PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Doe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shogun Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Doe
vs
Rua

180 cm
32
195 lbs
10 - 19 - 0

190 cm
29
201 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 19 - 0, fighting out of London, John Doe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Shogun Rua!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Atkins and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua wants to slow Doe down by chopping away at his legs.
Doe fails with a takedown attempt.
Doe misses with a body shot.
Rua has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Rua there as he acknowledges the shot.
Rua tries to clinch up but Doe circles away and keeps his distance.
Rua wants to clinch up but Doe keeps it at a distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Doe.
Rua blocks a head kick by Doe.
Doe connects with a single shot there.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch but Doe swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Rua gets a clinch.
Rua with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Doe is trying to break the clinch but Rua has him pressed against the ropes.
Rua with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rua tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Doe is trying to force a seperation but Rua has the dominant position.
Doe wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rua has Doe pressed against the ropes, preventing Doe from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rua with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rua connects with a nasty looking knee right to Doe's face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Doe has had enough of the clinch but Rua keeps him there for the moment.
Rua keeps control of Doe as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Doe is trying to push Rua away but Rua has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Rua trying to land knees to the body.
Doe has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Doe takes a knee right on the jaw!
Rua misses with a knee strike.
Rua unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Rua using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Doe has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Doe managing to block the knees to the body from Rua.
Doe on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Doe wants to take the fight to the mat but Rua manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Doe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rua tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Doe has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Doe wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rua is stalling here.
Doe looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rua keeps control of Doe as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rua prevents Doe from breaking the clinch.
Rua throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Doe blocks it with crossed arms.

Doe escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rua fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rua wants to clinch up but Doe keeps it at a distance.
Shogun Rua is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Doe misses with a looping right.
Rua tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Doe manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rua is looking to clinch.
Nice uppercut lands for Doe. That snapped Rua's head back.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up but Doe swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rua takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Doe lands a high kick!
Rua wants to clinch up but Doe keeps it at a distance.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch but Doe swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Rua has closed the distance and engaged Doe in a clinch.

Doe pulls guard.
Doe has Rua pulled in close to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Doe manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rua manages to get himself to full guard.
Doe controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rua is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Doe is controlling him.

Doe gets to his feet. Rua looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
John Doe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Doe throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Doe paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rua takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Doe misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rua.
Rua plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Rua tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Doe manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Doe shoots in looking for a takedown. Rua tries to sprawl out of it but Doe keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Rua manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Doe throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua doesn't manage to clinch there - Doe circles away.
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!
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up but Doe swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Doe throws a head kick that misses.
Doe swinging wildly here.
Rua looks to clinch
and Doe counters with a solid body kick.
Rua takes one to the side of the head.
Doe looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Doe swats away the attempt to clinch by Rua.
Rua tries to clinch up but Doe circles away and keeps his distance.
Rua has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Doe.
Doe throws a body kick that misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rua moves out of range of the body kick from Doe.
Rua moves out of range of the body kick from Doe.
Rua tries to clinch but Doe is having none of it.
Rua loads up on a big right hand but Doe slips the punch.
Rua tries to clinch up but Doe circles away and keeps his distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that John Doe will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rua tries to close the distance and clinch but Doe swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rua tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Doe's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Rua moves into range and clinches up with Doe.

Doe breaks from the clinch.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Doe paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rua tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rua blocks a head kick by Doe.

Doe closes the distance and clinches.
Rua has Doe pressed against the ropes, preventing Doe from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rua with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rua throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rua tries a knee to the head but Doe blocks it.
Rua missing with knees to the body.
Doe tries to circle away but Rua has him pinned against the ropes.

Doe's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rua is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Doe fakes the leg kick and cracks Rua in the body.
Rua throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Rua tries to land a front kick but Doe steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rua blocks a head kick by Doe.
Doe throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rua's waist but Rua gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Doe off to one side.
Doe slips under a jab from Rua.
John Doe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rua fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Doe is out of range.
Doe pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rua tries to clinch up but Doe circles away and keeps his distance.
Doe shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Doe pulls out of a head kick attempt.
That kick from Rua tenderised Doe's leg. Doe is trying to keep his angry face on.
A head kick misses from Doe.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rua throws a leg kick
and Doe counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Rua is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Rua clinches up with Doe and pushes him back against the ropes.
Rua trying to control the position but instead, Doe has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rua into the ropes.

