PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Israel Vazquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anderson Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Vazquez
vs
Rua

167 cm
25
153 lbs
4 - 4 - 1

178 cm
25
148 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Israel Vazquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anderson Rua!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Daniel Cesar and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rua closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Vazquez did well to prevent Rua getting side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vazquez is looking for a sweep. Rua is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Vazquez regains full guard. Nicely done.
Vazquez trying to control the position.
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.
Vazquez 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 wanted to stand there but Vazquez had control of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Vazquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rua connects with a couple of short punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vazquez is trying to keep Rua in close.
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Vazquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Vazquez moves into the clinch.
Rua is looking to break free of the clinch but Vazquez has double underhooks.
Rua is trying to pull guard but Vazquez turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Vazquez is trying to stall.
Vazquez slowing the pace effectively.

Vazquez turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Rua manages to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua trying to control from the bottom.
Rua is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Vazquez jumps into side control!
Rua regains half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rua manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Vazquez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rua wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Rua is trying to hold Vazquez in close to prevent damage but Vazquez has managed to pass into half guard.
Rua is doing well to control the position and prevent Vazquez from advancing to side control.
Rua blocking the ground and pound attempt from Vazquez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua is trying to control but can't.
Rua pushes Vazquez off looking to stand but Vazquez dives back in and keeps control.
Rua makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rua.
Rua looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Vazquez trying to control but Rua is working from the bottom.
Vazquez stopping the sweep attempt from Rua.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rua shoots in and gets a takedown into Vazquez's guard.
Rua preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua is stalling in the full guard.
Rua trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rua engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Vazquez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rua is one step ahead there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Vazquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Anderson Rua will probably get the nod.
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.

Vazquez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rua as he avoids it easily.
Some bone on bone action there as Vazquez checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

Rua manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Vazquez on his heels. He'll look to pass Vazquez's guard now, I'm sure.
Rua wants to pass the guard but Vazquez is keeping the position.
Rua engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rua accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rua wanted to stand there but Vazquez had control of the position.
Rua trying to control but Vazquez is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua passes into half guard.
Vazquez wants to get back to full guard.
Rua takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Vazquez trying to hold on to Rua's head to control him but Rua postures up.
Vazquez is trying to stand.
Vazquez manages to get to full guard.

That's two 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.
Vazquez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rua is one step ahead there.
Rua controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rua tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Vazquez.
Israel Vazquez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vazquez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Vazquez fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Israel Vazquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua is looking to clinch but Vazquez is avoiding it.

Vazquez moves into the clinch.
Vazquez is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rua to keep the fight standing.
Vazquez wants a takedown but no success here.
Rua drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Vazquez gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Rua jumps guard but Vazquez stands there with Rua around his waist. Rua gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Rua missing with knees to the body.
Rua has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Rua escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Vazquez avoids the head kick by Rua.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Vazquez wants to clinch up but Rua keeps it at a distance.
Vazquez wants to clinch up but Rua keeps it at a distance.
Rua tries to clinch up
and Vazquez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rua is looking to clinch.

Vazquez closes the distance and clinches.

Vazquez manages to pull guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vazquez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Vazquez keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Anderson Rua will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Vazquez tries to clinch up.
Rua avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rua wants to counter with a clinch but Vazquez pushes him away.
Vazquez dives in and grabs Rua's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rua pushes down on Vazquez's head and hops out.

Vazquez moves into range and clinches up with Rua.
Rua can't break the clinch.
Rua is trying to break free.
Rua is trying to break the clinch but Vazquez is controlling him.
Vazquez tries to pull guard but Rua won't allow it.
Vazquez keeps control of Rua as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rua breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vazquez is looking to clinch but Rua is avoiding it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Vazquez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch but Vazquez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
It looked like Vazquez was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rua gets a takedown into half guard.
Vazquez is staying active underneath Rua, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rua is thwarting Vazquez's attempts to control the position.
Rua not doing much here.
Rua wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vazquez tries to roll over but Rua keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vazquez trying to control here.

Rua stands up out of the half guard.
Rua throws a leg kick but Vazquez sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Rua rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Vazquez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Vazquez tries to clinch up.
Rua feints the counter takedown.
Vazquez moves in looking to clinch but Rua pushes him off.
Rua tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Rua shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Vazquez keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.
Rua's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Rua is continuing to stall.
Rua wants to pass the guard but Vazquez is keeping the position.
Rua wants to stand but Vazquez has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua trying to control but Vazquez is working from the bottom.
Rua is stalling in the full guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Rua trying to control but Vazquez is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Vazquez darts in looking for a takedown but Rua gets double underhooks and turns Vazquez into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Israel Vazquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vazquez works Rua's body with a nice hook.

Rua closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rua lands in his opponent's guard.
Israel Vazquez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anderson Rua is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Vazquez being controlled here, momentarily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anderson Rua comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rua winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29

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