PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mauricio Rua has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gracie
vs
Rua

195 cm
21
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Thiago Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mauricio Rua!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rua gets a clinch.

Rua pulls Gracie into guard.

Gracie 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!

Gracie is looking for a triangle here but Rua uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Rua tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rua has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Gracie is looking for a sweep.
Rua wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gracie keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie sneaks back into half guard.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Gracie tries to get to full guard but Rua has control of the leg.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rua pulls his head out easily.
Rua wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gracie keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard.
Rua is trying to control. Gracie wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Gracie on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Rua content to control rather than advance.
Rua trying to control the action but Gracie is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mauricio Rua was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Rua clinches with his opponent.
Gracie tries to score a body lock takedown but Rua shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Rua stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Rua is pressed up against the cage. Gracie has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rua down to the mat. Rua avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rua fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gracie, pushing him back against the cage.

Rua has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Gracie uses from the top position.
Rua looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracie is one step ahead there.

Gracie 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!

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Rua defends easily.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Rua passes into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua is looking to take a break and control but Gracie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Gracie's face as Rua controls the position.
Rua trying to control the position but Gracie is working away.
Gracie looking for a sweep but Rua has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Rua has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Gracie's face.
Gracie is looking to get to half guard.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Rua dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Gracie gets tackled into the cage by Rua. Rua maintains the clinch.

Rua jumps guard.

Gracie 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!

Gracie looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Rua is defending well. Gracie quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Rua has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Gracie celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:35 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Thiago Gracie!