PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yonjiro Yoshioka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yoshioka comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Eye of The Tiger kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Rua
vs
Yoshioka

183 cm
23
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
19
157 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Thiago Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yonjiro Yoshioka!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Kenichi Hosakawa and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua has his takedown stuffed
and Yoshioka counters with a head kick. That will keep Rua thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Yoshioka rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rua moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Yoshioka pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Yoshioka lands a head kick that stumbles Rua and the fighters go to the mat.

Rua is rocked!

It looks like Thiago Rua has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Yoshioka accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Rua has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Yoshioka can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Rua is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Rua working for a triangle but Yoshioka defends it easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Yoshioka got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rua has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Yoshioka has managed to get both his arms back between Rua's legs - danger averted.
Yoshioka must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Yoshioka trying to control but Rua is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Yoshioka wants to pass the guard but Rua is keeping the position.

Rua is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Rua looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Yoshioka lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Rua is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yoshioka stopping the sweep attempt from Rua.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rua is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Yoshioka is aware though and is defending well.
Yoshioka in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshioka throwing strikes but missing.

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

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:22 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Thiago Rua!