PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between William Jennings Bryan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bryan comes into the arena with Taylor Swift- Love Story blaring out of the sound system. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Jennings Bryan
vs
Rua

180 cm
22
178 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

179 cm
23
179 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Solid chin

[MMABR] Philter Nutri {q144 for 10$}

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, William Jennings Bryan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mauricio Rua!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Seu Braga and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bryan avoids a kick to the body.
Bryan takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Rua tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mauricio Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rua misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rua tries to clinch but Bryan moves out of range.
Rua misses with an attempted mid kick.
Rua throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rua throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Rua is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rua misses with a head kick.
Rua tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bryan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rua throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Bryan scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Bryan throws a strike aimed at the side of Rua's head but Rua avoids it well.
Bryan landing a few strikes.
Rua is being controlled here.
Rua wants to get back to his feet.
Rua is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua trying to remain calm as Bryan controls from the top position.
Bryan has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rua wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
You can see the frustration on Rua's face as Bryan controls the position.
Bryan has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Bryan content just to control the position here.

Bryan looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Bryan trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two 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.
Bryan looking to control and managing it successfully.
Rua trying desperately to get to his feet.
Bryan tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Bryan working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Rua trying desperately to get to his feet.
Bryan tries to control but Rua wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryan tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

The referee stands the fighters back up. William Jennings Bryan just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Rua throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bryan will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rua moves in looking to clinch but Bryan pushes him off.
Bryan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rua pinned against the cage. Rua gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rua looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rua throws a sloppy head kick and Bryan moves out of range easily.

Bryan 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.
Bryan stops Rua from standing up.
Bryan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bryan stops Rua from standing up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rua can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bryan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rua is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bryan is controlling him.
Bryan seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bryan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bryan throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rua's waist but Rua gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bryan off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for William Jennings Bryan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bryan shoots in but Rua avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rua lands a head kick. Bryan smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mauricio Rua will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rua misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rua throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bryan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rua tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rua lands with a kick to the temple. Bryan shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bryan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bryan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rua tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rua throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bryan looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rua is fending him off so far but Bryan persists. Nope, Rua circles away and we're back to standing.
Rua doesn't manage to clinch there - Bryan circles away.
Rua throws a quick inside leg kick.
Rua goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Rua pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rua tries to clinch up but Bryan circles away and keeps his distance.

Rua gets caught flat footed, as Bryan shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Bryan content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryan wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua wants to get back to his feet but Bryan is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bryan is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Rua wants to get back to his feet but Bryan is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bryan content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rua is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bryan is controlling him.
Bryan stays in close to Rua's body and controls the position.
Rua wants to stand and escape but Bryan is having none of it.
Bryan wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.

The referee stands the fighters back up. William Jennings Bryan just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Rua pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua misses with a head kick.
Bryan blocks a head kick by Rua.
Rua tries to clinch up but Bryan circles away and keeps his distance.
Rua misses with an attempted mid kick.
Rua misses with a head kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bryan.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for William Jennings Bryan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rua misses with a head kick.
Rua is looking to clinch but Bryan is avoiding it.

Rua gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rua is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rua is breathing heavily.
Bryan controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Bryan seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rua for as long as he can get away with.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua is looking to stand up but Bryan isn't so interested in that idea.
Bryan looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Bryan trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rua wants to get back to his feet but Bryan is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mauricio Rua will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rua fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rua scores with a head kick.
Bryan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Rua closes the distance and clinches.
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but Bryan blocks with his arms.
Rua with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Bryan tries for a takedown but Rua manages to get underhooks.
Rua tries to land knees in the clinch but Bryan avoids the damage to the body.

Bryan has clasped his hands together around Rua's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Bryan wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rua, who protects the arm well.
Bryan prevents Rua from escaping the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rua is not content to let Bryan control the position.
Bryan content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bryan is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rua knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Rua is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Bryan asserts his dominance and retains side control.
A lull in the action here as Bryan stalls from top position.

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

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bryan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rua moves in looking to clinch but Bryan pushes him off.
Bryan avoids the head kick by Rua.
Rua throws a head kick but Bryan moves out of range.

Bryan drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Bryan in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Bryan staying calm.

Bryan tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryan is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Rua's shoulder. That is not cool.

Bryan tries for a kimura but Rua is defending well.
Rua is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rua goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Bryan will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for William Jennings Bryan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rua gets caught flat footed, as Bryan shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Bryan is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rua is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rua has escaped and now he's on top!
Rua won't allow Bryan to sweep him here.
William Jennings Bryan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rua tries to stand but Bryan is controlling from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
William Jennings Bryan showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rua has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Mauricio Rua!