PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gonzo Iglesias (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcelo Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Iglesias
vs
Rua

184 cm
22
194 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
22
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Dangerous GnP
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gonzo Iglesias!
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, Marcelo Rua!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Cecil Peabody and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Iglesias lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

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.
Iglesias keeping full guard, as Rua tries to pass.

Iglesias had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rua defends it easily.
Rua chips away with some ground and pound.
Rua wants to control from the top but Iglesias keeps moving.

Iglesias 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.
Iglesias preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rua's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Iglesias controls Rua momentarily but Rua frees himself.

Iglesias working for a triangle but Rua defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rua accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Iglesias working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rua doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rua manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rua loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rua throwing strikes from guard but Iglesias blocks nicely.
Iglesias wants to sweep but no luck.
Rua scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Iglesias is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rua working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rua connects with a couple of short punches.
Rua is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Iglesias is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Iglesias 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 lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rua working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rua slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Iglesias 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 connects with a couple of short punches.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rua is in close to Iglesias's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Iglesias keeping full guard, as Rua tries to pass.

Iglesias is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rua is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iglesias keeping full guard, as Rua tries to pass.
Rua is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Iglesias working a defensive guard here.

Iglesias has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rua can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Iglesias keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.
Rua slips nicely into half guard.
Iglesias is trying to maintain the position but Rua is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four 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.
Iglesias is refusing to be controlled, as Rua sits in half guard.
Iglesias wants to get back to full guard.
Rua thows a huge punch but Iglesias dodges it nicely.
Iglesias has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rua is working away from the top position though.
Rua trying to control from half guard but Iglesias is working away.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Iglesias stuffs the takedown attempt from Rua. Rua gets slowly back to his feet.
Rua with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Iglesias to score with a decent uppercut.
Iglesias throws a nice outside leg kick.
Gonzo Iglesias is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Iglesias lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Rua doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Iglesias misses with a two punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Marcelo Rua will probably get the nod.
That's time! Iglesias's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rua takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Iglesias will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Rua darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rua scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Rua wants to pass the guard but Iglesias is defending well.
Iglesias is trying to get back to full guard.
Iglesias trying to hold on to Rua's head to control him but Rua postures up.
Iglesias tries to get to full guard but Rua has control of the leg.
Iglesias is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rua is stalling here. Iglesias is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Rua seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Iglesias has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Iglesias tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Iglesias is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rua knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Iglesias wants to stand but Rua has his arm trapped.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rua can't do much from the bottom here.
Rua gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Iglesias is working for a submission of some sort.
Rua desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iglesias prevents Rua from improving his position.
Rua trying to control here.
Rua slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Iglesias stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rua swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Iglesias has gone for a leg lock! Rua slips out almost immediately though and dives into Iglesias's guard.
Rua lands a couple of digs.
Rua with a flurry of punches that miss.
Iglesias lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rua!
Rua is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Iglesias is looking to stand but Iglesias has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcelo Rua showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Iglesias throws a right and a left that Rua avoids nicely.

Rua shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Iglesias manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Rua postures up.

Iglesias throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Iglesias had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rua defends it easily.
Iglesias controls Rua momentarily but Rua frees himself.
Rua chips away with some ground and pound.
Rua working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Iglesias's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua works over Iglesias with some ground and pound from guard.
Iglesias is trying to control the position but Rua postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rua avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Iglesias can't keep his opponent in guard - Rua advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rua in particular looking to stall.
Nice strikes from Rua there.
Rua working Iglesias over with strikes.
Rua lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Rua prevents Iglesias from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Iglesias is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rua pulls his head out easily.
Rua works his way into full mount!
Iglesias is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
A nice elbow there by Rua.
Rua scoring with strikes but Iglesias is staying in there.
Rua lands a big elbow.

Iglesias is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rua is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Oh Iglesias is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Oooooh, big shot lands for Rua! Iglesias is hurt baaadly! Rua is firing away with more strikes - Iglesias is covering up... the ref is warning him to do something. He's just covering up though still and the ref has to step in to end the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Marcelo Rua!