PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sparky Anderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Anderson
vs
Rua

173 cm
39
164 lbs
22 - 9 - 0

180 cm
38
168 lbs
30 - 30 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Sparky Anderson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 30 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gabriel Rua!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Gregory Folan and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Rua throws a body kick that misses.
Rua misses with a looping left.
Rua walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Anderson checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Rua bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rua. That's going to slow Anderson down.
Anderson tests Rua's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Anderson lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Anderson ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Anderson scores with a leg kick.
Rua has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Anderson.
Rua gets cracked there but stands up to it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Anderson shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Anderson misses with a hook. Rua ducked under it nicely.
Anderson tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Rua is able to avoid easily.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rua.
Gabriel Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Anderson scores with a crisp jab that stopped Rua in his tracks.
A low kick from Rua is predictable there
and Anderson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rua misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rua tries to move into range but Anderson moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Anderson thuds his shin into the meat of Rua's side.
Anderson throws a right hand that misses
and Rua counters with an outside leg kick.
Anderson checks the leg kick nicely there.
Rua takes one to the chin there.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rua looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Anderson is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Anderson lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Anderson jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Some wild striking there from Rua.
Rua moves away from the strike by Anderson.
A low kick from Rua misses
and Anderson makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Rua throws a head kick that misses.
Anderson thinks about countering with a head kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Anderson's corner calls for a 1-2. Anderson obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Rua is rocked!
Rua attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson checks a leg kick.
Anderson steps in with a hook that catches Rua right on the chin and knocks him to the floor! Anderson follows him down with more strikes and that's all she wrote! Rua looks absolutely devastated.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:10 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sparky Anderson!
Sparky Anderson retains his lightweight title!
Sparky Anderson decided to call for a title shot in his post fight interview, which was very strange given the fact this fight was for a title and he's already the champion. I guess that's what getting punched in the head does for you.
Gabriel Rua spoke after the fight, saying 'For Fucks sake.'.