PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Emanuel Rodrigez (ranked 3102 p4p, 74 weight class) and Jao Rua (ranked 1330 p4p, 37 weight class). Rua is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Tarantula . Jao Rua is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Rodrigez
vs
Rua

188 cm
30
173 lbs
10 - 18 - 0

178 cm
31
184 lbs
11 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Emanuel Rodrigez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jao Rua!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Topper Green and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rodrigez manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rua on his heels. He'll look to pass Rua's guard now, I'm sure.
Rua looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Rua looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Rua working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rodrigez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rodrigez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rua looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rodrigez is one step ahead there.
Rodrigez being controlled here momentarily.

Rua has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rodrigez 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.
Rua tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua keeping moving, preventing Rodrigez from controlling successfully.

Rua has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rodrigez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rua is trying to control the position but Rodrigez postures up.

Rodrigez got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rua has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rodrigez has managed to get both his arms back between Rua's legs - danger averted.
Rua bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rodrigez's guard.

Rodrigez seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Rua wants to control from the top but Rodrigez keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua tries to free his leg and advance position but Rodrigez is retaining full guard.
Rodrigez looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigez is controlling Rua's posture.

Rodrigez has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Rua has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Rua breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Emanuel Rodrigez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rodrigez closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rodrigez lands in his opponent's guard.
Rodrigez trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rua trying to keep a closed guard but Rodrigez is proving a slippery customer.
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 is looking for a triangle but Rodrigez pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigez trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rodrigez postures up in Rua's guard and throws a big left but Rua blocks it.
Rodrigez postures up.

Rua had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rodrigez defends it easily.
Rua wants to sweep but no luck.
Rua manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rodrigez manages to get himself to full guard.

A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rodrigez holds on and takes a little breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rodrigez working a defensive guard here.
Rua pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rodrigez is keeping the position for now.

Rua lying in Rodrigez's guard like a wet fish here, stalling away. Rodrigez decides he's had enough of all that nonsense - he escapes his hips and locks up an armbar! Wow, that was slick! Rua taps! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Emanuel Rodrigez!
A relieved looking Emanuel Rodrigez thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.