PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ammar Hjelm (ranked 24573 p4p, 6679 weight class) and Ubereem Rua (ranked 472 p4p, 461 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Hjelm might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Cult of personality. Ubereem Rua will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Hjelm
vs
Rua

152 cm
18
150
1 - 2 - 0

170 cm
18
144
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good takedowns
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ammar Hjelm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ubereem Rua !
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, George Francis and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rua shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rua showed some decent athleticism there.
Rua is looking to advance position but Hjelm won't allow it.
Rua wants to take a breather but Hjelm is having none of it.
Rua might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hjelm haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Hjelm could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Hjelm controlling the position well.
Rua tries to stand and escape but Hjelm is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rua wants to work for an arm triangle but Hjelm is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Hjelm controlling the position for now.

Rua is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua is trying to control the action in half guard but Hjelm is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Rua is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Hjelm still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Hjelm has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Rua tries to improve position but can't.
Hjelm working away.
Rua tries to bench press Hjelm off him but Hjelm keeps the position.
Hjelm trying to control the action but Rua is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua tries to improve position but can't.
Rua tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Hjelm easily slips into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hjelm moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Rua has worked his arm free - good work by Rua !
Rua is looking to regain half guard here but Hjelm keeps moving and retains side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hjelm working away.
Hjelm tries to stand but Rua is controlling his head.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

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.
Rua manages to work his way to half guard, despite Hjelm's best efforts.
Rua is not content to let Hjelm control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rua closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Hjelm punching from the bottom.
Hjelm has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rua is working away from the top position though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rua tries to pass to full mount but Hjelm defends it.
Rua is figuring out what he wants to do next.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ubereem Rua will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rua throws the kick towards the body but Hjelm avoids it.
Rua shoots in looking for a takedown. Hjelm tries to sprawl out of it but Rua keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hjelm manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rua moves out of range of the leg kick from Hjelm.
Hjelm moves out of range of the strikes.
Hjelm appears to be looking for a big counter.

Hjelm gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rua is pushing down on Hjelm's leg trying to pass to half guard. Hjelm is fighting to maintain full guard but Rua has managed to sneak the leg through.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rua blocks the strikes from Hjelm.
Hjelm gets full guard.
Rua looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Hjelm trying to keep a closed guard but Rua is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ubereem Rua has got the better of the ground game so far.

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

Rua closes the distance and pushes Hjelm back into the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Hjelm looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Stalling in the clinch from Rua .

Rua has clasped his hands together around Hjelm's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Rua throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Rua wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hjelm keeps working.
Rua working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Hjelm can't do much from the bottom here.

Rua goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Hjelm rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Rua 's guard! Nice work there by Hjelm!
Rua working a defensive guard here.
Hjelm wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rua has his foot on Hjelm's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hjelm works his way back into a safe position though.
Hjelm sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rua wants to stand up but Hjelm is controlling him.
Hjelm won't allow Rua to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hjelm in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hjelm might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rua is pulling down on Hjelm's head. It's preventing any offense from Hjelm, at least for the moment.
Rua wants to get back to his feet but Hjelm is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hjelm loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hjelm will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Rua drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rua trying to control the position but Hjelm is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ubereem 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Hjelm shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rua defends it nicely.
Hjelm throws a lazy head kick

and Rua holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Rua gets control of Hjelm's arms and successfully pulls guard. Rua will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Rua is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hjelm trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
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.
Hjelm wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.
Rua is trying to keep Hjelm in close.
Rua utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Rua keeping moving, preventing Hjelm from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Rua drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rua advances to half guard.
Hjelm is refusing to be controlled, as Rua sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hjelm pushes Rua off looking to stand but Rua dives back in and keeps control.
Rua tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Hjelm.
Rua wants to pass to mount but Hjelm is defending the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hjelm wants to control but Rua is keeping busy.
Hjelm wants to get back to full guard.
Rua trying to pass the guard but Hjelm defending well.
Rua passes to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hjelm is trying to control Rua 's posture but Rua avoids it.
Rua postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Rua wants to stand but Hjelm has his arm trapped.

Rua is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hjelm is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Rua wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hjelm keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hjelm is trying to control Rua 's posture but Rua avoids it.
Hjelm is not content to let Rua control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hjelm throws a body kick that misses.
Rua fails with a takedown attempt.
Hjelm feinted with a counter takedown.
Hjelm doesn't manage to clinch there - Rua circles away.
Rua throws a counter combo.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rua shoots in looking for a takedown but Hjelm manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rua 's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rua takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Hjelm closes the distance and clinches.
Ammar Hjelm has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ubereem Rua is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hjelm throws a punch but it's blocked by Rua .

And that's the end of the fight!
Ubereem 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 George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30

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