PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Robbin Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pedro Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie's entrance music is Nervecell - Psychogenocide. A fine choice. Robbin Gracie is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Gracie
vs
Rua

180 cm
28
168 lbs
14 - 19 - 0

172 cm
38
165 lbs
24 - 14 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

The Empire - 15% Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Robbin Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 14 - 1, fighting out of New York, Pedro Rua!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Reed Andrews and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie wants to clinch up but Rua keeps it at a distance.
Gracie 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 Gracie off to one side.
Rua displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gracie.
Robbin Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rua counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Gracie's guard now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robbin Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rua has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gracie is proving hard to escape from.

Gracie working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Rua has passed into half guard!

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rua pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
Gracie is trying to control but Rua manages to pass to mount!

Rua get's back to his feet.
Rua swats away the attempt to clinch by Gracie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to clinch but Rua is having none of it.
Gracie tries to clinch there but Rua circles away.
Gracie wants to clinch

and Rua counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rua wants to stand but Gracie has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Rua is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
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!
Gracie tries to get to full guard but Rua has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gracie looking for a kimura from the bottom but Rua passes into side control!
Gracie sneaks back into half guard.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.

Rua stands up out of the half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rua.
Gracie wants to clinch up but Rua keeps it at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gracie fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rua avoids it really well and circles away.
Gracie closes the distance but Rua moves to the side

and Rua counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Gracie throws his legs up looking for a submission but Rua uses it to pass to side control.
Gracie is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gracie is trying to work for a sweep but Rua has mounted him!
Gracie tries to hold on but Rua pushes him away.
Gracie is desperately trying to improve his position but Rua has a good base and remains in mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is just holding on here. Rua manages to take his back.
Rua keeps control of the position as Gracie tries to break free.

Rua gets to his feet! The crowd go wild in anticipation of a knockout!
Gracie wants to clinch but Rua slips to the side

and Rua counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Gracie!
Gracie is trying to control Rua's posture but Rua avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A control attempt from Gracie but he's now mounted!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gracie is trying to stand but he's just given Rua his back.
Rua avoiding Gracie 's attempts to control his hands.
Gracie is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Rua.
Rua keeps control of the position as Gracie tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pedro Rua has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gracie wants to control his opponent's hands but Rua gets his hands free.
Gracie is really stuck here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
What can Gracie do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Gracie is in bad spot here.

Rua stands up from back control! Strange decision that!
Gracie tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Rua counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rua.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Gracie is working an open guard so Rua takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pedro Rua showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gracie tries to clinch but Rua moves out of range.

Gracie closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gracie prevents Rua from escaping the position.
Gracie taking a break here but Rua is having none of it and regains half guard.
Gracie throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gracie throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rua regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Gracie.
Rua utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie won't allow Rua to get back to his feet.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.
Gracie landing with the ground and pound.
Gracie throws a strike but Rua rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Gracie working for a triangle but Rua defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.

Rua avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gracie working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie throws his legs up looking for a submission but Rua uses it to pass to side control.
Rua has control of an arm but Gracie manages to advance to Rua's back!
Gracie throwing sloppy strikes.

Gracie goes for a risky armbar from back mount and it's not paid off. Rua escapes and is now in half guard on top.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gracie throws a strike from the bottom but Rua passes into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rua stands up.
Rua slips under a jab.
Gracie doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rua counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
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 crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Rua stands up from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Robbin Gracie.
I think Rua has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29

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