PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Seth Anson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anson has chosen ''South of Heaven'' by The Electric Hellfire Club as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Rua
vs
Anson

194 cm
29
212 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

183 cm
28
220 lbs
15 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Good kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mauricio Rua!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Seth Anson!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Stewart Dunkirk and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rua chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Anson can pounce on him.
Rua misses with a takedown attempt - Anson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
The fighters circling - Anson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rua misses with a combination
and Anson counters with a series of strikes. Rua will be more careful next time no doubt.
Jab by Anson.

It looks like Mauricio Rua has been cut.
Mauricio Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rua closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Anson to the mat! Anson manages to get full guard.
Rua makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ruais looking to pass into half guard but Anson pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Anson is in guard.

Rua had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Anson defends it easily.
Anson trying to control but Rua is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua pulls Anson in close to his closed guard and prevents Anson from doing any damage or advancing position.
Rua wants to sweep here but Anson controlling him for the moment.
Rua trying to keep a closed guard but Anson is proving a slippery customer.
Anson trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rua controls Anson momentarily but Anson frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rua misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rua walks into a left hand.
Rua throws a nice outside leg kick.
Anson throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Rua counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Rua lands a nice shot that snaps Anson's head back.
Anson drops his hands momentarily and Rua takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rua throws a wild body kick that Anson sees coming a mile off.
Rua misses with a hook. Anson ducked under it nicely.
Rua throws a sloppy head kick and Anson moves out of range easily.
Good shot there by Anson.
Rua shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Anson pinned against the ropes. Anson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mauricio Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Anson as he jumps to the side.
Rua tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Anson swivels and escapes.
Rua changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Anson tries to avoid it but Rua manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Anson to the ground. Anson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rua gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Nice defenses there by Rua.
Rua throws a leg kick
and Anson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Rua shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Anson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Rua throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Anson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua landing some decent shots from guard.
Rua connects with a couple of short punches.
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!
Anson keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.
Rua is really struggling to control Anson but he's trying to hold on to the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Anson is on top in guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Anson trying to control but Rua is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Rua dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mauricio Rua's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A slapping leg kick lands for Anson.
Rua bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Rua looks to land a combination but Anson avoids it well.
Anson stuffs the takedown attempt from Rua. Rua gets slowly back to his feet.
Anson misses with a lunging right hand
and Rua counters with a low kick, right behind Anson 's knee.
Rua fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Anson throws a looping overhand right but Rua ducks down to avoid it.
Rua lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Anson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Rua shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Anson tries to reverse the position but Rua maintains control.
Anson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua scoring with strikes but Anson is staying in there.
Rua will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Anson regains half guard.
Rua thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Anson's head.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Anson is trying to stand back up but Rua is controlling him
Anson is trying to maintain the position but Rua is very close to passing his half guard.
Rua takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Anson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Rua is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Anson defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua wants to take a breather but Anson is having none of it.
Rua throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Anson wants to get back to his feet.
Anson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Anson looks like he's trying to stand up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rua is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua thows a huge punch but Anson dodges it nicely.
Rua missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Anson is looking to escape.
Rua is trying to control. Anson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rua throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Anson trying to control here.
Anson taking some punishment here, with Rua in his half guard.
Rua missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rua throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Anson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Anson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rua.
Rua with the ground and pound but Anson uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Rua tries to free his leg and advance position but Anson is retaining full guard.
Anson keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.
Rua throws a big right hand that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua landing some decent shots from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Rua dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mauricio Rua's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rua throws a nice looking combination but Anson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rua ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Anson moves away.
Anson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rua backs up against the ropes.
Rua misses with a head kick.
Anson catches Rua with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Rua throws a good cross that connects.
Rua fails with the takedown.
Rua throws a leg kick that misses.
Rua lands with a slapping head kick.
Anson jabs Rua to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Rua shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Anson sprawls well. Anson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rua gets slowly back to his feet.
Anson fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Rua fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Rua swinging wildly here.
Anson connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Rua throws a chopping leg kick but Anson manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
A jab from Rua misses.
Seth Anson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rua falls off balance throwing a combination
and Anson counters with a head kick. That will keep Rua thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Anson throws a jab but it's blocked by Rua.
Seth Anson seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rua clinches.
Anson lands a hook that snaps the head of Rua backwards.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Anson working aggressively here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rua.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Anson lands a hook that snaps the head of Rua backwards.
Rua is looking to control Anson's arms but Anson gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rua has his back to the ropes.
Rua blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Anson stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Anson avoids the elbow strike from Rua, against the ropes.
Anson scores with a shoulder strike.
Rua throws an elbow that misses.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anson scores with a nice body kick.
Rua shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Anson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mauricio Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rua misses with a two punch combination.
An inside leg kick from Rua misses.
Anson throws a low kick but Rua avoids it.
Rua ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rua is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Rua gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Anson.
Rua ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Anson moves away.
Rua throws a shot from downtown. Anson moves away and avoids it.
Rua thumps Anson with a low kick.
Anson throws a jab but it's blocked by Rua.
Rua fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anson cracks Rua with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Anson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rua shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Rua tries to land a leg kick but Anson saw it coming and moves away.
Rua scores with a spinning back kick!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rua throws a leg kick
and Anson counters with a nice body kick.
Anson on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rua throws a leg kick but Anson moved away.
Rua shoots in looking for a takedown but Anson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rua's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Anson throws a head kick but Rua moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Seth Anson just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Mauricio Rua's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A head kick misses from Anson.
Rua misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rua scores with a kick to the body.
Rua shoots in for a double leg but Anson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Anson takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Rua moves out of range as Anson throws a body kick.
Anson throws a jab when Rua was well out of range.
Anson tries to clinch but Rua moves out of range.
Rua fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Anson misses with an attempted mid kick.
Rua will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mauricio Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rua throws a leg kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua misses with a body shot.
Rua throws a lazy head kick
and Anson counters with an outside leg kick.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rua.
Rua on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Anson is looking to clinch but Rua is avoiding it.
Some bone on bone action there as Anson checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Anson doesn't manage to clinch there - Rua circles away.
Anson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rua lands a nice leg kick that just misses Anson's sensitive parts.
Rua misses the jab.
Rua throws a right and a left that Anson avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anson lands with a slapping head kick.
Rua throws a big shot that misses.
Anson takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Rua throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
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!
Anson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Anson rushes Rua and presses him up against the ropes.
Anson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A right hook to the body lands for Anson.