Doe breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Doe throws a head kick but Rua moves out of range.
Doe avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Doe dives in and grabs Rua's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rua pushes down on Doe's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Doe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rua moves in looking to clinch but Doe pushes him off.
Rua is looking to clinch.
Doe cracks Rua with a good jab.
Doe throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Doe is looking to clinch.
Doe circles away from the clinch attempt.
Doe tries to clinch but Rua is having none of it.
Rua stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rua wants it to stay on the feet.
Doe misses with a head kick.
Rua tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Doe manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
John Doe is winning the standup battle so far.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up but Doe swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rua fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rua throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Doe throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rua.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Doe.
Rua blocks a head kick by Doe.
Doe throws a hook but Rua avoids it easily.

Rua has managed to clinch.
A knee to the head by Rua.

It looks like John Doe has been cut.
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but Doe blocks with his arms.
Rua using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Doe has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Knees to the body from Rua.
Rua is trying to maintain a safe position but Doe gets an underhook and turns Rua into the ropes.
Doe takes a knee right on the jaw!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but Doe blocks with his arms.
Doe tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rua just stands there and leans against the ropes.
Rua landing knees to the head.
Doe is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the ropes enables Rua to keep the fight standing.
Doe letting Rua take a breather here.
Doe tries to pull guard but Rua won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Doe has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rua tries a knee to the head but Doe blocks it.
Rua trying to land knees to the body.

Doe breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Doe looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Rua!
Doe tries to control but Rua wriggling away.

Rua somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Doe paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rua blocks a head kick by Doe.
Rua is looking to clinch but Doe is avoiding it.

Doe gets tackled into the ropes by Rua. Rua maintains the clinch.
Doe tries to circle away but Rua has him pinned against the ropes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shogun Rua showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on John Doe's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Doe misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rua finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Doe throws a sloppy head kick and Rua moves out of range easily.
Rua wants to clinch
and Doe counters with a big head kick but Rua shrugs it off.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch but Doe swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rua showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Doe.
Rua tries to clinch up.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up but Doe swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rua tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Doe manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up but Doe swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch but Doe swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Doe shoots for a takedown but Rua saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rua tries to land a leg kick but Doe saw it coming and moves away.
Doe misses with a hook. Rua ducked under it nicely.
Doe misses with a wild body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Doe turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Doe fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Rua closes the distance and clinches.
Rua slows down the pace here.
Rua throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Doe blocks it with crossed arms.

Doe jumps into guard, dragging Rua to the mat.
Rua would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Doe looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rua is one step ahead there.
Rua would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua stopping the sweep attempt from Doe.
Doe bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rua's guard.

Doe decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Doe scores with a nice right hand.
Doe lands a jab to the head.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up but Doe swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Doe scores with a head kick.
Doe tries for a takedown but Rua sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Doe. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rua moves into the clinch successfully.
Rua misses with a knee strike.
Doe tries to circle away but Rua has him pinned against the ropes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua stalling in the clinch but Doe improves position.
Doe is trying to push Rua away but Rua has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Doe tries to pull guard but Rua holds him up against the ropes and eventually Doe drops back down to his feet.
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Doe as Rua tries to tie him up.
Rua lands a knee to the head.
Doe wants to break the clinch but can't.
Doe wants to break the clinch but can't.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Rua connects with a nasty looking knee right to Doe's face.
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but Doe blocks with his arms.
Rua is trying to maintain a safe position but Doe gets an underhook and turns Rua into the ropes.
Rua with a knee to the head.
Rua keeps control of Doe as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Doe tries to break free but Rua pushes him back against the ropes.
Doe looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rua tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Doe pulls guard.

Doe has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Rua should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Doe has tightened it up now! Rua should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). John Doe!