PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pelle Olsson (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.

Rua
vs
Olsson

185 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
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 New York, Mauricio Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Pelle Olsson!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, John Roberts and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rua instigates a clinch.
Rua landing knees to the head.

It looks like Pelle Olsson has been cut.
Olsson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Rua jumps guard.
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 looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Olsson trying to control here.

Rua stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Olsson to get to his feet.

Rua closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Olsson did well to prevent Rua getting side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rua is trying to control. Olsson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Olsson is looking to improve his position.
Olsson looks like he's trying to stand up.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Olsson looking for submissions off his back.
Rua not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Rua stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Rua is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Olsson shoots in and drives through. Rua sprawls well.
Olsson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rua lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Olsson backs up against the cage.
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!
The fight stays on the outside here - Olsson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Olsson gets caught napping as Rua dives in and scores a takedown. Olsson manages to retain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rua stands up and waves to Olsson to follow him.
Olsson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rua counters with a head kick.

Rua scores a takedown into full mount!
Rua wants to control the pace but Olsson is squirming around nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Olsson hang on?
Rua misses with a head shot.
Olsson tries to hold on but Rua pushes him away.
Rua is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Rua throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Rua throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Olsson because Rua loaded up on that one.
Rua working Olsson over with strikes here.
Rua throwing strikes here but Olsson is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Rua misses with a head shot.
Olsson wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Rua.
Rua postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Olsson looks a forlorn figure.
Rua misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Rua sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Olsson wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Rua.
Rua putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Rua prevents Olsson from getting the reversal.
Rua throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Rua thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Rua with good strikes from the mount here!
Olsson 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Olsson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Rua tries to control but Olsson wriggling away.
Rua thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Rua looking to control but Olsson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Olsson holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Rua tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Rua scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Rua working the ground and pound effectively.
Rua lands with some strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rua prevents Olsson from getting the reversal.
Rua with the ground and pound from mount.
Olsson is in all sorts of trouble here.
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 Pelle Olsson's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rua looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rua wants to take a breather but Olsson is having none of it.

Rua stands up and beckons Olsson to join him on the feet.
Olsson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rua counters with a head kick. That will keep Olsson thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Olsson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rua sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Olsson somewhat.
Rua tries to clinch there but Olsson circles away.

Rua closes the distance and clinches.

Rua pulls guard.

Rua uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Olsson fails with the takedown.
Mauricio Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pelle Olsson.

Rua fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Olsson to the ground. Rua is now in Olsson's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rua accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Olsson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rua missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rua pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Olsson is keeping the position for now.

Rua decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Rua throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Olsson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Rua is in Olsson's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Olsson throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Rua postures up in Olsson's guard and throws a big left but Olsson blocks it.
Rua throwing strikes from guard but Olsson blocks nicely.
Rua wants to control from the top but Olsson keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Olsson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Olsson looking to control.
Rua wants to control from the top but Olsson keeps moving.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rua distracts Olsson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Olsson working for a triangle but Rua defends it easily.
Olsson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rua throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Rua stands up and waves to Olsson to follow him.
Rua throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Olsson's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Olsson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rua just stands there and leans against the cage.
Olsson is trying to pull guard but Rua turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Rua ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Rua no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Mauricio Rua overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rua working a defensive guard here.
Rua bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Olsson's guard.

Rua stands up from Olsson's guard - Rua perhaps looking for a knockout.

Rua clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Olsson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Rua gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rua thows a huge punch but Olsson dodges it nicely.
Rua is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Olsson can do to turn this around?
Rua sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Olsson defending well though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rua stands up from half guard.
Olsson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Olsson shoots in looking for a takedown but Rua manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Olsson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Rua closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Olsson's guard.

Rua gets to his feet. Olsson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rua circles away from the clinch attempt.
Olsson shoots for a takedown but Rua saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Olsson dives in and grabs Rua's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rua pushes down on Olsson's head and hops out.
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 Pelle Olsson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rua moves into the clinch.

Rua has Olsson pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Rua pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Olsson tumbling to the mat - Rua dives into Olsson's guard.
Rua pushing down on Olsson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Rua decides to stand up.
Rua is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Olsson tries to land a front kick but Rua steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Olsson shoots in for a takedown but Rua shows good takedown defense.
Rua moves in looking to clinch but Olsson pushes him off.
Rua misses with a head kick.
Olsson falls off balance throwing a combination

and Rua counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Rua takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Rua stops a takedown attempt from Olsson.
Olsson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Rua manages to break the clinch.
Olsson fails with the takedown.
Mauricio Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pelle Olsson.

Rua forces Olsson back against the cage and clinches.
Rua connects with a nasty looking knee right to Olsson's face.
Rua gets underhooks to prevent Olsson's takedown attempt.
Rua creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Olsson's defenses.

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

Olsson gets tackled into the cage by Rua. Rua maintains the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua lands a damaging elbow.
Olsson being controlled against the cage.
Rua with a knee to the head.
Olsson looking to slow down the pace here.

Rua has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Olsson uses from the top position.
Rua bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Olsson's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rua missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Olsson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rua is one step ahead there.
Rua loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua throws a big elbow that misses.

Olsson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Olsson keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.
Olsson looking to control.

Rua stands up from Olsson's guard - Rua perhaps looking for a knockout.
Rua tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rua looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Rua moves into the clinch successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Rua leaning his opponent against the cage.
Rua tries a knee to the head but Olsson blocks it.
Olsson blocks an elbow strike from Rua.
Rua misses with a knee strike.
Olsson takes a knee right on the jaw!
Olsson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Rua after a bit of a struggle.
Rua looking to slow down the pace here.
Rua fails to pull the fight into his guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Olsson tries to pull guard but Rua holds him up against the cage and eventually Olsson drops back down to his feet.
Olsson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mauricio Rua showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rua has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27

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