PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nawal Chekhemani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Renzo Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Chekhemani
vs
Rua

170 cm
18
210 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
21
210 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nawal Chekhemani!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Renzo Rua!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Bruno Lombardi and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chekhemani tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rua paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Rua looking to score a takedown here. Chekhemani is defending well but Rua drives through and ends up in Chekhemani's guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Chekhemani looking for a guillotine here but Rua defends easily.
Rua is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Chekhemani is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Chekhemani not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rua works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Rua seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Chekhemani does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Chekhemani moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Chekhemani is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rua defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chekhemani keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.
Rua stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Chekhemani swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Chekhemani looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Chekhemani working for a triangle but Rua defends it easily.
Chekhemani might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Chekhemani wants to sweep here but Rua controlling him for the moment.

Chekhemani is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Chekhemani wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rua avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Chekhemani controls Rua momentarily but Rua frees himself.

Rua avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rua slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rua wants to stand but Chekhemani has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Chekhemani is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chekhemani working a defensive guard but Rua manages to pass into side control anyway.
Rua trying to control the position but Chekhemani is working away.
You can see the frustration on Chekhemani's face as Rua controls the position.
Chekhemani tries to improve position but can't.
Rua working away.
Chekhemani sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Chekhemani is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rua's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rua's back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua manages to reverse the position and now he's in Chekhemani's guard. Nice work there by Rua.
Rua wants to stand but Chekhemani has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Chekhemani throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Rua escapes and throws Chekhemani's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Rua trying to control the action but Chekhemani is working from the bottom.
Chekhemani tries to improve position but can't.
Rua is looking to take a break and control but Chekhemani is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
An elbow from Rua crashes against the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua scores with a couple of short elbows.
Chekhemani manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Renzo Rua will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rua looking to score a takedown here. Chekhemani is defending well but Rua drives through and ends up in Chekhemani's guard.
Chekhemani utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rua wants to control from the top but Chekhemani keeps moving.

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

Chekhemani has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rua can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rua wants to control from the top but Chekhemani keeps moving.
Chekhemani trying to control the position.
Rua is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua wants to control from the top but Chekhemani keeps moving.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Rua got a little sloppy there for a moment and Chekhemani has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rua has managed to get both his arms back between Chekhemani's legs - danger averted.
Rua slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Renzo Rua wasn't active enough on the ground.
Rua misses with a kick to the body.
Renzo Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rua shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Chekhemani manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Chekhemani trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Chekhemani is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rua sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Chekhemani not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rua is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Chekhemani looking for a guillotine here but Rua defends easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rua looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rua drops back looking for a leg! Chekhemani is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Chekhemani manages to kick Rua off! Rua jumps back into Chekhemani's guard.

Chekhemani is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rua is aware though and is defending well.

Chekhemani looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rua pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Chekhemani is keeping the position for now.
Chekhemani utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rua tries to stand but Chekhemani is controlling from the bottom.

Chekhemani looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua tries to free his leg and advance position but Chekhemani is retaining full guard.
Rua's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Chekhemani is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rua not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rua wants to control from the top but Chekhemani keeps moving.

Chekhemani looking for a guillotine here but Rua defends easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renzo Rua showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Chekhemani's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Rua walks into a stiff left hand from Chekhemani.
Rua misses with a shot to the body

so Chekhemani counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rua controlling the position.
Chekhemani content to stall in guard here.
Rua is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Chekhemani stopping the sweep attempt from Rua.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Rua trying to control the position here.

Renzo Rua has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Rua darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua is looking to stall here but Chekhemani recovers full guard.

Chekhemani 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 Chekhemani 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 Chekhemani!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Nawal Chekhemani!