PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between George Stephanopoulos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tapater Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stephanopoulos comes to the cage accompanied by ABC News Theme Song. Rua has chosen Hordes Of Chaos as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Stephanopoulos
vs
Rua

168 cm
22
138 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Outback Jack's House of Crack
Gifts of the Rainforest

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, George Stephanopoulos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tapater Rua!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Matheus Silva and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rua.
Rua closes this distance looking for a takedown but Stephanopoulos circles away.

Rua closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Rua tries for a kimura but Stephanopoulos is defending well.
Stephanopoulos tries to buck Rua off but Rua is having none of it.

Rua is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Stephanopoulos knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Rua is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Stephanopoulos is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Stephanopoulos gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Rua trying to pass the guard but Stephanopoulos defending well.

Stephanopoulos looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rua throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephanopoulos wants to control but Rua is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Rua is trying to work for a kimura but Stephanopoulos is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stephanopoulos is trying to stand back up but Rua is controlling him

Rua stands up and beckons Stephanopoulos to join him on the feet.
Rua looks gassed!
Stephanopoulos shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rua counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Stephanopoulos throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Stephanopoulos looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rua landing some decent shots from guard.
Rua wants to control from the top but Stephanopoulos keeps moving.
Rua pushes down on Stephanopoulos's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rua is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rua tries to pass to full mount but Stephanopoulos defends it.
Stephanopoulos regains full guard. Nicely done.

Stephanopoulos has his foot on Rua's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rua works his way back into a safe position though.
Rua looking to pass the guard.
Stephanopoulos 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 wants to pass the guard but Stephanopoulos is keeping the position.
Stephanopoulos looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rua is one step ahead there.

Rua avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephanopoulos looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rua is one step ahead there.

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

Stephanopoulos looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Stephanopoulos wants to sweep but no luck.
Rua looking to pass the guard.

Rua thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Stephanopoulos looking for a guillotine here but Rua defends easily.

Rua is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Stephanopoulos is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Stephanopoulos has escaped and now he's on top!
Stephanopoulos trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Rua is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Rua is looking to sinch up a triangle. Stephanopoulos throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Rua's body to avoid the submission. Rua has instead reached around Stephanopoulos's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Rua arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:41 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Tapater Rua!