PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Matt Rugg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Barry Obomba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Rugg
vs
Obomba

174 cm
22
147 lbs
7 - 3 - 1

175 cm
24
153 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Very strong

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matt Rugg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Barry Obomba!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Daniel Cesar and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rugg tries to clinch but Obomba is having none of it.
Rugg tries to close the distance and clinch but Obomba swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rugg tries to clinch up.
Rugg lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Barry Obomba has been cut.
Rugg is looking to clinch.
Rugg is looking to clinch but Obomba is avoiding it.
Horrible takedown by Obomba or perhaps it was just good defense by Rugg which made him look bad.

Rugg clinches up against the cage.
Obomba tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rugg just stands there and leans against the cage.
Obomba can't get the takedown.
Matt Rugg has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Barry Obomba.
Obomba has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rugg is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Obomba looking for a takedown.
Rugg trying to land knees to the body.
Obomba has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rugg is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Obomba tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rugg smiles and moves away.
Rugg tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rugg goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rugg tries to close the distance and clinch up but Obomba swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Obomba misses with a double jab.
Rugg doesn't manage to clinch there - Obomba circles away.
Rugg is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Obomba throws out a leg kick but Rugg moves out of range and Obomba only half commits.
Obomba throws a series of punches but Rugg moves out of range.
Rugg is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Obomba lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Rugg has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Rugg and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Obomba fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rugg manages to avoid it.
Rugg tries to close the distance and clinch up but Obomba swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Obomba throws out a leg kick but Rugg moves out of range and Obomba only half commits.
Rugg stuffs the takedown.
Rugg fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rugg misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rugg lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rugg doesn't manage to clinch there - Obomba circles away.
Matt Rugg is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rugg tries to close the distance and clinch up but Obomba swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rugg throws a sloppy head kick and Obomba moves out of range easily.
Both fighters circling a little - Obomba finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Matt Rugg seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Obomba gets the takedown into side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Obomba.

Obomba tries for a kimura but Rugg is defending well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Obomba working the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Obomba is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rugg is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Obomba looks gassed!

Rugg explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Obomba shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Some bone on bone action there as Rugg checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Rugg tries to clinch but Obomba moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rugg looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Obomba fails to land the takedown.
A head kick misses from Rugg.
Obomba misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rugg.

Rugg gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rugg utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Obomba has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Obomba throws a strike but Rugg rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rugg trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Obomba looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Obomba pulls Rugg in close to his closed guard and prevents Rugg from doing any damage or advancing position.
Obomba is trying to keep Rugg in close.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rugg stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Obomba swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Obomba not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Rugg dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Barry Obomba's cut.
That's time! Rugg's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rugg tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Obomba paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Obomba swats away the attempt to clinch by Rugg.
Obomba dives in and grabs Rugg's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rugg pushes down on Obomba's head and hops out.
Rugg wants to clinch up but Obomba keeps it at a distance.
Rugg doesn't manage to clinch there - Obomba circles away.
Rugg stuffs the takedown.
Rugg doesn't manage to clinch there - Obomba circles away.
Obomba swats away the attempt to clinch by Rugg.

Rugg gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rugg utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Obomba postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Obomba passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obomba thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rugg's head.
Obomba thows a huge punch but Rugg dodges it nicely.

Obomba is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Obomba is breathing heavily.
Obomba stops Rugg from getting back to his feet.
Rugg is not content to let Obomba control the position.
Obomba throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Obomba moves nicely into side control.
Rugg wants to get back to his feet.
Obomba postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Obomba throws an elbow but Rugg slips to the side and avoids it well.
An elbow from Obomba crashes against the mat.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rugg is pushing Obomba's head away, looking to escape. Obomba manages to hold on to the position though.
The strikes coming from Obomba are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Rugg wants to get back to his feet.
Rugg is not content to let Obomba control the position.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Obomba with the ground and pound but Rugg regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Obomba wants to pass to mount but Rugg is defending the position.
Rugg knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Obomba on the ground.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Obomba thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Barry Obomba showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Barry Obomba's cut.
That's time! Rugg's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Obomba ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rugg moves away.
Rugg connects with a single shot there.
Obomba throws a chopping leg kick but Rugg manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Obomba shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rugg as he jumps to the side.
Matt Rugg is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rugg tries to clinch up.
Some wild striking there from Rugg.
Rugg is looking to clinch.
Rugg fails with an attempt to clinch.

Obomba rushes Rugg and presses him up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rugg misses with a knee to the head.
Obomba changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rugg fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Obomba turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rugg closes the distance but Obomba moves to the side

and Obomba counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rugg!
Obomba throwing strikes here but Rugg is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Obomba pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
A nice elbow there by Obomba.
Obomba lands a big elbow.
Obomba unloads with some shots from mount but Rugg bucks and avoids them well.
Rugg is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Obomba throwing strikes here but Rugg is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Rugg wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Obomba.
Rugg takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Obomba working Rugg over with strikes here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Obomba can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rugg is looking to escape.
Rugg is trying to stand up.
Obomba unloading with bombs!
Rugg avoids a series of strikes thrown by Obomba.
Obomba is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Obomba unloads with some shots from mount but Rugg bucks and avoids them well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Obomba trying to control but Rugg is having none of it.
Obomba fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Rugg really wants to buck Obomba off and get back to his feet.
Obomba throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Obomba throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Obomba working the ground and pound effectively.

Obomba working for a submission but Rugg is keeping him at bay.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Obomba throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Obomba working the ground and pound effectively.
Rugg holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Obomba tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Obomba tries to control but Rugg wriggling away.
Obomba lands a nice shot to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Barry Obomba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Obomba 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Barry Obomba!