rua.
Rua throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Monson blocks it with crossed arms.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Monson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rua looks for the body kick but Monson saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Monson as Rua shoots in.
Monson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Monson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rua circles away.
Monson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rua tries to clinch up but Monson circles away and keeps his distance.
Anderson Rua is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rua looks to clinch
and Monson counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Rua misses with a double jab.
Monson shoots in and drives through. Rua sprawls well.
Rua throws a head kick that misses
and Monson counters with a nice kick to the body.
Monson avoids the head kick by Rua.
Rua throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Monson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rua looks to clinch

and Monson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rua keeps control of Monson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Monson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monson shoots in looking for a takedown. Rua tries to sprawl out of it but Monson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rua manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Monson has a takedown stuffed.

Rua drives through with a takedown into guard.
Monson has Rua pulled in close to control his posture.
Monson wants to control the position but Rua says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Monson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rua's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rua's back!
Rua avoids the strikes from Monson.
Rua tries to break free.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Peter Monson.
I think Monson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Peter Monson!