PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nih Vitorino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryo Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ryo Rua acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Vitorino
vs
Rua

195 cm
18
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nih Vitorino!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ryo Rua!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Robert Twigg and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rua circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rua fails to land with a series of punches.
Rua throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Vitorino's waist but Vitorino gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rua off to one side.

Rua feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Vitorino 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.
Rua tries to free his leg and advance position but Vitorino is retaining full guard.
Rua content to stall in guard here.
Rua stopping the sweep attempt from Vitorino.
Rua landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua postures up in Vitorino's guard and throws a big left but Vitorino blocks it.

Rua decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Vitorino shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Rua closes the distance and clinches.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Vitorino takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Vitorino pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rua shoots in but Vitorino avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Rua looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rua is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rua throwing shots but Vitorino is blocking nicely.
Vitorino looks like he's trying to stand up.
Rua has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Vitorino is refusing to be controlled, as Rua sits in half guard.
Rua looks gassed!
Vitorino blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rua.
Rua not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Vitorino is looking for a sweep. Rua is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Vitorino fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rua shoots and misses

and Vitorino holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Nih Vitorino has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryo Rua.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vitorino wants a takedown.
Rua looking to slow down the pace here.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Vitorino.
Vitorino on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rua wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rua has had enough of the clinch but Vitorino keeps him there for the moment.

Vitorino breaks from the clinch.

Vitorino takes the fight into the clinch.
Rua wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rua wants a takedown but no success here.
Vitorino slowing the pace effectively.
Rua can't break the clinch.
Rua tries for a takedown but Vitorino manages to get underhooks.
Rua wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rua is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Vitorino pulls him back up using the underhooks.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Vitorino lands an uppercut.
Rua goes for a takedown attempt but Vitorino pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Vitorino counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Vitorino controlling the action here.

Rua kicks off Vitorino and gets to his feet.
Vitorino shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rua counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Vitorino working for submissions but it's allowed Rua to get to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rua throwing shots but Vitorino is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryo Rua dominated that round.
That's time! Vitorino's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rua throws a right and a left that both miss.
Vitorino throws a head kick that Rua semi-blocks.
Rua tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rua throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Vitorino tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rua swivels and escapes.
Vitorino tries to clinch up.

Rua shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Rua stopping the sweep attempt from Vitorino.
Rua trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Vitorino manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vitorino won't allow Rua to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vitorino trying to control but Rua is working from the bottom.

Rua wriggles free and stands up.
Rua lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Vitorino circles away quickly and effectively.
Rua thows a body kick. Vitorino tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Rua shoots in for a double leg but Vitorino sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nih Vitorino is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vitorino smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Vitorino with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rua counters with a solid body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Vitorino pushes Rua up against the cage in a clinch.
Rua softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Rua pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Vitorino has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Vitorino tries to close the distance and clinch but Rua swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rua throws a right hand that Vitorino ducks under and follows up with a left that Vitorino also avoids with ease.

Vitorino has closed the distance and engaged Rua in a clinch.
Rua taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Rua has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Vitorino is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rua tries to pull guard but Vitorino won't allow it.
Nih Vitorino has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryo Rua.
Vitorino has Rua pressed against the cage.
Vitorino wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Vitorino misses with an elbow over the top.
Rua with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Vitorino prevents the takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua tries to pull guard but Vitorino won't allow it.
Rua tries to pull guard but Vitorino won't allow it.
Rua tries to pull guard but Vitorino won't allow it.
Vitorino drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rua pulls his leg out and moves away.
Vitorino doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rua counters with a takedown into side control.
Rua trying to control the action but Vitorino is working from the bottom.

Rua decides to stand back up.
Vitorino fails with the takedown

so Rua counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Vitorino pushes Rua off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua throws a combination that misses
and Vitorino counters with a three punch combo that has Rua backing up. Rua nods at Vitorino to acknowledge the strikes.
Rua throws the left hand but Vitorino avoids the punch easily.
Rua misses with a wild combination.
Vitorino shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rua but Rua pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Rua darts in and clinches Vitorino up against the cage.

Rua pulls guard effortlessly.
Vitorino trying to control but Rua is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vitorino missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryo Rua showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. And we move into the final round!

Vitorino with a lazy takedown attempt

and Rua decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Vitorino's guard.
Rua looking to pass the guard.
Rua lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Vitorino is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vitorino is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Vitorino 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 gets to his feet. Vitorino looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vitorino fails with an attempt to clinch.

Rua looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua passes Vitorino's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Rua is trying to work for a kimura but Vitorino is defending well.
Rua works his foot free and advances to mount.
Vitorino tries to lock up and control but Rua gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vitorino is in all sorts of trouble here.
Vitorino is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Vitorino is bucking up trying to escape but Rua cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Vitorino wants to control but Rua is having none of it.
Vitorino wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Rua.
Rua controlling from the full mount.
Rua dominating with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vitorino is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Rua looking to control but Vitorino is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rua cracks Vitorino with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Rua misses with a head shot.
Vitorino gets back to half guard.
Vitorino is refusing to be controlled, as Rua sits in half guard.
Vitorino trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Vitorino tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Vitorino blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rua.
Rua lands strikes from half guard.
Rua throwing shots but Vitorino is blocking nicely.
Rua wants to stand up but Vitorino is controlling the position.
Rua thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Vitorino's head.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Vitorino throws a head kick that half lands.
Vitorino turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rua fails with the takedown.
Nih Vitorino has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ryo Rua is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Vitorino pulls out of a head kick attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryo 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30

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