PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sasha Rua (ranked 1302 p4p, 1002 weight class) and Keith Rodgers (ranked 180 p4p, 143 weight class). Rua comes to the cage accompanied by Champion. Rodgers has chosen Blue Flowers - Doctor Octagon as his entrance music. This should be fireworks!

Rua
vs
Rodgers

180 cm
30
184
12 - 4 - 0

184 cm
23
171
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Granite chin

Finnish Elite Extreme Science
Core Combat

Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sasha Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Keith Rodgers !
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Robert Douchet and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua cracks Rodgers with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Rua slips a jab and a cross from Rodgers .
Rodgers takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Rodgers scores with a nice head shot.
Rodgers takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Rodgers slips under a jab.
Rodgers works the jab nicely.
Rodgers throws a low kick but it's checked well by Rua.
Some bone on bone action there as Rua checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A swing and a miss from Rodgers .
Rua throws a jab but it's blocked by Rodgers .
Rua definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Rodgers lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rua's sensitive parts.
Sasha Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big right from Rodgers misses.
Rodgers uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rua.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rodgers jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Rua tests Rodgers 's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rodgers throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rua ducks under a wild hook from Rodgers .
Rodgers misses the shot to the body.
Rodgers lands with a right hand.
Rua getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodgers tries a low kick but Rua avoids it.
Rodgers wants to slow Rua down by chopping away at his legs.
Sasha Rua is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rua keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Rodgers lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Rua waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rodgers .
Rodgers lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Rodgers scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Rua connects with a body shot that sends Rodgers 's belly button to the back.
Rua scores with a nice right hand.
Rua walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Rodgers chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Rodgers bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Rua's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rua thuds a left hand into Rodgers 's body.
Rua keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rodgers .
Rua scores with a hook to the body. Rodgers takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Rua clobbers Rodgers with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Rua fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rodgers manages to avoid it.
Rodgers connects with a body shot that sends Rua's belly button to the back.
Rodgers fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rodgers has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rodgers scores with the left hand. Rua knows he should have avoided that one.
Rua keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rodgers pushes Rua away with a front kick.
Rodgers throws a poor cross that misses
and Rua counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rodgers throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rua's jab looks to have found its range, popping Rodgers under the eye.
A big right from Rua misses.
Rodgers tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Rua is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Rodgers moves out of range as Rua strikes.
Rodgers throws a head kick that misses.
Rodgers takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A big left from Rua misses.
Rua steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rodgers .
Rodgers lands with an uppercut that bounces Rua off the cage and back into range.
Rodgers wants to slow Rua down by chopping away at his legs.
Rodgers slips a straight right by Rua.
Rua misses with a looping left.
Rua lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Nice shot lands for Rua.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodgers thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rodgers slips a jab from Rua.
Rua uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rodgers .
Rua checks a leg kick.
Rua uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rodgers .
Rodgers scores with the left hand. Rua knows he should have avoided that one.
Rodgers with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Rua misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rodgers .
Rua swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A jab from Rua misses.
Rodgers jabs Rua right on the nose. Rua blinks but takes it well.
Rodgers misses with a body kick.
Rua lands a head shot.
Rua swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rua throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rua takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Rua misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rodgers .
Rua dodges the punch combination from Rodgers .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rodgers on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Rodgers throws a low kick but Rua avoids it.
Rodgers swings widly with a right hand
and Rua counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rodgers misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rodgers misses the jab.
A slow jab from Rua misses its intended target.
Rodgers feints the counter takedown.
Rodgers tries for a takedown but Rua sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rua scores with a nice head shot.
Rua waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rodgers .
Rua listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Rua scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Rua looks to land a right hand but Rodgers moved out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rua misses with a lunging right hand
and Rodgers makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Rua scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Rodgers thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rua swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Rua throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rodgers now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Rua misses the shot to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sasha Rua will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rua throws a body punch but Rodgers moves out of range.
Rua looks to land a right hand but Rodgers moved out of range.
Rua throws out a loose jab but Rodgers uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nice straight punches there by Rua. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Rua.
Rua defending well as Rodgers loads up on a big left hand.
Rua was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Rodgers uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rua.
Rua wants to clinch up but Rodgers keeps it at a distance.
Rodgers throws a leg kick
and Rua counters with a stiff right hand.
Rua lands with a good body shot.
Rua misses with an uppercut

