PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Taeyung Sean (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Felipe Rua (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.

Sean
vs
Rua

176 cm
19
174 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Taeyung Sean!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Felipe Rua!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Hirohito Nitta and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sean drives through and clinches with Rua against the cage.

Sean escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
No luck for Rua with that takedown attempt.

Sean moves into range and clinches up with Rua.
Rua is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Rua is trying to drag Sean to the mat but Sean just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Sean is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Taeyung Sean has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Felipe Rua.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sean dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Sean looking for a takedown.
Sean working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua working hard to break the clinch.
Rua misses with a punch to the body.
Rua blocks an uppercut.
Sean is trying to drag Rua to the mat but Rua just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Rua jumps guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Sean postures up.
Sean looking to pass the guard.
Rua is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sean controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua is pulling down on Sean's head to control his posture.
Rua is trying to control the position but Sean postures up.
Sean trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Sean controlling from the top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rua moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Sean as Rua shoots in.

Sean shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rua trying to control from the bottom.
Sean prevents Rua from improving his position.
Sean knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rua on the ground.
Rua wants to control but Sean is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rua is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua is still trying to improve position.
Sean content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Rua throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rua throws a head kick that misses.
Sean keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rua avoids the body shot from Sean.
Sean shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rua sprawls well. Rua wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sean gets slowly back to his feet.
Rua feints the counter takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taeyung Sean dominated that round.
That's time! Sean's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rua blocks a low kick nicely.
Sean scores with a three punch combo!

Sean shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rua napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Sean tries to move into full mount but can't pass Rua's legs.
Rua is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Sean asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Rua wants to control but Sean postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rua sneaks back into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rua is looking to control Sean's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rua avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sean wants to take a breather but Rua is having none of it.
Sean is thwarting Rua's attempts to control the position.
Sean prevents Rua from standing back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rua tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sean sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rua somewhat.

Sean scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Rua looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua is trying to maintain the position but Sean is very close to passing his half guard.
Rua is trying to get back to full guard.
Sean controlling the action here.
Rua is trying to control but can't.
Taeyung Sean overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Sean shoots in looking for a takedown but Rua manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sean's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Sean gets the takedown into side control.
Rua is trying to control Sean's posture but Sean avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sean with the ground and pound but Rua regains half guard under the barage of strikes.

Sean is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rua is just riding it out for now. Sean eventually gives up the hold.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rua trying to control but Sean postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taeyung Sean dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, 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.

Sean misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rua is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Sean tries to close the distance and clinch but Rua swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rua shoots in for a takedown but Sean shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rua fails to land the takedown.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rua or perhaps it was just good defense by Sean, which made it look bad.
Taeyung Sean has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Felipe Rua.
Rua goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sean tries to clinch but Rua is having none of it.
Rua misses with a double jab.

Sean rushes Rua and presses him up against the cage.
Sean tries to pull guard but Rua forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua is trying to break free.
Sean taking a breather.
Sean jumps guard but Rua stands there with Sean around his waist. Sean gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Sean pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Taeyung Sean is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rua throws a head kick that misses.

Sean closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rua to the mat! Rua manages to get full guard.

Rua looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
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 throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sean pushes Rua off looking to stand but Rua dives back in and keeps control.
Rua is looking to take a break and control but Sean is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sean has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rua is working away from the top position though.
Sean might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rua thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rua thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rua missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sean is staying active underneath Rua, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua passes into side control, despite Sean's attempt to control the position.
Sean is trying to work for a sweep but Rua has mounted him!
Rua landing shots from mount.
Rua wants to get back to his feet but Sean is holding on tight.
Rua tries to control but Sean wriggling away.
Sean wants to hold on but Rua pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua breaks from Sean's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Rua punishing his opponent with strikes.
Rua unloads with some shots from mount but Sean bucks and avoids them well.
Sean is squirming around, avoiding Rua's attempts to control the action.
Rua throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Sean because Rua loaded up on that one.
Sean is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Sean is trying desperately to improve position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rua can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sean is looking to escape.
Felipe Rua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taeyung Sean is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rua throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Felipe Rua comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sean 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taeyung Sean!