PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Jefferson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Jefferson will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Rua
vs
Jefferson

183 cm
25
160 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

225 cm
25
155 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thiago Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Jefferson!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Wesley Smith and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua dives in and grabs Jefferson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Jefferson pushes down on Rua's head and hops out.
Jefferson throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Rua crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Jefferson - the referee stops the clock and Rua gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Jefferson. Rua manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Jefferson throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Rua throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Some bone on bone action there as Rua checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Jefferson throws a low kick but Rua avoids it.
Rua will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jefferson throws a low kick but Rua moves out of range easily.
Jefferson throws a leg kick but Rua sees it coming and moves out of range.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Jefferson.
Jefferson is looking to score with low kicks.
Jefferson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rua throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jefferson lands with a slapping head kick.
Jefferson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rua.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thiago Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jefferson throws a leg kick which misses Rua's front leg but catches the back leg as Rua tries to avoid it.
Jefferson cracks the inside of Rua's front leg.
Rua takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Rua gets a takedown into half guard.
Rua sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Jefferson defending well though.
Rua working the head and body with strikes.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Jefferson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rua is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rua throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua thows a huge punch but Jefferson dodges it nicely.
Rua thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Jefferson manages to get to full guard.
Rua postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rua throwing strikes but missing.
Jefferson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rua with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jefferson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rua. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rua trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rua lands a couple of elbows.
Rua preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jefferson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rua is looking to work some ground and pound but Jefferson has wrist control.
Jefferson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Jefferson controls Rua momentarily but Rua frees himself.
Rua might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rua stands up over Jefferson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Jefferson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Jefferson has momentary wrist control but Rua slips an elbow through the middle.
Rua throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rua throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jefferson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rua is in close to Jefferson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rua throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jefferson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rua postures up and lands a big shot to Jefferson's brow.
Jefferson looks gassed!
Rua pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jefferson is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jefferson looking to control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rua postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rua thows a big elbow that misses.
Rua missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rua trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rua with a nice head shot there.
Jefferson controls Rua momentarily but Rua frees himself.
Rua trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Jefferson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rua connects with a couple of short punches.
Jefferson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rua content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rua postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rua shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Jefferson but Jefferson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Jefferson throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Jefferson enables Rua to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Jefferson manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Thiago Rua overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rua connects with a couple of short punches.
Rua throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jefferson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rua has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rua chips away with some ground and pound.
Rua loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rua postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Jefferson looking for a sweep. Not yet Jefferson, not yet.
Rua scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rua chips away with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua throwing strikes but missing.
Rua throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rua preventing the sweep.
Jefferson is breathing heavily.

Rua is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Rua throwing strikes but missing.
Jefferson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Rua preventing the sweep.
Jefferson trying to keep a closed guard but Rua is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rua is working Jefferson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rua slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua is putting a hurting on Jefferson here, landing some big shots from side control.
Jefferson managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Rua.
Rua in side control lands a decent elbow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rua cracks Jefferson with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Jefferson is rocked!
Rua looks up at the clock and then as Jefferson takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Rua smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Jefferson is still in real trouble! Can Rua finish him?
Jefferson takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Rua lands a strong strike to the head of Jefferson. That's dazed him! Rua looking to finish here. Jefferson is waving his arms around trying to block but he's hurt badly - Rua lands more strikes and the referee steps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Thiago Rua!