PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Mullen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mullen
vs
Rua

185 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
22
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 Rio de Janeiro, Steve Mullen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mauricio Rua!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Emerson Jorge and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rua closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rua displaying some good clinch control by pressing Mullen up against the cage.

Rua gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Rua controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rua prevents Mullen from getting back to his feet.
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Mullen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Rua pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mullen is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Mauricio Rua wasn't active enough on the ground.

Mullen has closed the distance and engaged Rua in a clinch.
Rua struggles to land a body shot inside as Mullen controls his hands.
Rua leaning against his opponent.
Mullen managing to block the knees to the body from Rua.
Mullen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rua is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Mullen has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Rua is trying to keep an underhook but Mullen manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Mullen gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Rua is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Mullen's half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua is keen to just control but Mullen is a slippery customer.

Rua wants to work for an arm triangle but Mullen is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Rua is working for a submission of some sort.
Rua wants to advance to full mount but Mullen doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mullen has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Rua off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Rua closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Mullen did well to prevent Rua getting side control.
Mullen wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua is pressing down on Mullen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mullen is holding on for now.
Mullen looks like he's trying to stand up.
Rua is trying to control the action in half guard but Mullen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Rua is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
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.

Mullen forces Rua back against the cage and clinches.

Rua breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Rua scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Rua misses with the ground and pound.
Mullen wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Rua trying to control the action but Mullen is working from the bottom.
Rua working the head with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mullen keeps working.

Rua tries for a kimura but Mullen is defending well.

Rua is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Mullen has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Rua tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Mullen tries to contro but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rua looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Rua stands up from mount. Strange move.
Mullen misses with a hook. Rua ducked under it nicely.

Mullen closes the distance and clinches.
Rua misses with a knee strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mullen keeps control of Rua as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rua trying to stall but Mullen improves his position.
Rua working Mullen over with knees to the body.

Rua gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Mullen regains guard.
Rua is breathing heavily.
Mullen wants to get back to his feet but Rua passes into half guard.
Mullen looks like he's trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Rua showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Mullen throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Steve Mullen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mullen keeps the fight on the outside.
Mullen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rua.

Mullen rushes Rua and presses him up against the cage.
Mullen tries for a takedown. No joy.

Rua's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rua wants to clinch

and Mullen moves into the clinch.
Rua throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rua trying to stall but Mullen improves his position.

Rua breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rua takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mullen throws a head kick but Rua moves out of range.
Rua moves in looking to clinch but Mullen pushes him off.

Rua has managed to clinch.

Rua lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Mullen is looking to escape.
Rua is keen to just control but Mullen is a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rua is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Rua is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Mullen doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rua.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mullen pushes Rua off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Mullen counters with a nice low kick that buckles Rua's knee momentarily.

Rua gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Mullen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Mullen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Mullen decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rua, up you get!
Mullen circles away from the clinch attempt
and Mullen counters with a low kick, right behind Rua 's knee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mullen throws a sloppy head kick and Rua moves out of range easily.
A head kick by Mullen misses

and Rua counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mullen keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.
Mullen keeping full guard, as Rua tries to pass.
Steve Mullen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rua with a flurry of punches that miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Steve Mullen.
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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29

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