PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Juan Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and mongo ortiz (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.

Rua
vs
ortiz

199 cm
18
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
24
225 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Juan Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, mongo ortiz!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Felipe Paraventi and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

ortiz moves into the clinch.
Rua has had enough of the clinch but ortiz keeps him there for the moment.
Rua using the Thai plumb to throw knees but ortiz has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

ortiz drags the fight down to the ground.
ortiz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
ortiz wants to stand up but Rua is controlling him.
ortiz wants to sweep here but Rua controlling him for the moment.
Rua wants to stand but ortiz is controlling his posture from full guard.
ortiz trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rua advances position into side control!
ortiz tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rua wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Rua are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

ortiz clinches with his opponent.
Rua wants a takedown but no success here.
ortiz tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rua tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juan Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
ortiz prevents the takedown attempt.
Rua jumps guard but ortiz stands there with Rua around his waist. Rua gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Rua wants to break free but ortiz has control.

ortiz has picked Rua up - he's going for a ride! ortiz dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Rua regains full guard. Nicely done.
ortiz stopping the sweep attempt from Rua.
Rua is breathing heavily.
Rua not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
ortiz throwing strikes but missing.
Rua working a defensive guard here.
Rua wants to sweep here but ortiz controlling him for the moment.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rua tries for a takedown but ortiz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rua misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

ortiz scores a takedown into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua wants to hold on but ortiz pushes him away.
ortiz tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Rua is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
ortiz dominating with strikes here.
ortiz content just to control the position here.

ortiz goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Rua turns into him and now he's in ortiz's guard.

ortiz kicks Rua off and gets to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and ortiz counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rua won't be happy with that.

ortiz is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rua has escaped the position, nice work there.

ortiz tries for a kimura but Rua is defending well.
Rua is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on ortiz's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Rua won't allow ortiz to pass to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rua misses with a takedown attempt

and ortiz counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rua's guard now.

Rua looking for a guillotine here but ortiz defends easily.
Rua wants to sweep here but ortiz controlling him for the moment.

Rua is looking for a triangle but ortiz pushes his legs off easily.
ortiz looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Rua is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

ortiz drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and ortiz jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rua manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. ortiz manages to get himself to full guard.
Rua wants to control from the top but ortiz keeps moving.
ortiz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rua trying to control but ortiz is working from the bottom.
ortiz lands with a heel strike from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
ortiz controlling Rua's posture.

Rua avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rua works over ortiz with some ground and pound from guard.
ortiz looking for a sweep. Not yet ortiz, not yet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rua shoots for a takedown but ortiz saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rua shoots and misses

and ortiz counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juan Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rua manages to get to full guard.

Rua escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. ortiz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ortiz wants to stand but Rua has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

ortiz is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rua is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rua has escaped and now he's on top!
ortiz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
ortiz keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.
ortiz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
mongo ortiz has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rua trying to control but ortiz is working from the bottom.
Rua stands and throws ortiz's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Rua wants to lay and pray for a moment but ortiz keeps working.

Rua tries for a kimura but ortiz is defending well.
Rua trying to control the action but ortiz is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

mongo ortiz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rua is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by ortiz.

ortiz moves into the clinch.
ortiz wants a takedown.
Rua wants to get back to striking at distance but ortiz won't allow it.
ortiz works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
ortiz drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rua blocks a punch to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rua has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. ortiz is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rua wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rua is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
ortiz tries a knee to the head but Rua blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua tries to throw a body punch but ortiz avoids it by throwing Rua back against the cage.
ortiz blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rua looking to slow down the pace here.
Maybe Rua would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
Rua can't get the takedown.
Rua wants to get back to striking at distance but ortiz won't allow it.

ortiz breaks the clinch.

ortiz looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Rua!
ortiz trying to control but Rua is having none of it.
Rua bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's two minutes 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.
ortiz wants to stand up but Rua is controlling him.
ortiz keeping full guard, as Rua tries to pass.
ortiz wants to stand but Rua is controlling the position.
ortiz has momentary wrist control but Rua slips an elbow through the middle.
ortiz is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rua trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

ortiz decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

ortiz is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Rua has managed to free his arm - good work.
Rua is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
ortiz landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Rua looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rua regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

ortiz throws a sloppy strike and Rua has hooked up an armbar on the loose arm! He's turned and extended fully! ortiz is forced to tap! Great BJJ from Rua!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Juan Rua!