and Rodgers counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rua won't be happy with that.
Rodgers lands some shots froms side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rua is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Rodgers off and has taken his back!
Rua is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Rua is not going to allow Rodgers to sit and survive in this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rua tries to keep control of the position but Rodgers is staying busy.
Rodgers trying to control but not successfully.
Rua is trying to stick to Rodgers 's back but Rodgers is turning into Rua. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Rua's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Rodgers .
Rodgers trying to control but Rua is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodgers is looking to work some ground and pound but Rua has wrist control.
Rua controls Rodgers momentarily but Rodgers frees himself.
Rua controlling Rodgers 's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rodgers loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rua working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rodgers .
Rua working a defensive guard here.
Rodgers looking to pass the guard.
Rua keeping moving, preventing Rodgers from controlling successfully.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua throws a shot to the body.
Rodgers misses with a straight left.
Rodgers misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rua.
Rua throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rodgers stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Rua throws a jab but it's blocked by Rodgers .
Sasha Rua is winning the standup battle so far.
Rodgers blocks a jab.
Rodgers has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Rua stuffs the takedown.
Rodgers uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rua.
A punch combination from Rodgers misses.
Rodgers uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rua.
A swing and a miss from Rodgers .
Rua was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Rua displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rodgers throws out the jab.
Rodgers pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A telegraphed right hand from Rua misses the target.
Rodgers throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Rodgers misses the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua scores with a nice head shot.
Rodgers scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Rua lands a right hook to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A telegraphed right hand from Rua misses the target.
Rua moves away from the strike by Rodgers .
Rodgers throws the left hand but Rua avoids the punch easily.
Rua cracks Rodgers with an open hand slap.
A big right from Rua misses.
Rua throws a lazy uppercut
and Rodgers counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Rua misses with a hook. Rodgers ducked under it nicely.
Rodgers throws out a leg kick but Rua moves out of range and Rodgers only half commits.
Rua throws the left hand but Rodgers avoids the punch easily.
Rodgers slips under a jab.
Rodgers takes one to the side of the head.
Rodgers fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Rua checks it well.
Rua throws an overhand right that lands on Rodgers 's shoulder, as Rodgers tries to avoid the shot.
Rodgers connects with a solid leg kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sasha Rua dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Rua slips a straight right by Rodgers .
Good work by Rua as he checks the leg kick.
Rua throws an off balance right hand
letting Rodgers counter with a right hand.
Rodgers throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Rua fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Rodgers looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Rodgers uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rua.
Rua backing away here, and Rodgers unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Rodgers on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Rodgers takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Rodgers moves away from the strike by Rua.
Rua staying out of range there.
Rodgers slips under a jab from Rua.
Rua checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodgers lands a jab to the nose.
Rodgers throws the kick towards the body but Rua avoids it.
Rodgers jabs Rua right on the nose. Rua blinks but takes it well.
Rodgers lands a slapping body shot.
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!
Rodgers throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rua sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rodgers ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodgers ducks under a wild hook from Rua.
Rodgers cracks Rua with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Rodgers misses with a kick to the body.
Rodgers misses the shot to the body.
Rodgers cracks a nice hook into Rua's ribs.
Rodgers gets cracked there but stands up to it.
The fighters circle momentarily. Rodgers darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Rodgers throws a predictable looking body shot
and Rua counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rodgers looks to land a right hand but Rua moved out of range.
Rua throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rua looks to land a right hand but Rodgers moved out of range.
Rua getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Rua throws a lazy right hand but Rodgers sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rodgers tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Rua on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rodgers . Rodgers obviously looking to wear him down.
Rodgers with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Rua to score with a decent uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rodgers avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rua thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rodgers ducks under a wild hook from Rua.
A little jabbing left from Rodgers on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Keith Rodgers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rodgers gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
A telegraphed right hand from Rua misses the target.
Rua misses with a hook. Rodgers ducked under it nicely.
Rua blocks a leg kick.
Rodgers tries to move into range but Rua moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Rua is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Rodgers tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rodgers looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rodgers scores with a nice head shot.
Rua misses with a straight left.
Rodgers takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Rodgers looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Rua misses with a looping left.
Rua misses with a straight left.
A slow jab from Rua misses its intended target.
Rodgers misses with an uppercut. Rua saw that one coming.
Rua uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rodgers .

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rodgers moves away.
Rodgers has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Rua finds it's way round the side to connect with Rodgers 's head.
Rodgers uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rua.
Rua lands a nice looking body shot.
Rua displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rodgers throws out the jab.
Donk. Rua catches Rodgers right on the button with a cross.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Rua crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Rodgers - the referee stops the clock and Rua gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Rodgers . Rua manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Rua throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rodgers throws a leg kick
and Rua counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rodgers ducks under a wild hook from Rua.
Rua tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rodgers was well out of range. Poor timing from Rua.
Rodgers lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rodgers tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rua defends well and Rodgers ends up having to push Rua into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Rua thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rua smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A jab from Rodgers misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodgers slips under a jab from Rua.
Rua displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rodgers throws out the jab.
Rua keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rodgers blocks a jab.
A jab from Rua misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Rua misses the target.
Rua keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rodgers .
Rodgers staying out of range there.
Rua takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Rodgers misses with a takedown attempt - Rua sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rodgers takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rodgers staying out of range there.
Sasha Rua is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rodgers staying out of range there.
Rodgers throws a body shot but no joy.
Rodgers takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Rua tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A telegraphed right hand from Rua misses the target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sasha Rua showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rua, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sasha Rua!
A relieved looking Sasha Rua thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.