PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Roma Ko You (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.

Ko You
vs
Rua

177 cm
23
199 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
21
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
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 St Petersburg, Roma Ko You!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mauricio Rua!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Fedor Mirinova and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua blocks the body kick.
Ko You tries to bum rush Rua with a series of wild strikes but Rua uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Ko You clinches up with Rua and pushes him back against the cage.
Ko You tries for a takedown but Rua manages to get underhooks.
A knee to the head by Rua.
Ko You is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rua pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Ko You stalling the fight.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Rua breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ko You is looking to clinch but Rua is avoiding it.
Ko You looks for a takedown but Rua sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roma Ko You. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Ko You!
Ko You shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rua sprawls well. Rua wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ko You gets slowly back to his feet.
Ko You fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rua tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Ko You counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rua can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ko You controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ko You trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rua not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rua tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Ko You throwing strikes from guard but Rua blocks nicely.
Ko You is looking to work some ground and pound but Rua has wrist control.
Rua working a defensive guard but Ko You passes into half guard.
Ko You missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Ko You thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rua's head.
Ko You is controlling the pace.
Ko You tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rua knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Ko You wants to control but Rua is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua tries to get to full guard but Ko You has control of the leg.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Roma Ko You.

Rua shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Ko You napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Ko You tries to improve position but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rua trying to control the position but Ko You is working away.
You can see the frustration on Ko You's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Rua decides to stand up, so the ref orders Ko You to his feet.
Ko You is breathing heavily.
Ko You looks to score with a jab to the body but Rua is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ko You shoots in and gets a takedown into Rua's guard.
Ko You could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Rua is working an open guard so Ko You takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Rua closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ko You's guard.
Rua wants to control from the top but Ko You keeps moving.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Ko You is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mauricio Rua.
Ko You looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roma Ko You dominated that round.
That's time! Ko You's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ko You doesn't manage to clinch there - Rua circles away.

Ko You looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Rua!
Ko You avoids the attempt from Rua to control.

Ko You swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Rua is now in Ko You's guard. A big mistake from Ko You there, giving up the dominant position!
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Ko You is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ko You is trying to control the position but Rua postures up.
Rua has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ko You is proving hard to escape from.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Rua wants to control from the top but Ko You keeps moving.

Ko You escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rua gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rua in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rua wants to get up but he can't break Ko You's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Ko You working for a triangle but Rua defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Ko You has his foot on Rua's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rua works his way back into a safe position though.
Rua wants to control from the top but Ko You keeps moving.
Ko You trying to control the position.
Rua trying to control but Ko You is working from the bottom.

Rua drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Ko You manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rua has Ko You in his guard.
Rua wants to control but Ko You passes easily into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ko You missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ko You misses with a head shot. Rua uses the momentum to regain guard.

Rua throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Ko You escapes and throws Rua's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ko You postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

Ko You goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Rua rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Ko You's guard! Nice work there by Rua!

Ko You working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rua doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Ko You is tightening it up a little... Rua has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Rua reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Rua taps out! nice BJJ there by Ko You!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Roma Ko You!