PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dan Stack (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wanderlei Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stack's entrance music is Deer Dance. A fine choice. Dan Stack is staring across the ring at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Stack
vs
Rua

185 cm
23
185 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

185 cm
23
185 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Kaos Nutrition - (Buy One - Get One Free)
Nancy Botwin's Herbal Nutritions

Crippler's Corner
MMA's Best Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dan Stack!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Wanderlei Rua!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Taro Takaoka and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua fails with a takedown attempt.

Rua instigates a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Stack fails to land.
Stack can't find room to land a body shot as Rua controls the action.
The referee calls for Rua to work.

Rua pulls guard.
Rua is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rua is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Stack has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Stack trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rua looking to hit a scissor sweep but Stack is one step ahead there.
Stack wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rua looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rua is on top in guard.

Rua drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Stack dives on top into guard.
Rua is trying to keep Stack in close.
Stack won't allow Rua to sweep him here.
Rua is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Stack with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rua has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Stack can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Stack wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.
Rua looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Rua has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Stack can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Stack with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stack loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rua not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Stack shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Rua controls Stack momentarily but Stack frees himself.

Rua had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Stack is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Rua Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Stack's back instead.
Stack tries to roll but Rua sticks to his back.

Rua working for the choke.
Stack rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua tries to pass the half guard into mount. Stack knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Rua is trying to control the action in half guard but Stack is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rua trying to mount his opponent but Stack defends it.
Stack controlling the position for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stack has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rua is working away from the top position though.
Stack is not content to let Rua control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Wanderlei Rua will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Horrible takedown by Rua or perhaps it was just good defense by Stack which made him look bad.
Stack tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Rua paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rua fails with an attempt to clinch.

Stack closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Stack landing strikes.
Stack working away.
Stack controls the position.
Stack is looking to take a break and control but Rua is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rua is looking for a sweep.
Stack lands a nice forearm strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stack controlling from side mount.
Rua tries to improve position but can't.
Rua manages to get back to half guard.
Rua is trying to maintain the position but Stack is very close to passing his half guard.
Rua tries to get to full guard but Stack has control of the leg.
Stack wants to stand up but Rua is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rua regains full guard. Nicely done.

Rua working for a triangle but Stack defends it easily.

Rua has his foot on Stack's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Stack works his way back into a safe position though.
Rua is breathing heavily.
Stack trying to control but Rua is working from the bottom.

Rua looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Stack passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua wants to control but Stack is keeping busy.
Stack working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Rua manages to get to full guard.
Rua wants to sweep here but Stack controlling him for the moment.
Stack passes Rua's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rua makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rua.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stack stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rua swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rua has his hands on Stack's head, controlling the position.

Rua looking for a guillotine here but Stack defends easily.
Stack 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.

That was a close second round but I would say that Dan Stack will probably get the nod.
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!

Rua gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Stack counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Stack passes into half guard.
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.
Rua is looking for a sweep. Stack is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Stack is looking to stall here but Rua recovers full guard.
Rua is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rua tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rua has his foot on Stack's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Stack works his way back into a safe position though.
Rua takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stack preventing the sweep.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rua closes the distance but Stack moves to the side

and Stack counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Rua is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Stack pulls his head out easily.
Rua is staying active underneath Stack, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Stack is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rua escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Stack gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Stack looking to pass the guard.
Rua wants to control the position but Stack says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Rua is looking for a sweep. Stack is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rua is pressing down on Stack's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stack accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Stack missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Rua throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stack wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.

Rua working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Stack doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Stack manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Stack connects with a couple of short punches.
Stack showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Stack stands up over Rua, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Rua looking for a guillotine here but Stack defends easily.

Rua is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Stack sitting in guard, not really doing much.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Stack showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Stack 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dan Stack!
Dan Stack retains his middleweight title!