PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bulgarian Kickboxer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anderson Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kickboxer comes into the arena with Paul Hertzog - The Eagle Lands blaring out of the sound system. Anderson Rua has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Bulgarian Kickboxer's chin.

Kickboxer
vs
Rua

180 cm
26
190 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

185 cm
26
190 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Bulgarian Kickboxer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anderson Rua!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Franklyn Lucas and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua throws out a loose jab but Kickboxer uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kickboxer slips a jab from Rua.
Kickboxer is looking to counter with a body kick.
Kickboxer cracks the inside of Rua's front leg.
Kickboxer scores with a kick to the midsection.
Kickboxer connects with an inside leg kick.

Rua shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kickboxer is trying to defend but Rua finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Rua not doing much here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rua trying to control the action but Kickboxer is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kickboxer is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kickboxer is pressing down on Rua's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Rua pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kickboxer is keeping the position for now.

Kickboxer working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rua doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rua manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rua postures up in Kickboxer's guard and throws a big left but Kickboxer blocks it.
Rua passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Rua is looking to take a break and control but Kickboxer is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kickboxer is looking for a sweep.

Rua stands up and beckons Kickboxer to his feet.
Rua takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Rua shoots in for a double leg but Kickboxer sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Some bone on bone action there as Kickboxer checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Kickboxer scores with a head kick. Rua tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Rua will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kickboxer lands with a slapping head kick.
Rua closes the distance looking to clinch
and Kickboxer counters with a body kick that stops Rua in his tracks momentarily.
Anderson Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kickboxer lands with a slapping head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A thudding body kick lands there by Kickboxer!
Kickboxer fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rua has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Rua shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Kickboxer manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kickboxer is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kickboxer wants to sweep but no luck.

Kickboxer escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rua gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Kickboxer looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bulgarian Kickboxer dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rua tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kickboxer manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
It appears Kickboxer was looking to counter with a kick there.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rua or perhaps it was just good defense by Kickboxer, which made it look bad.
Rua fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kickboxer looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Rua has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Kickboxer.
Rua closes the distance looking to clinch
and Kickboxer counters with a nice body kick.
Bulgarian Kickboxer is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rua shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kickboxer counters with a good low kick that Rua was not able to check.
Rua is breathing heavily.
Kickboxer throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rua stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kickboxer avoids the head kick by Rua.
Kickboxer lands a nice looking body kick.
Kickboxer ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kickboxer lands a front kick.
Rua tries for a takedown but Kickboxer circles away easily
and Kickboxer counters with a body kick that stops Rua in his tracks momentarily.
Bulgarian Kickboxer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anderson Rua.
Rua takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rua shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kickboxer defends it nicely.
Kickboxer definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Kickboxer throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kickboxer throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Rua on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kickboxer is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rua can do to turn this around?
Kickboxer lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rua tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Kickboxer counters with a head kick.
Kickboxer lands a jab to Rua's midsection.
Kickboxer cracks the inside of Rua's front leg.
Kickboxer scores with a head kick.
Kickboxer lands with a good body shot.

Kickboxer throws a head kick that lands with a deafening thwack! The crowd roars as Rua stumbles backwards and falls to the mat. Kickboxer follows into mount!

Rua is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kickboxer swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:21 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Bulgarian Kickboxer!
During a confident post fight interview, Bulgarian Kickboxer thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.