PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Manny Ortega (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Felipe Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ortega
vs
Rua

190 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Manny Ortega!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Felipe Rua!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Patrick Alders and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ortega rushes Rua and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Rua is fighting off a takedown attempt but Ortega is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Rua to the mat. Rua regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Ortega postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ortega is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Rua trying to control the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rua is on top in guard.

Rua is fighting to break Ortega's control of his arms but Ortega is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ortega 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 prevents Ortega from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua wants to stand but Ortega is controlling his posture from full guard.
Rua controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rua forces his way into half guard.
Ortega has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rua is working away from the top position though.
Rua throws a strike but Ortega avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Rua wants to control from the top but Ortega keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Ortega controls Rua momentarily but Rua frees himself.
Ortega keeping full guard, as Rua tries to pass.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Rua is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ortega misses with a wild combination.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Ortega enables Rua to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Ortega manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Ortega working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua wants to stand but Ortega is controlling his posture from full guard.
Rua wants to pass the guard but Ortega is keeping the position.
Ortega being controlled here, momentarily.
Rua looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rua slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Rua thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Rua is pushing down on Ortega's leg trying to pass to half guard. Ortega is fighting to maintain full guard but Rua has managed to sneak the leg through.
Rua is looking to take a break and control but Ortega is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ortega manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rua scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rua makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felipe Rua dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ortega shoots in for a takedown but Rua shows good takedown defense.
Ortega closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rua circles away.

Rua looking to score a takedown here. Ortega is defending well but Rua drives through and ends up in Ortega's guard.
Ortega looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rua is one step ahead there.
Rua is looking to stand up but Ortega won't let him.
Felipe Rua has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ortega wants to sweep here but Rua controlling him for the moment.
Rua has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Ortega is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rua controls from within his opponent's guard.
Rua wants to pass the guard but Ortega is keeping the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rua doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ortega counters with a three punch combo that has Rua backing up. Rua nods at Ortega to acknowledge the strikes.
Rua shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ortega sprawls well. Ortega wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rua gets slowly back to his feet.
Rua fails with the takedown

and Ortega holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Manny Ortega has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Felipe Rua.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ortega is defending well against a takedown attempt.
A hook to the body from Ortega.
Ortega tries to pull guard but Rua forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Rua managing to block the knees to the body from Ortega.
Rua is trying to pull guard but Ortega has him pressed against the cage.

Ortega manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Rua stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ortega swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ortega keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.
Rua stopping the sweep attempt from Ortega.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Ortega tries to buck Rua off but Rua is having none of it.
Rua controlling the position from side mount.
Rua working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Ortega is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua wants to control but Ortega is keeping him busy.
Ortega on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ortega tries to get out of the position.
Rua is chipping away with strikes.
Rua tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Ortega is looking for a sweep.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rua working away.
Rua scores with a couple of short elbows.
Ortega is not content to let Rua control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felipe 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! And we move into the final round!

Rua circles away from the clinch attempt.
Despite the aggression on Rua's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Rua doesn't manage to clinch there - Ortega circles away.

Ortega drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Ortega controls from within his opponent's guard.
Ortega tries to free his leg and advance position but Rua is retaining full guard.
Rua working a defensive guard but Ortega manages to pass into side control anyway.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ortega tries to stand but Rua is controlling his head.
Rua tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Ortega presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ortega thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Ortega trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ortega wants to get back to his feet but Rua is holding on tight.
Rua is trying desperately to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rua manages to control the position for a moment.
Rua is trying to escape the mount.
Ortega lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Rua keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rua keeps trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua regains half guard.
Rua avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ortega.
Rua manages to get to full guard.
Rua manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ortega manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ortega keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.
Ortega is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ortega keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manny Ortega showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rua 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29

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