PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Salvador Cannon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rua has chosen ANTE UP - M.O.P. as his entrance music. Salvador Cannon had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Cannon
vs
Rua

188 cm
21
212 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

190 cm
20
215 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very strong

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Salvador Cannon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mauricio Rua!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Elvis Blanc and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Rua as Cannon shoots in.
Rua moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Rua misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cannon.
An inside leg kick lands from Rua.
Cannon fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rua lands a body shot.
Rua connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Jab from Rua.
Rua swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rua throws a jab when Cannon was well out of range.
Cannon takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rua swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rua misses with an uppercut. Cannon saw that one coming.
Rua misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cannon blocks a jab.
Rua thumps Cannon with a low kick.
Cannon swings for the body but Rua moves out of range.
Cannon keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rua misses with a wild body shot.
Cannon misses with a wild combination.
Cannon throws a body punch but Rua moves out of range.
Rua throws a hook but Cannon avoids it easily.
Rua throws the left hand but Cannon avoids the punch easily.
Mauricio Rua is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rua is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cannon.
Cannon uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rua.
A lazy left from Rua finds it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cannon punishes Rua's body with a nice straight punch.
Rua tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cannon was well out of range. Poor timing from Rua.
Cannon blocks a jab.
Cannon shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rua pinned against the cage. Rua gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Salvador Cannon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cannon throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rua throws a shot from downtown. Cannon moves away and avoids it.
Rua misses with the combination.
Cannon is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rua sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rua connects with a good right hand that stumbles Cannon. Cannon circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua misses with a wild body shot.
Cannon throws a body punch but Rua moves out of range.
Rua ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Horrible takedown by Cannon or perhaps it was just good defense by Rua which made him look bad.
Cannon is looking to wear down Rua with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Rua just misses with a punch to the body.
Cannon misses with a body shot.
Cannon moves forwards but Rua connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Mauricio Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rua feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cannon's calf.
Cannon moves out of range as Rua throws a body kick.
Rua throws an overhand right that lands on Cannon's shoulder, as Cannon tries to avoid the shot.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cannon is defended easily by Rua.
Cannon shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rua sprawls well. Rua wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cannon gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cannon sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rua changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Cannon blocks a jab.
Rua's corner calls for a 1-2. Rua obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Cannon shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rua is looking to get to half guard.
Cannon landing strikes, looking to finish!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Rua dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rua scores with a decent looking hook.
Horrible takedown by Cannon or perhaps it was just good defense by Rua which made him look bad.

Cannon drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Cannon tries to advance to mount but can't.
Rua is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Cannon throws an elbow but Rua slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cannon throws an elbow but Rua slips to the side and avoids it well.
Rua struggling a bit here.
Cannon lands some shots froms side control.
Cannon trying to control the action but Rua is working from the bottom.
Cannon in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Cannon working away.
Cannon trying to control the action but Rua is working from the bottom.
Rua sneaks back into half guard.

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 tries to get to full guard but Cannon has control of the leg.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cannon missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rua blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cannon.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rua moves into range and connects with a jab.
Rua jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rua jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cannon moves away.
Cannon takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Rua misses with a straight left.

Cannon shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Cannon was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Rua suckers Cannon into throwing a sloppy strike and uses the momentum to reverse the position beautifully! Rua is now in Cannon's guard!
Cannon is controlling Rua's posture.
Cannon trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua trying to control but Cannon is working from the bottom.
Cannon managing to control the position.
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.
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.

Cannon throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rua smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Nice defenses there by Cannon.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rua.
Cannon with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Rua to score with a decent uppercut.
Rua scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Rua moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Cannon checks a leg kick nicely.
Rua connects with a high kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rua misses the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cannon fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rua manages to avoid it.
Rua with a hook.
Rua throws a hook but Cannon blocks it.
Cannon avoids the body shot from Rua.
Cannon takes one on the button.
Cannon ducks under a wild hook from Rua.
Rua throws a low kick but it's checked well by Cannon.
Cannon avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Cannon checks a low kick from Rua.
Cannon moves away from the strike by Rua.
Rua scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Cannon doesn't seem bothered though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua misses with a wild body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rua. Cannon does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cannon moves out of range as Rua strikes.
Nice jab there from Rua.
Rua connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Rua misses with a hook to the body

and Cannon counters with a single leg into guard. Rua didn't expect that.
Cannon trying to control but Rua is working from the bottom.
Rua working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cannon.
Cannon trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rua being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cannon works over Rua with some ground and pound from guard.
Cannon with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rua preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Salvador Cannon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Cannon postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Rua is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Cannon, into his guard.
Rua looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua looking to sit in guard and control but Cannon gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
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.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cannon won't allow Rua to sweep him here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mauricio 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30

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