PBP Commentary

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

Minden
vs
Rua

189 cm
26
210 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
26
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ray Minden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mauricio Rua!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, John Kavanagh and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Minden shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Minden is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rua trying to control here.
Rua tries to roll over but Minden keeps him under control.
Minden wants to get back to his feet.
Minden is thwarting Rua's attempts to control the position.
Minden tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rua manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Rua is looking to stand up but Minden isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minden is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rua wants to clinch up but Minden keeps it at a distance.

Minden gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rua throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Minden blocks it with crossed arms.
Rua lands a damaging elbow.
Rua with a knee to the head.
Rua misses with a knee to the head.
Rua tries to circle away but Minden has him pinned against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rua.

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.
Rua is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Minden wanted to stand there but Rua had control of the position.

Minden gets to his feet. Rua looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minden tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rua swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Minden wants to clinch up but Rua keeps it at a distance.
Minden thows a body shot but no joy.
Minden fails with an attempt to clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Minden throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rua.
Rua lands with a kick to the temple. Minden shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Minden tries to clinch but Rua is having none of it.
Minden scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Minden swats away the attempt to clinch by Rua.
Minden tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rua paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Minden misses with a two punch combination.
A punch combination from Minden misses.
Rua thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Minden if he has to take too many more of those.
Rua plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Minden cracks Rua with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Minden throws a series of strikes that have Rua backpedaling.
Minden is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Minden closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Rua wants to control but Minden postures up.

Minden stands up and beckons Rua to his feet.

Minden drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
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.
Minden wanted to stand there but Rua had control of the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rua tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Minden wants to stand but Rua has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minden controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Minden has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ray Minden wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Minden scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Minden wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua pushes Minden off looking to stand but Minden dives back in and keeps control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Minden wants to stand up but Rua is controlling the position.
Rua wants to control but Minden is keeping busy.
Minden wants to stand up but Rua has a hold of him and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Minden dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Minden shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rua napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Minden wants to stand but Rua has his arm trapped.
Rua tries to escape but Minden is in control.
Rua is trying to get back to half guard.
Minden tries to stand but Rua is controlling his head.
Rua dodges the ground and pound from Minden.
Minden tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Rua wants to control but Minden postures up.

Minden decides to stand up, so the ref orders Rua to his feet.
Rua dodges the punch combination from Minden.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minden avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Minden swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rua counters with a head kick. That will keep Minden thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Rua is breathing heavily.
Rua throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Ray Minden seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Minden closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rua to the mat! Rua manages to get full guard.
Minden wants to stand but Rua is controlling his posture from full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rua trying to keep a closed guard but Minden is proving a slippery customer.
Rua wants to stand up but Minden is controlling him.
Minden wanted to stand there but Rua had control of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Minden stands up and waves to Rua to follow him.
Minden misses with a few strikes there.
Minden feints a jab promting Rua to slip. Minden then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Rua slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Minden manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rua on his heels. He'll look to pass Rua's guard now, I'm sure.
Minden wants to stand but Rua is controlling his posture from full guard.
Minden being controlled here momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua looking for a sweep. Not yet Rua, not yet.
Minden has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rua is proving hard to escape from.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rua is looking to clinch but Minden is avoiding it.
Minden swinging wildly here.
Ray Minden is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rua is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Minden stalks Rua and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Rua's face. Rua staggers backwards, shaken.

Minden closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Rua quickly recovers to half guard.
Rua gets full guard.
Rua wants to get back to his feet but Minden is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Minden controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minden preventing the sweep.
Rua trying to control the position.
Minden would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Ray Minden overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Ray Minden just wasn't active enough.
Minden ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Minden tries to bum rush Rua with a series of wild strikes but Rua uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Minden wants to clinch up but Rua keeps it at a distance.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Minden tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Rua manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Minden lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Minden swats away the attempt to clinch by Rua.
Minden keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Minden dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Rua tries to clinch there but Minden circles away.
Rua tries to clinch up but Minden circles away and keeps his distance.
Minden lands a two punch combo.
Minden scores with a nice strike.
Minden connects with a single shot there.

Rua is rocked!

Rua gets caught napping as Minden dives in and scores a takedown. Rua manages to retain guard.
Rua is still in real trouble! Can Minden finish him?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rua wants to sweep but no luck.
Minden would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Rua wants to stand up but Minden is controlling him.
Rua is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Minden controlling from the top position.
Rua seems to have recovered his senses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Minden bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Minden wants to stand but Rua is controlling his arm.
Rua stops Minden from passing to mount.
Minden tries to stand but Rua is controlling his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua regains half guard.
Minden is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Rua has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Minden is working away from the top position though.
Minden is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Rua is looking to control Minden's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rua avoid being mounted?
Minden tries to stand but can't do so whilst Rua controls his leg.
Rua is trying to stand.
Minden throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Minden trying to control the pace.

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.
Minden with a jab.
Minden connects with a body shot that sends Rua's belly button to the back.
Rua takes one on the button.
Rua is the more experienced fighter here and he's going to need to draw on some of that experience if he's going to pull this one out the bag.

Minden is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rua's half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rua trying to control from the bottom.

Minden stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Rua to get to his feet.
Jab from Minden.
Rua throws a head kick but Minden moves out of range.
Minden lands a nice hook to Rua's body. Rua takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Minden is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rua can do to turn this around?

Minden shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rua manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Minden trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rua's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minden looking to pass the guard.

Rua kicks Minden off and gets to his feet.

Minden closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rua avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Minden.
Rua has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Minden is working away from the top position though.
Rua moves into full guard.
Minden trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rua's guard.
Minden stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rua swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rua preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua wants to sweep here but Minden controlling him for the moment.
Minden trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rua's guard.
Minden trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Minden 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 wants to stand but Minden is controlling the position.

Minden gets to his feet - Rua follows without any prompting.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Minden tries to clinch but Rua is having none of it.
Mauricio Rua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ray Minden is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Minden wants to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ray Minden showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Minden, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 John Roberts scores the fight for Ray Minden!
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight for Ray Minden!
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight for Ray Minden!

Ray Minden wins by unanimous decision!