Rua manages to break the clinch.
Rua fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Anson wants to clinch.
Anson throws a leg kick but Rua moved away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua shoots for a takedown but Anson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Anson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The fighters circle momentarily. Anson darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Rua scores with a shot to the body.
Anson stuffs the takedown attempt from Rua. Rua gets slowly back to his feet.
Rua misses with an uppercut. Anson saw that one coming.
Anson throws a push kick but Rua slaps the foot to one side.
Rua feints and then cracks Anson's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Anson down.
Anson throws out a loose jab but Rua uses good head movement to avoid it.
Anson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rua.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rua swings for the body but Anson moves out of range.
Rua misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rua buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Rua throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Anson counter with a right hand.
Rua swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Rua throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Anson blocks a leg kick.
Anson ducks under a wild hook from Rua.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Rua avoids the body shot from Anson.
Rua moves out of range as Anson throws a body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Mauricio Rua will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mauricio Rua's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Anson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rua.
Anson blocks the body kick.
Rua tries a low kick but Anson avoids it.
Rua scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Anson doesn't seem bothered though.
Rua throws a chopping leg kick but Anson manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Rua misses with a two punch combination.

Rua closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rua missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Rua seems to be looking for submissions.
Anson manages to get to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua throws an elbow that misses. Anson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rua's guard. Nice move by Anson!
Rua working a defensive guard here.

Rua has his foot on Anson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Anson works his way back into a safe position though.
Rua 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 can't keep his opponent in guard - Anson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Mauricio Rua is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua trying to control from the bottom.
Rua wants to get back to full guard.
Anson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rua keeps working.
Mauricio Rua overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rua gets full guard.
Anson trying to control but Rua is working from the bottom.
Rua is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua keeping moving, preventing Anson from controlling successfully.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Seth Anson wasn't active enough on the ground.
Rua cracks the inside of Anson's front leg.
Rua with a poor takedown
and Anson counters with a thumping low kick.
Rua moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Rua moves out of range of the strikes.
Anson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Anson's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A combination from Anson does no damage.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rua. Anson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Anson misses with a left hand
and Rua counters with a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua lands a nice shot that snaps Anson's head back.
Rua tries a head kick but it misses.
Anson misses the shot to the body.
Anson moves out of range as Rua throws a body kick.
Anson looks to land a combination but Rua avoids it well.
Anson misses with a low kick.
Rua defending well as Anson loads up on a big left hand.

Rua closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Anson to the mat! Anson manages to get full guard.
Anson is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Anson looking to control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rua engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rua has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mauricio Rua showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rua has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 49:46
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 50:45
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mauricio Rua!
Mauricio Rua is the new light heavyweight champion!
A very excited looking Mauricio Rua made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.