PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Plakad Sagat (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.

Sagat
vs
Rua

195 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
204 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 Rio de Janeiro, Plakad Sagat!
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 Leandro Rodrigues, Paulo Santos and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sagat fails with a takedown attempt.
Rua misses with a wild body shot.
Rua closes the distance and clinches up with Sagat, looking for a takedown. Rua pushes Sagat against the cage but Sagat circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rua looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rua shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sagat but Sagat pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sagat shoots in for a takedown but Rua shows good takedown defense.
Sagat wants to clinch up but Rua keeps it at a distance.
Sagat blocks a head kick by Rua.
Sagat shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rua sprawls well. Rua wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sagat gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Plakad Sagat. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sagat but Sagat pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Rua instigates a clinch.
Rua has Sagat pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sagat manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Rua is trying to push Sagat away but Sagat has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Rua missing with knees to the body.
Rua lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rua tries to circle away but Sagat has him pinned against the cage.
Rua misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sagat pushes off an throws an elbow but Rua leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Sagat managing to block the knees to the body from Rua.
Sagat is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rua pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sagat is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rua to keep the fight standing.

Rua decides to pull guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Rua has a closed guard, preventing Sagat from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rua controlling Sagat's posture.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sagat wants to stand and escape but instead Rua has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Rua stands up and waves to Sagat to follow him.
Rua shoots for a double leg takedown but Sagat sprawls well. He's pushed Rua's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rua shoots in looking for a takedown but Sagat manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rua's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rua looks gassed!
Sagat shoots in looking for a takedown but Rua manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sagat's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rua circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rua swats away the attempt to clinch by Sagat.
Sagat shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rua pinned against the cage. Rua gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rua tries to clinch but Sagat moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sagat dives in and grabs Rua's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rua pushes down on Sagat's head and hops out.
Sagat avoids the head kick by Rua.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Rua dominated that round.
That's time! Sagat's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rua is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sagat sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rua is defended easily by Sagat.
Sagat fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sagat looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rua is fending him off so far but Sagat persists. Nope, Rua circles away and we're back to standing.
Rua stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rua wants it to stay on the feet.
Rua moves in looking to clinch but Sagat pushes him off.
Rua fails with the takedown.
Plakad Sagat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mauricio Rua.
Sagat tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rua sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sagat somewhat.
Mauricio Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sagat fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rua closes the distance and clinches up with Sagat, looking for a takedown. Rua pushes Sagat against the cage but Sagat circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rua throws a right hand that Sagat ducks under and follows up with a left that Sagat also avoids with ease.
Rua shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sagat as he avoids it easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rua.
Mauricio Rua is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sagat displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rua throws out the jab.
Sagat uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rua.
Rua looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sagat is fending him off so far but Rua persists. Nope, Sagat circles away and we're back to standing.
Rua tries to clinch up but Sagat circles away and keeps his distance.
No luck for Sagat with that takedown attempt.
Sagat stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sagat wants it to stay on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sagat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sagat tries to avoid it but Rua manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sagat to the ground. Sagat escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sagat closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rua circles away.
Sagat shoots in looking for a takedown but Rua manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sagat's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rua tries for a takedown but Sagat sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sagat leaves Rua with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sagat shoots in but no luck this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rua slaps away a takedown attempt from Sagat, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Rua rushes Sagat and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Rua jumps guard.
Rua thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Sagat knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rua on the ground.

Rua working for a triangle but Sagat defends it easily.
Rua is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
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.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rua shoots in looking for a takedown. Sagat tries to sprawl out of it but Rua keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sagat manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sagat shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rua but Rua pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sagat keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rua forces Sagat back against the cage and clinches.

Rua gets control of Sagat's arms and successfully pulls guard. Rua will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Sagat wanted to stand there but Rua had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rua content to control rather than advance.
Sagat on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sagat tries to get out of the position.
Rua takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sagat wants to get back to full guard.
Sagat wants to get back to his feet.
Rua controlling the action here.
Rua works his way into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sagat is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Rua is controlling him well.
Sagat wants to get back to his feet but Rua is dominant here and he's now got Sagat's back!
Rua connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Sagat to escape the position.
Rua biding his time, looking for the opening.
Sagat looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Rua is riding his opponent, not letting Sagat buck him off.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sagat controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Rua just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sagat looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Rua has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Sagat has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
You can see the frustration on Sagat's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Sagat prevents Rua from getting a body triangle.
Sagat wants to get back to his feet.

Sagat is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sagat just trying to survive but Rua is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Sagat staying busy and making it hard for Rua to control.
Sagat trying to get back to his feet but Rua is in full control for now.
Rua throwing wild punches that miss their target.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sagat controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Sagat avoids the strikes from Rua.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mauricio Rua comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rua has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

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