PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pika Kalei (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Royce Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kalei
vs
Rua

170 cm
22
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

179 cm
22
180 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Syndicate Drugs
HARDCORE Fighting Brand

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pika Kalei!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Royce Rua!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Felipe Paraventi and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rua.
Kalei tries to buck Rua off but Rua is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua tries to move into full mount but can't pass Kalei's legs.
Kalei manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Rua wants to get back to full guard.
Rua is in trouble now - Kalei has advanced to mount!
Rua wants to get back to his feet.
Kalei throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Kalei has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Kalei looking for a guillotine from mount but Rua is having none of it.
Rua wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

Kalei is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Rua knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Rua for a finish.
Even with his hooks in, Kalei manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Rua manages to reverse the position and now he's in Kalei's guard. Nice work there by Rua.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kalei throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kalei has a closed guard, preventing Rua from standing up.
Rua looking to pass the guard.

Rua stands up from Kalei's guard - Rua perhaps looking for a knockout.

Kalei looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Rua!
Rua is working to get back to half guard.
Rua avoids a series of strikes thrown by Kalei.
Rua can't escape the position.
Kalei looking to control but Rua is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rua is trying desperately to improve position.
Kalei working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Kalei.
Kalei is breathing heavily.

Kalei with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Rua regains half guard.

Kalei is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rua is just riding it out for now. Kalei eventually gives up the hold.

Kalei seems to be looking for submissions.
Rua gets back to full guard.

Rua has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kalei can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kalei pushing down on Rua's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kalei missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rua wants to get back to full guard.

Kalei is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Kalei moves nicely into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kalei cracks Rua with a big elbow.
Kalei passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Rua!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Kalei looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Kalei is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Rua working to try and regain half guard.
Kalei has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Rua's face.
Rua in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Rua is wriggling around trying to escape.

Kalei is working to isolate an arm here. It's a choreographed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Kalei extends the arm and Rua is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:49 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Pika Kalei!
Pika Kalei is the new welterweight champion!