PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kurt Averson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Li Rue (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Li Rue told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Averson
vs
Rue

182 cm
27
200 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

184 cm
22
202 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Good gas tank

Zipp Zapp

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kurt Averson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Li Rue!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Patrick Alders and Aafke Stam.

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

and Rue counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rue.
Averson 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.

Averson has his foot on Rue's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rue works his way back into a safe position though.
Averson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rue is controlling him.
Rue wants to control from the top but Averson keeps moving.
Rue trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Averson is looking for a triangle but Rue pushes his legs off easily.
Averson keeping moving, preventing Rue from controlling successfully.
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!
Rue tries to free his leg and advance position but Averson is retaining full guard.
Averson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Averson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rue is aware though and is defending well.
Rue trying to control but Averson is working from the bottom.
Rue won't allow Averson to sweep him here.

Averson looking for a guillotine here but Rue defends easily.
Averson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Rue is defending against the submission attempts here by Averson.
Rue works his way to full guard. Good work.

Averson 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rue is trying to control the position but Averson postures up.
Averson wants to pass the guard but Rue is keeping the position.
Averson wants to control from the top but Rue keeps moving.
Rue keeping full guard, as Averson tries to pass.
Rue working a defensive guard here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

OK we're going to have a standup here. Li Rue hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Rue lands a slapping body shot.

Rue scores with a takedown into Averson's guard.
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.

Averson looking for a guillotine here but Rue defends easily.
Averson is controlling Rue's posture.
Rue stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Averson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Averson keeping moving, preventing Rue from controlling successfully.

Averson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rue gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Averson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rue is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Averson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rue sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Averson's guard.
Averson is trying to control but Rue manages to pass to mount!
Rue content just to control the position here.
Rue can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Averson is looking to escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rue looking to finish Averson with some ground and pound. This is bad for Averson!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Li Rue will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Averson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rue is looking for a sweep. Averson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Rue looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Averson has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Averson is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Rue to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Rue shrugs it off.

Averson jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Rue is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Rue and Averson has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Rue is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rue is not content to let Averson control the position.
Averson throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

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

Averson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rue knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Rue wants to control but Averson postures up.
Rue is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Averson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Averson trying to control the action but Rue is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rue makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rue.
Rue 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.
Rue keeping full guard, as Averson tries to pass.
Averson tries to stand but Rue is controlling from the bottom.
Averson trying to control but Rue is working from the bottom.

We're going to have a standup here because Kurt Averson wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Rue moves in looking to clinch but Averson pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Averson shoots in and drives through. Rue sprawls well.
Averson dives in for a single leg takedown but Rue sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Rue manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Rue trying to control the position.
Kurt Averson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rue looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rue working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Averson.
Averson slips nicely into half guard.

Averson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Rue is looking to control Averson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rue avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rue is not content to let Averson control the position.
Rue is trying to stand.
Averson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rue knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Averson dives in for a single leg takedown but Rue sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kurt Averson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Averson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rue gets underhooks to prevent Averson's takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurt Averson dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Rue shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Averson's guard.
Rue tries to free his leg and advance position but Averson is retaining full guard.
Rue trying to control the position from guard on top but Averson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rue trying to stand up but can't free himself from Averson's guard.
Averson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rue trying to control the position from guard on top but Averson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Li Rue.
Averson misses with a takedown attempt

and Rue counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Rue fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Averson prevents Rue from breaking the clinch.
Averson wants a takedown.
Averson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rue pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kurt Averson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Averson with a poor takedown
and Rue connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Averson dives in and grabs Rue's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rue pushes down on Averson's head and hops out.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rue tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Averson was well out of range. Poor timing from Rue.
Averson shoots and misses

and Rue counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Averson has Rue pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rue manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Rue is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Rue has Averson pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Rue pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Averson tumbling to the mat - Rue dives into Averson's guard.
Averson wants to sweep but no luck.

Rue avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rue trying to control but Averson is working from the bottom.

Averson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rue is looking to work some ground and pound but Averson has wrist control.
Rue pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Averson is keeping the position for now.

Averson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rue wants to control from the top but Averson keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Li Rue wasn't active enough on the ground.
Rue stuffs the takedown attempt from Averson. Averson gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Averson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rue tries to clinch but Averson is having none of it.
Averson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rue counters with a body kick that stops Averson in his tracks momentarily.
Averson shoots in but Rue avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Rue closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rue is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Rue can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Averson is looking to escape.

Rue jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Averson manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rue is looking to take a break and control but Averson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rue lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Averson tries to improve position but can't.
Averson is working hard here to advance position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rue advances nicely into full mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Li Rue comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rue has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight for Li Rue!
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight for Li Rue!
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight for Li Rue!

Li Rue wins by unanimous decision!