PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Matthews
vs
Rua

205 cm
22
200 lbs
6 - 9 - 0

185 cm
24
225 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 6 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Mike Matthews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Ricio Rua!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Donald Grub and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rua drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rua throwing strikes from guard but Matthews blocks nicely.

Rua drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Matthews dives on top into guard.

Rua told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Rua keeping moving, preventing Matthews from controlling successfully.
Matthews is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rua is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Matthews will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rua wants to sweep here but Matthews controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matthews pushing down on Rua's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Matthews passes into side control, despite Rua's attempt to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Who's going to make the next move?
Rua is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Rua throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Rua keeps Matthews under control for a moment.
Rua taking punishment in the form of punches.
Rua is looking for a sweep.
Rua is still trying to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rua misses with a strike from the bottom.
Matthews wants to stand but Rua is controlling his arm.
Matthews is looking to take a break and control but Rua is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rua gets back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matthews prevents Rua from improving his position.
Matthews really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Rua is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Matthews's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Matthews's back!
Matthews trying to control but not successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rua is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Rua working for a choke but Matthews reverses nicely into Rua 's guard.
Rua tries to strike from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matthews wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.
Matthews being controlled here momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua keeping moving, preventing Matthews from controlling successfully.
Rua avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Rua working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Matthews doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Matthews manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rua pulls Matthews in close to prevent any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rua throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ricio Rua will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rua changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Matthews tries to avoid it but Rua manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Matthews to the ground. Matthews escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Matthews misses with a two punch combination.
Mike Matthews is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Matthews moves into the clinch.
Rua fails to pull guard.

Rua breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Rua shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Matthews's guard.
Rua throws a big elbow that misses.
Matthews wants to stand but Rua is controlling the position.
Matthews working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rua.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matthews wants to stand and escape but Rua is having none of it.
Rua throws a big right hand that misses.
Matthews is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Rua dives into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Matthews is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Rua working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Matthews parries the strikes from Rua easily there. Rua is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Matthews to escape.
Matthews definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

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.
Rua throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Matthews works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Matthews keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Rua is working for a kimura but Matthews is defending it quite comfortably.
Rua missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua thows a huge punch but Matthews dodges it nicely.

Rua is working for a submission of some sort.

Rua is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Matthews defends it well.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Rua throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Matthews to regain full guard.

Rua drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Matthews manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rua has Matthews in his guard.

Rua has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rua is on top in guard.

Rua makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rua throwing strikes but missing.
Rua throws an elbow that misses. Matthews uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rua's guard. Nice move by Matthews!

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rua keeping moving, preventing Matthews from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricio Rua showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Rua closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Rua throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Rua wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Matthews, who protects the arm well.

Rua working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Rua misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rua misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Rua is trying to get an arm triangle but Matthews is defending well.
Rua working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Matthews takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Rua looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Rua in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rua is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Matthews is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Matthews can't do much from the bottom here.
Rua throws a strike aimed at the side of Matthews's head but Matthews avoids it well.
Rua lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Matthews tries to bench press Rua off him but Rua keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rua tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Rua looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Matthews is avoiding damage well.
Rua scores with a big shot from side control... and another... and another! Oh Matthews is done here - save him referee! More strikes land and eventually the ref does step in and Rua can finally stop beating on his defenseless opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ricio Rua!
Mike Matthews spoke after the fight, saying 'I will take alot from this loss, but a rematch is on the cards, maybe next time he wont be so lucky'.