PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mario Guida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rua has chosen Pitbull as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Guida
vs
Rua

185 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
205 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mario Guida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mauricio Rua!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Daniel Cesar and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rua drives through with a takedown into guard.

Guida is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Guida wants to control the position but Rua says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Guida is trying to stand up here but Rua is controlling him well.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rua connects with a nice short shot to Guida's temple.

Rua stands up and beckons Guida to join him on the feet.
Guida tries to clinch but Rua is having none of it.

Guida moves into range and clinches up with Rua.

Guida manages to break the clinch.
Rua changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Guida tries to avoid it but Rua manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Guida to the ground. Guida escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Guida is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Guida tries to clinch up but Rua circles away and keeps his distance.
Guida tries to clinch but Rua moves out of range.

Guida drives through and clinches with Rua against the cage.
Rua managing to block the knees to the body from Guida.
Guida unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rua lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rua avoiding damage as Guida throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Guida has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rua looks gassed!
Rua slowing the pace effectively.
Guida lands a left hand.
Knees to the body from Rua.
A short left from Guida.
Rua has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Guida avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Guida misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rua.
Guida trying to land knees to the body.
Guida lands a nice shot to the body.
Guida missing with knees to the body.
Rua blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rua on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rua blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Guida tries to land knees in the clinch but Rua avoids the damage to the body.

Guida breaks the clinch.
Rua tries a head kick but it misses.
Guida throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rua.
Guida misses with a takedown attempt - Rua sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Guida keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mario Guida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mauricio Rua.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Guida misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Guida has Rua up against the cage in a clinch.
Guida lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rua or not.
Nice elbow from Guida.
Guida landing knees to the body.
Guida lands a nice knee to the body.
Guida lands a nice knee to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Guida.
Rua avoiding damage as Guida throws knees to the body.
Guida landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Guida looking to throw knees to the head but Rua is blocking nicely.
Guida tries to land knees in the clinch but Rua avoids the damage to the body.
Guida landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Guida escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Guida tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guida is looking to clinch.
Rua misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rua avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rua avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Guida wants to clinch up but Rua keeps it at a distance.
Guida wants to clinch.
Guida wants to clinch.

Guida takes the fight into the clinch.
Rua managing to block the knees to the body from Guida.
Rua misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Guida on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Guida lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rua tries for a takedown. No joy.
Guida landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Knees in the clinch landing for Guida.
Guida unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rua lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Guida missing with knees to the body.
Guida pushes Rua back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Guida takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Guida lands a knee to the head.
Rua managing to block the knees to the body from Guida.
Rua tries a knee to the head but Guida blocks it.
Guida looking to throw knees to the head but Rua is blocking nicely.
Guida using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rua letting Guida take a breather here.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Guida.
Guida misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rua.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Guida dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rua circles away from the clinch attempt.
Guida tries to clinch but Rua is having none of it.

Rua tries to keep at a distance but Guida has taken the fight into the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Rua.
Guida wants to stall.
Guida crunches a lovely knee into Rua's ribcage.
Guida missing with knees to the body.
Guida leaning his opponent against the cage.
Guida misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rua.
Rua avoiding damage as Guida throws knees to the body.
Guida keeps control of Rua as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rua avoiding damage as Guida throws knees to the body.
Rua blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rua managing to block the knees to the body from Guida.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Guida breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guida moves in looking to clinch but Rua pushes him off.
Rua swats away the attempt to clinch by Guida.
Guida tries to clinch up but Rua circles away and keeps his distance.
Rua tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Guida blocks a leg kick.
Guida doesn't manage to clinch there - Rua circles away.

Guida fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rua, pushing him back against the cage.
Guida using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rua has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Guida breaks the clinch.
Rua swats away the attempt to clinch by Guida.
Guida fails in his attempt to clinch.

Guida has closed the distance and engaged Rua in a clinch.
Guida unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rua lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Guida unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rua lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Guida breaks from the clinch.
Rua fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Guida doesn't manage to clinch there - Rua circles away.
Guida fails with an attempt to clinch.
Guida tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rua swats away the attempt to clinch by Guida.
Guida tries to clinch up.
Guida tries to close the distance and clinch but Rua swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Guida doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rua decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Guida's guard.
Rua wants to pass the guard but Guida is keeping the position.
Guida is trying to control the position but Rua postures up.
Rua stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Guida swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Guida is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Guida looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rua tries to free his leg and advance position but Guida is retaining full guard.
Rua postures up.

Guida escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rua gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rua trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rua tries to stand but Guida is controlling from the bottom.
Rua pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Guida is keeping the position for now.

Guida 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Guida 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 tries to free his leg and advance position but Guida is retaining full guard.
Guida controlling Rua's posture.

Guida is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Rua avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rua passes Guida's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Rua misses with a head shot. Guida uses the momentum to regain guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Guida dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Guida wants to clinch up but Rua keeps it at a distance.

Guida drives through and clinches with Rua against the cage.
Guida misses with an elbow over the top.
Rua blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Guida tries to land knees in the clinch but Rua avoids the damage to the body.

Guida pulls guard.
Guida keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.

Guida working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rua doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rua manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Guida escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rua gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Guida is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rua is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Rua must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rua passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Guida explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Guida closes the distance looking to clinch

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

Guida is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Guida looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Rua passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Guida trying to control here.
Rua is looking to advance position but Guida won't allow it.
Guida flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Guida actively working from the bottom here.

Guida looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Guida pushes Rua off looking to stand but Rua dives back in and keeps control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua trying to control the action but Guida is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Guida clinches.
Guida tries to land knees in the clinch but Rua avoids the damage to the body.
Rua blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Guida is working for takedown but Rua is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rua using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Guida has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rua managing to block the knees to the body from Guida.
Rua pushes off an throws an elbow but Guida leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Rua managing to block the knees to the body from Guida.
Rua tries for a takedown. No joy.
Guida crunches a lovely knee into Rua's ribcage.
Guida misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rua.
Rua wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Guida has him pressed against the cage.
Guida tries a knee to the head but Rua blocks it.
Mario Guida is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Guida scores a nice knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rua blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Guida lands a body shot.
A nice left hand lands by Rua.
Guida slows down the pace here.
Rua tries to pull guard but Guida won't allow it.
Mauricio Rua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Guida manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Rua keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Guida's head.

Guida has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Rua off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Guida closes the distance and clinches.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mario Guida.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Guida, 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mario Guida!