PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sofoklis Aristotelis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyoto Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lyoto Rua has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Aristotelis
vs
Rua

225 cm
27
265 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

187 cm
44
274 lbs
34 - 14 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sofoklis Aristotelis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 34 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lyoto Rua!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aristotelis is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Aristotelis moves into the clinch.

Rua manages to pull guard.
Aristotelis stops Rua from standing up.
Rua 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 has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Aristotelis can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aristotelis is looking to stand up but Rua won't let him.
Aristotelis slips nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aristotelis is taking a breather. Rua says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Rua is looking to control Aristotelis's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rua avoid being mounted?
Rua tries to roll over but Aristotelis keeps him under control.
Aristotelis will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Aristotelis is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Rua is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

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.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
No luck for Rua with that takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Aristotelis as Rua shoots in.

Aristotelis closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rua lands a body shot.
Aristotelis lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Aristotelis gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Lyoto Rua has been cut.
Aristotelis misses with a punch on the inside.
With the fighters up against the cage, Aristotelis throws an elbow but misses.
Aristotelis misses with a punch on the inside.
Aristotelis misses with an elbow strike.
Aristotelis lands an elbow that stopped Rua in his tracks for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aristotelis gets through Rua's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Aristotelis lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Aristotelis comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Rua breaks the clinch.

Aristotelis pushes Rua up against the cage in a clinch.
Rua goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Aristotelis lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Rua has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Aristotelis regains guard immediately.

Aristotelis pushes Rua off and gets back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Aristotelis closes the distance and clinches.
Rua blocking some punches.
Rua misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aristotelis pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Rua has clasped his hands together around Aristotelis's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Rua tries to move to mount but Aristotelis blocks the move with his legs.
Rua working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Aristotelis is not content to let Rua control the position.
Rua working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Rua prevents Aristotelis from escaping the position.
Rua tries to advance to mount but Aristotelis denies him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sofoklis Aristotelis dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lyoto Rua's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Aristotelis wants to clinch.
Rua unleashes a big counter combination but Aristotelis bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Rua fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Aristotelis stuffs the takedown.

Rua tries to keep at a distance but Aristotelis has taken the fight into the clinch.
A short right from Aristotelis.
Aristotelis lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aristotelis throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Rua blocks the elbow strike.
Nice elbow from Aristotelis.
Aristotelis comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Rua is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Aristotelis gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sofoklis Aristotelis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lyoto Rua.
Rua jumps guard but Aristotelis turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua takes a shot to the head.
Aristotelis lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Rua tries to pull guard but Aristotelis holds him up against the cage and eventually Rua drops back down to his feet.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Aristotelis just misses with a elbow thrown towards Rua's brow.
Aristotelis lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rua backwards.

Rua turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rua looks up at the clock and then as Aristotelis takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Rua smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Aristotelis is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Aristotelis trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Aristotelis can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aristotelis tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rua wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Rua working away.
Aristotelis is looking for a sweep.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Aristotelis is trying to buck Rua off.
Rua wants to control for a moment but Aristotelis uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua is looking to stall here but Aristotelis recovers full guard.
Rua is looking to pass into half guard but Aristotelis pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Aristotelis is in guard.

Rua wants to stand up but Aristotelis is controlling him.
Rua is trying to control the position but Aristotelis postures up.
Rua might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Aristotelis haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

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.
Aristotelis controlling from the top position.
Rua wants to stand up but Aristotelis is controlling him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Aristotelis on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rua. Rua obviously looking to wear him down.
Aristotelis dodges the punch combination from Rua.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rua gets in close and instigates a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sofoklis Aristotelis dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Lyoto Rua's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Rua fails to land the takedown.

Aristotelis drives through and clinches with Rua against the cage.
A short right from Rua on the inside.
Aristotelis makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Rua stalling in the clinch but Aristotelis improves position.
Aristotelis lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Rua blocks an elbow strike.
Aristotelis throws a punch but it's blocked by Rua.
Aristotelis swings away with an uppercut that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aristotelis misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rua wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Aristotelis has him pressed against the cage.
Rua has a couple of punches blocked by Aristotelis.
Aristotelis working aggressively here.
Aristotelis lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aristotelis presses Rua against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Aristotelis lands a hook that snaps the head of Rua backwards.
Rua goes for a takedown in the clinch but Aristotelis prevents it.
Aristotelis swings wildly with an uppercut but Rua uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rua's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rua blocking some punches.
Rua is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Aristotelis pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sofoklis Aristotelis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lyoto Rua.
Aristotelis throws an elbow that misses.
Rua blocks an elbow strike.
Rua is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Aristotelis is defending well.
Aristotelis lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Aristotelis lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Rua.
Rua takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rua is trying to force a seperation but Aristotelis has the dominant position.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Aristotelis just misses with a elbow thrown towards Rua's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Aristotelis is defending well.
Rua is trying to break free.
Aristotelis gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Rua working hard to break the clinch.
Aristotelis is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rua can do to turn this around?
Aristotelis lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Aristotelis lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rua has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Aristotelis is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Aristotelis lands a hook that snaps the head of Rua backwards.
Rua takes an elbow to the temple.
Aristotelis can't find room to land a body shot as Rua controls the action.
Rua drops down looking for an ankle pick but Aristotelis pulls his leg out and moves away.

Aristotelis closes the distance and clinches.
Aristotelis pushes off an throws an elbow but Rua leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rua has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Aristotelis regains guard immediately.

Aristotelis is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Rua presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Rua can't break the clinch.
Aristotelis looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Aristotelis.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Aristotelis.
Rua stalling against the cage.
Rua fails to pull guard.
Aristotelis throws a head punch that misses.
A short right from Aristotelis on the inside.
Aristotelis tries to throw a body punch but Rua avoids it by throwing Aristotelis back against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rua changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Aristotelis fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sofoklis Aristotelis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Aristotelis gets a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua working hard to break the clinch.
Rua tries to pull guard but Aristotelis forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Aristotelis throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Aristotelis lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rua backwards.
Aristotelis throws a head punch that misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Aristotelis just misses with a elbow thrown towards Rua's brow.
Rua tries to work over Aristotelis's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Aristotelis working aggressively here.
Rua throws a punch but it's blocked by Aristotelis.
Aristotelis working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Rua avoids a wild elbow strike from Aristotelis.
Sofoklis Aristotelis is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Aristotelis misses with a hook to the ribs.
Lyoto Rua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rua tries to break the clinch but Aristotelis is controlling the position.
Rua misses with a hook from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sofoklis Aristotelis showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Aristotelis, 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sofoklis Aristotelis!
An out of breath and clearly excited Sofoklis Aristotelis thanked GREEN!160 for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).